Ebusco and VDL wins Red Dot Award for Ebusco 3.0 and new generation Citea respectively

Dutch manufacturers VDL Bus & Coach and Ebusco win the ‘Red Dot’ for design of the 3.0 model and of the new generation Citea 

The jury of the world’s most prestigious design competition, Red Dot, gave the award in the ‘Product Design’ category to the two Netherlands-made electric buses.

The Red Dot Award has been awarded annually in several categories since 1955 by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen in Essen, Germany. This year, the organisation had a record number of entries.

VDL, the second Red Dot Award

The electric buses from VDL Bus & Coach are entirely based on an electric drive train and have trend-setting features. The jury praised the “high design quality and excellent design”. 

The new generation VDL Citea has already been sold in several countries and will be deployed in a number of cities and areas starting this year: the Netherlands (Eindhoven), Finland (Kotka and Lahti), Belgium (all of Flanders), Germany (Oberhausen) and France (Bordeaux).

VDL Bus & Coach has won the award for the second time in its history. In 2017, the Red Dot Award also went to VDL, at the time to the VDL Citea SLFA Electric. The Dutch design agency Modyn, based in Geldermalsen, Netherlands, has played an important role in the design of the VDL Bus & Coach product range for many years. 

Under the direction of VDL’s design team, the close cooperation once again led to success. “The VDL design philosophy makes the journey even more pleasant for both driver and passengers,” explains Bram Veendrick, design manager at VDL. “In the new generation Citea, the traveller benefits from an optimal seating arrangement and flow without obstacles, while the driver has an ergonomic driver’s cabin. There is an optimal streamline for very low energy consumption. The design is based on the characteristics of the public space, which is reflected in the interior.” 

Rik de Reuver, Head of Product Design at Modyn: “In the development of the new generation Citea, VDL underlined the strategic importance of design from the outset. This has been an advantage in both the design process and the cooperation. Our shared principles and ambitions are reflected in the design of the vehicle, which requires a design that is both long-lasting and innovative.” 

Alex de Jong, Business Manager Public Transport at VDL Bus & Coach: “It has always been clear that the next step of a zero emission public transport bus needs new technologies and a new way of thinking. Experience in both the bus sector and in e-mobility has been combined. For VDL Bus & Coach, having an attractive design language is an important asset in getting more people to choose public transport. The form and functionality of the Citea, such as the use of light and colour, must ensure that passengers feel comfortable on board the bus. In the end, we all contribute to the greater goal of a liveable city, where residents will benefit from fewer harmful emissions and noise, and more clean air.” 

Ebusco 3.0, with KesselsGranger DesignWorks

The Ebusco 3.0 has been designed with the partner KesselsGranger DesignWorks.

“Receiving the Red Dot Award for the design of the Ebusco 3.0 is a wonderful achievement for all involved. We’re honoured and proud to work closely with Ebusco, at the forefront of innovation, with a team of specialists in business, design, engineering and manufacturing, creating state-of-the-art mobility which contributes to a better living environment.” says KesselsGranger DesignWorks.

Ebusco highlights: «The design of the bus is focused on more comfort with a spacious and luxurious interior and is therefore designed to give the best possible travel experience for drivers and passengers. The fully flat floor allows for increased freedom of movement and the opportunity to maximize the window size. This, in combination with an optional panoramic skylight, increases the natural incidence of light considerably. The body of the bus is made of lightweight composite material. This has many technical advantages but also has a special effect on the bus’ interior. The composite beams are left untreated so the woven carbon fibres can be seen in the bus. Besides comfort, safety also plays a big part in the design of the bus. For that reason, we have replaced the outside mirrors with cameras to increase the safety and aerodynamics of the bus. The Ebusco 3.0 is not only a pleasure to look at, but also a joy to ride. A combination of which we think is crucial within our market».

And again, still mentioning the company’s press note: «With its advanced lightweight construction, the exterior design called for a pure and unique aesthetic. The body shape has been determined by the curvature of the carbon fibre spaceframe that, alongside the increase in strength, results in elegantly curved sides. The styling incorporates a wing-shaped theme that embraces the front and sides, highlighting the lightweight, aerospace-inspired character of the bus. The exterior design includes sculpting that results in a more emotional and dynamic appearance. All components have been developed for a flush-fitting appearance, including the doors and limited panel gaps. The aerodynamic spoiler set has been developed to be as low as possible, which has been enabled through the limited number of roof-mounted components»