GVB, the public transport company of Amsterdam, is further expanding its electric fleet with 84 ebuses of the new generation VDL Citea. Delivery is planned in 2023 and onwards. It is a framework contract that includes an option for a further 130 new VDL Citea ebuses.
The order of 84 ebuses is divided in 30 articulated new generation VDL Citea LF-181 and 54 VDL Citea LF-122. Within the contract VDL Bus & Coach is also responsible for implementing the charging infrastructure. GVB has been using electric buses from VDL Bus and Coach since the end of 2019: 44 are currently in service and an additional 31 will enter service during this summer, bringing the total number of electric buses up to 75 this year. "With this order, the GVB fleet will eventually be entirely VDL," says Ard Romers, managing director of VDL Bus & Coach Nederland. "GVB is going to phase out the last diesel buses and permanently switch to zero emission VDL Citeas in Amsterdam.” Amsterdam is working to further reduce CO2 emissions in the city. To this end, the municipality has developed the
'Route Map Amsterdam Climate Neutral 2050'. Amsterdam will reduce its CO2 emissions by 5% in 2025, 55% in 2030 and 95% in 2050 compared to 1990 levels. Part of this is that GVB provides completely emission-free bus transport in 2025. Claudia Zuiderwijk, Managing Director GVB: "This order is a good step towards nicer, cleaner and more sustainable public transport in Amsterdam.” In 2021, VDL Bus & Coach presented the new generation of electric Citeas. Based on the VDL vision, a bus concept has been developed that is entirely based on an electric drive train. The batteries are placed in the floor. The bus has a one-piece composite side wall, clever energy management, a sophisticated climate control system and an ergonomic driver's environment.
President Willem van der Leegte of VDL Groep: "With the new generation VDL Citea, we have developed a versatile mobility platform that matches the sustainability ambitions of our customers. That also applies to GVB. We are proud to be able to supply buses to our capital city again. GVB and VDL have been working together for many years." GVB transported, before the coronavirus outbreak, approximately 938,000 passengers on an average working day by metro, tram and bus, and on the ferries across the IJ and the North Sea Canal. Amsterdam's metro's and trams already run on 100% green electricity and the first electric ferries are also in operation.