VDL Bus & Coach has demonstrated that its new generation Citea electric bus can cover a distance of more than 500 kilometres during 24 hours of continuous driving, while mirroring realistic operating conditions.
During the ‘MaxiMile Challenge,’ the LF-122 new generation Citea proved its ability to deliver energy efficiency and extended range.
The test started at VDL Bus & Coach’s facility in Valkenswaard, the Netherlands at 1pm on 10 September.
The model was equipped with a 490 kWh battery pack and was loaded to 16,500 kilograms to simulate a realistic number of passengers.
“The question the market always asks is what distance is feasible in reality. That is one of the reasons why we conduct this test; to build confidence prior to purchase and to show that we carry out trials and share the findings. And, of course, we want to achieve the best possible result. But there is no added value for the operator of our vehicles if we deliver a result for which the scope does not paint a realistic picture. Instead, we want to prove that in deployment, in the way our customers use the vehicle, our new generation Citea does what it promises. Hence, among other things, the weighting of the vehicle; also important, however, are the number of stops per kilometre and the most realistic speed possible. The faster a vehicle travels with as few stops as possible, the more efficient its consumption. But that is not the objective.”
Over the 24-hour period, VDL Bus & Coach tested the vehicle on several bus routes in Eindhoven and the surrounding area. The vehicle stopped at all bus stops along the routes.
The test also included driver changeovers at Eindhoven Station after four consecutive hours of driving.
The broken down results of the test are as followed:
- At the first driver changeover at 5pm on 10 September, the vehicle had covered a distance of 74 kilometres and had a battery status of 87%
- At 9pm, it had covered 146 kilometres and had a battery capacity of 72%
- At 1am on 11 September, the distance was 222 kilometres and the residual battery charge was 57%
- The next driver change was performed at 5am with 302 kilometres on the odometer and a battery charge of 44%
- At 9am, the battery capacity was at 30% with 374 kilometres driven
- At 1pm, the 24-hour target was met, with the last driver changeover taking place with 12% remaining battery charge and a distance of 471 kilometres
- At around 3pm, the new generation Citea drove onto the premises of VDL Bus & Coach in Valkenswaard with just 3% left in the battery
By the time the test ended at 3.14pm, the vehicle had travelled a distance of 546.7 kilometres over 26 hours and 14 minutes. It took an average of 1.4 stops per kilometre and operated at an average speed of 20.84 kilometres per hour.
This test took place on some of the warmest days of late summer, with temperatures reaching around 30 degrees Celsius during the day and dropping to 21 degrees Celsius at night.
VDL states that this test demonstrates that the new generation Citea performs as promised, achieving a distance of nearly 550 kilometres without interim charging.
