VDL Bus & Coach, 40 electric buses for Oslo

Norway bets on Vdl Bus & Coach. The transport operator Unibuss has recently placed an order for 40 electric Citeas. This includes 30 Citeas SLFA-180 Electric and 10 Citeas SLF- 120 Electric that will serve the Greater Oslo Region. This order (the largest one for electric buses in Scandinavia for the manufacturer, by the way) marks the breakthrough of Vdl Bus & Coach in the Norwegian public transport market.

Oslo greener in 2019, thanks to Vdl Bus & Coach

The fleet of Citeas will be delivered to Unibuss at the end of 2018, and the e-buses will be put in service in the spring of 2019. This order marks the definitive breakthrough of VDL Bus & Coach in the Norwegian public transport market. The big purchase done by Unibuss rely on the intention, announced in April by PTA Ruter, responsible for public transport in and around Oslo, to transition to electric public transport in order to improve quality of life in the city. Besides, Oslo has been chosen as European Green Capital of 2019: being step by step more sustainable is more than an intention. Oslo’s ambition is for all of the city’s public transport to be emission-free in ten years’ time.

Electric buses in 12 and 18 meters versions

Going into detail, Unibuss has ordered two different versions of the VDL Citea Electric. First, there are 30 Citeas SLFA-180 Electric, with 169 kWh battery pack. Secondly, the order includes 10 Citeas SLF-120 Electric, with 127 kWh battery pack. The Citea SLF and SLFA Electric are known for the modular concept, which allows the buses to be built to accommodate various groups of passengers and local requirement packages. This also results in low operational costs and optimal ‘Profit of Ownership’.

Vdl Bus & Coach, pleased to enter Norwegian market

Alex de Jong, Business Manager Public Transport VDL Bus & Coach bv, says, «As experienced transition partner and European market leader in the area of E-Mobility, we are pleased to now be entering the Norwegian market. Norway is taking big steps and leading the way in Scandinavia when it comes to the transition to zero emission public transport. We at VDL Bus & Coach are proud that with this prestigious order we are contributing to Oslo’s standing as European Green Capital of 2019». «Oslo is the European Green Capital for 2019, and as a public transportation company we have a huge responsibility to make our city even more environmentally friendly – added Øystein Svendsen, CEO of Unibuss, responsible for 51% of the bus services in Oslo with its 204 bus lines served by 750 buses thanks to 1.800 employees -. These 40 electric buses take us a large step in the direction of an even greener capital putting the people first. We are pleased to have such an experienced transition partner and supplier as VDL Bus & Coach by our side in this transformation».