Bespoke design to be launched at the UITP congress at the end of May
SWITZERLAND Van Hool is presenting the first example of its new Exqui.City design Geneva (TPG) at the biennial UITP congress in Geneva, Switzerland (May 26-30, 2013 at Palexpo, Geneva). It is an 18m articulated trolley version of the Exqui.City – of which the company responsible for public transport in the canton of Geneva, TPG or les Transports Publics Genevois, has ordered a total of 33.
The Exqui.City design Geneva is the result of close collaboration between TPG and Van Hool. This important project signals Van Hool’s arrival on the Swiss ‘BHLS vehicle’ market (Buses with a High Level of Service). A special feature is how traction is provided by two powered axles. The Exqui. City design Geneva can therefore be used in difficult weather conditions on routes where fairly large differences in height are encountered over short distances. The vehicles will go into service this year and next.
Van Hool presented a roadworthy prototype of Exqui.City at Busworld Kortrijk two years ago. It offers a flexible multi propulsion platform where both 18m and 24m designs can be configured as a trolley or employ hybrid systems (diesel-electric and CNG-electric) or fuel cell hybrid or full electric bus.
The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) World Congress & Mobility and City Transport Exhibition will host 300 international exhibitors. There will also be a series of Expo Forums where exhibitors present advanced technologies and share their knowledge and innovations.
15 Forums will take place over the three days, including sessions on electric buses, increasing capacity with rail, integrated payment and passenger information systems and the challenges of new infrastructure delivery.
“The 2013 UITP World Congress and Mobility and City Transport Exhibition comes at a critical time,” said UITP Secretary General Alain Flausch. “With an increasing number of cities suffering the effects of congestion and pollution, the Exhibition will play host to advanced urban mobility solutions that will help to create a sustainable model for the cities of the future.”
For more information on UITP visit www.uitpgeneva2013.org
