NORWAY
Norwegian state-owned airport operator Avinor has announced an order for eight VDL Citea SLFA-181 Electric articulated buses as part of its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the airline industry.
The buses form the next step in Avinor’s strategy to halve the emissions it is directly responsible for by 2022, compared to 2012.
Signing the deal on 1 August, Frank Reichel, Managing Director VDL Bus & Coach Norway AS said, “The decision was taken to purchase the BRT model (Bus Rapid Transit), with which we won the prestigious international Red Dot Award in 2017.
However, Avinor is interested in more than just the design.
Opting for our electric buses says a great deal about the ambitions of the airport.
It ties in seamlessly with the overall picture of Norway as a frontrunner in the field of electric travel in Europe.”
“The introduction of electric shuttle buses is an important measure for reducing emission of greenhouse gases at the airport,” explained Stine Ramstad Westby, Executive Vice President operations and infrastructure at Avino.
“Although the initial purchase price of electric buses is higher than the diesel variant, this investment is a deliberate choice since in the longer term, electric vehicles generate higher returns.”
Purchased with support from Norwegian organisation Enova, which is owned by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the buses will feature an air-cooled, electrically-heated high capacity 216 kWh Li-Ion battery system, with particular attention focussed on ensuring that the climate control system provides the optimum ambience for passengers in this application.
To provide charging equipment VDL has again partnered with Dutch supplier Heliox, who will install a 300kW rapid charger at the gate, allowing the buses to be quickly recharged via a roof mounted pantograph.
A further eight charging posts will be installed at the depot, where the buses can be charged overnight and if necessary pre-heated.
