www.chinabuses.org: The recent signing of a contract between passenger transport company KVB (Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe) and VDL Bus & Coach was the starting point for the construction of eight electric articulated VDL buses. Unique to these electric articulated buses is the fact that they operate without overhead wires. KVB is one of the first companies in Germany to introduce electric mobility for an entire bus route. VDL Bus & Coach is particularly proud to have received the order to develop and produce a new bus version that meets all of KVB's requirements.

The jumping-off points are the VDL Citea SLFA, an articulated bus with a length of 18 metres, and the Citea Electric, which offers the most ideal solution for every deployment. In total, eight electric articulated buses will be built with an updated, futuristic BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) design. The testing phases for the first electric articulated buses will begin in the summer and autumn of 2015. The VDL Citea SLFA Electric with its futuristic appearance will be a striking presence in the Cologne cityscape.

The new, innovative VDL Citea SLFA Electric combines the best features of the Citea Electric and the articulated Citea SLFA. The modular system from which the Citea range is built will play a major role in the development of this electric variant. This will allow easy integration of the electric components without compromising the essential Citea qualities, such as lightweight construction, optimum accessibility and comfort. An aspect that is beneficial to both comfort and the environment is the fact that the VDL Citea Electric is very quiet, both inside and outside the bus.

The VDL Citea articulated, with its completely flat floor, is ideal for the transport of large numbers of passengers. The low floor construction makes it exceptionally easy to enter the bus and offers optimal access, for travellers with a baby buggy or wheelchair for example. This applies both to the front section of the bus and the section ‘behind the bellows’. During the design of the Citea SLFA considerable attention was given to the flow of passengers from the entry door and to the exit doors. Harmoniously matched colours give the bus a very spacious feeling. The cantilever seat design (free-hanging seats) ensures plenty of leg room and therefore optimal sitting comfort. Since the entire floor is free of obstacles, the buses are easy to clean.

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