Solaris Bus & Coach has been awarded for a €2 million order for the supply of four electric buses to Cracow City Transport (MPK Kraków). According to the contract, the Solaris will deliver four Urbino 8,9 LE electric before the end of July 2016 at the latest. The buses will be fitted with 80 kWh batteries. They can be topped up in two ways: through a traditional 20 kW plug-in connection located at the depot and by an innovative pantograph quick charging system. A special charging station installed at Pawia Street will use energy from a tram traction power supply. Solaris began manufacturing electric buses in 2011. Until now, these vehicles run in various European countries, including Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, Spain and Sweden.

Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) will supply a fleet of 90 Enviro500 three-axle, high specification double deck vehicles next year for Mexico City’s Line 7. This 15km new route will carry over 100,000 passengers per day, from the end of 2016. The award to ADL follows a successful trial with a demonstrator vehicle in Mexico City during the third quarter of 2014. This trial demonstrated the technical capability of the Enviro500, the emission reduction per passenger transported, increased seating capacity and high level of passenger comfort. These low-floor vehicles can carry 130 passengers, of which 86 are seated. Passenger flow is optimised on board with a spacious lower saloon for wheelchairs, buggies or luggage. ADL’s staircase has been engineered for ease of passenger movement to and from the upper saloon.The double deck fleet will have a five year full maintenance agreement, with parts, support, training and diagnostic tools provided by Alexander Dennis Mexico (ADMX).

The Transportation Services company of Bandırma, Turkey, renewed the fleet of their 7-meter manual-equipped buses with 9-meter models with Allison fully automatic transmission. The first 10 new 9-meter Isuzu Citibuses are fitted with Allison’s 2100 model. Part of the Allison 2000 SeriesTM product family, this transmission is designed for engines up to 172kW (230 hp) and features FuelSense, a set of advanced fuel saving strategies that helps reduce fuel consumption based on actual duty cycle and vehicle load.

VDL Bus & Coach delivered the fully electric articulated Citea SLFA-180 Electric bus to Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (KVB) based in Cologne, Germany. This is the first of eight buses ordered by KVB. The VDL Citea SLFA Electric is fitted with a fast charge system using a pantograph made by Schunk. The pantograph is positioned on the front carriage above the 2nd axle. Charging is done at both final stops. The charging power is 250 kW and charging time is around 5-10 minutes. The batteries are fully charged at night. The new, special ‘BRT’ design gives the Citea SLFA Electric a futuristic look with the rearward leaning windscreen and the characteristic roof and side line. The vehicles are fitted with destination signs integrated into the windscreen, rear window and side windows, extra wide entry door, full LED lighting at the front, sides and rear. KVB is the first operator in Germany to introduce electric mobility for an entire bus route. When the new 2016 timetable is introduced, route 33 will be changed from diesel to completely electric. This route, which is about 7 km long and has 13 stops.

VDL Bus & Coach has a new partner in Romania. It's EVW Holding SRL. The company has been appointed as the official distributor for VDL Bus & Coach products in Romania. DAF importer in Romania for more than twenty years, EVW Holding SRL will be responsible for sales of new VDL Bus & Coach products, used buses and all VDL Bus & Coach after sales activities in the Romanian market. “Both companies are family owned, are financially very solid and share a long term view on the business and customer relations.” said Marcel Jacobs, Sales Director of VDL Bus & Coach. “Through the partnership with EVW our customers can rely on modern and high-quality workshops.”