The bi-articulated electric bus designed for Île-de-France Mobilités by Van Hool, Kiepe Electric and Alstom has completed its first test run at the Bus Operations Centre in Corbeil-Essonnes.
This model, which is fully financed by Île-de-France Mobilités, is the first double-articulated, ground-recharged electric bus. It is equipped with Alstom’s static ground charging solution (SRS) and is powered by Kiepe Electric’s high-power, fast-charging battery systems.
The 24-metre-long vehicle will serve the Tzen 4 line between Viry-Châtillon and Corbeil-Essonnes RER station, as well as the new Tzen 5 bus line between the 13th arrondissement of Paris and Choisy-le-Roi.
Thanks to Alstom’s SRS solution, the new electric bus can automatically charge en route or at the depot. This solution uses ground-contact static charging to recharge onboard equipment at very high power in just a few minutes.
“For more than 20 years now, Alstom has been developing and deploying catenary-free static and dynamic ground charging solutions (APS for trams and SRS for trams and electric buses). These solutions are used in a dozen cities around the world. Trams equipped with APS have already covered more than 70 million kilometres. Today, I am delighted with this world première: the first circulation of the Tzen 4 bus, 100% electric, bi-articulated and recharged on the ground thanks to our proven and innovative SRS system.”
This new vehicle was ordered under a 2022 contract, which sets out a minimum order for 56 buses.
