Major order for Citea SLFA Electrics

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Zero emission Citea SLFA Electrics for Eindhoven will be branded Evolans. VDL
Zero emission Citea SLFA Electrics for Eindhoven will be branded Evolans. VDL

Tender issued by Province of Noord-Brabant with objective that the city of Eindhoven goes fully electric by 2020

HOLLAND VDL Bus & Coach is to deliver approximately 40 Citea SLFA Electrics for the Zuidoost-Brabant concession won by Hermes and based in Eindhoven. The objective of the concession is to transform public transport to entirely zero emission in the period from 2016-2025 (the city of Eindhoven to be fully electric by 2020) and there are also ambitious targets in the areas of sustainability, innovation and mobility.

The 18.1m-long Citea SLFA Electrics with futuristic BRT styling are due for delivery in December 2016. Under the Evolans brand they will operate on certain high frequency routes to create a tram-like system linking points like Eindhoven Airport and the High Tech Campus.

Replacement of the rest of the Zuidoost-Brabant fleet will take place in stages, each carried out using the latest state-of-the-art technology and the VDL zero emission buses with accompanying charging infrastructure can also be functionally and economically optimised.

In addition to the Citea SLFA Electrics, Hermes has ordered 65 Citea SLE (using the Volans brand) for the first stage. Hermes is part of Connexxion Nederland, itself a subsidiary of Transdev which is active in 20 countries and has around 83,000 employees. In Holland Transdev has several brands including Connexxion, Veolia Transport Nederland and Witte Kruis.