Record order for Iveco hybrid buses

Record order for Iveco hybrid buses

The French city of Dijon has signed Europe’s largest single order for hybrid buses. The order for 102 Iveco Irisbus Citelis diesel-electric buses comprises 41 standard and 61 articulated units. They are available either as complete vehicles, produced at the Iveco Irisbus factory in Annonay, France, or as a chassis and bodywork produced in Rorthais under the name of Access’Bus GX.

This record order highlights and confirms the increase in the number of hybrid diesel-electric vehicles operating in France. Iveco has already delivered 15 hybrid diesel-electric buses and received over 170 orders. Since February 2011, hybrid vehicles have been delivered to and are operating in Poitiers, Toulon, Monza, Paris and on the island of La Reunion, while the orders include vehicles for networks in Rouen, Annecy, Dijon and Bordeaux.

“We are very proud to be key players in the spread of hybrid vehicles in Europe,” says Franco Miniero, Iveco bus range vice president. “With the 12- and 18-metre Citelis and Access’Bus GX ranges of hybrid vehicles, we supply our customers with efficient vehicles in terms of comfort, energy savings and reduction in emissions. Additionally, thanks to our close collaboration with BAE Systems, our vehicles are fitted with well consolidated technology that has already been widely used in North America and the UK.”

The serial hybrid with diesel-electric propulsion links a six-litre Tector diesel engine, produced by FPT Industrial, with an electric engine/generator that recovers the energy (stored in latest generation lithium-ion batteries) accumulated during deceleration, developed by BAE Systems.

The engine has a 25 percent reduced displacement compared to the engine equipping a traditional vehicle in the same range. Coupled to the engine, the generator supplies electricity – eliminating the use of the starter motor, alternator and belts as well as the need for a gearbox.

Average CO2 emissions and fuel consumption are reduced by 25 to 35 percent, leading to around 500 grams less CO2 per kilometre. On an annual mileage of 50 000 km (average for city buses), a total reduction of 25 tonnes of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere is possible.

Comfort, power and flexibility aid in the ease of driving the vehicles, while a high level of comfort for passengers is assisted by the progressive and smooth restarting.

Citelis hybrid vehicles are also being tested in partnership with different European operators, while in Orleans, France, a partnership has been established with Keolis for the use of a 12-metre hybrid bus for three years. STM (Société de Transport de Montréal) and RTL (Réseau de Transport de Longueuil) in Canada will also test an 18-metre Citelis hybrid bus for a number of months on their urban networks.

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