Electric
double-deck Van Hool completes cross-country road trip
March
13, 2022 | by Bus & Motorcoach News |
A
battery-electric Van Hool TDX25E double-decker
motorcoach successfully completed a cross-country road trip, demonstrating the
vehicle range and strength of battery technology to meet the needs of
motorcoach customers, according to ABC Companies.
ABC,
the North American distributor of Van Hool, made the road trip, which began at
ABC’s headquarters in Winter Garden, Florida, and ended at ABC’s Costa Mesa,
California, facility.
This
is the company’s longest EV road test demonstration to date, surpassing a
recently conducted 1,700-mile road test throughout
the Northern California and Pacific Northwest region. The route included
elevations in excess of 5,000 feet, passage through mountain crossings, and a
variety of road and climate conditions over a distance of 2,500 miles.
The
new EV double-deck model completed the journey over six days, utilizing public
charging stations along the route. Similar to the CX45E vehicles in commercial
operation, the TDX25E met projections for range, commercial charging capability
and energy recovery.
EV demand is strong
The TDX25E production vehicle
used in the demo is the first of its kind in North America, developed with and
brought to market by ABC to meet customer demand for higher-capacity,
zero-emissions transport.
The 56-passenger CX45E,
introduced in 2020, provided the inspiration and the impetus for fast-track
development and deployment of the TDX25E, according to Roman Cornell, ABC’s
President and Chief Commercial Officer.
“Demand for these vehicles is
very strong in many markets, and our technology partners, Van Hool and
Proterra, have clearly demonstrated their ability to translate those demands
into real-world solutions that can quickly integrate into fleets and provide
reliable, repeatable results,” he said in a statement.
The premium TDX25E double-deck
passenger coach is the battery-electric version of the eco-friendly,
high-capacity TDX series. With premium accommodations and amenities for up to
69 passengers, the TDX25E increases passenger capacity to further reduce
traffic congestion and emissions, while providing industry-leading range in an
ADA-compliant model designed for exceptional comfort, functionality and style.
Real-time data
The 45-foot coach integrates
the industry-leading energy-dense battery system from Proterra, with a Siemens
ELFA II powertrain to provide a quiet, smooth zero-emissions ride and plenty of
power for efficient, dependable operation. ABC Companies Fleet Electrification
Services captured real-time data for the duration of the trip. The TDX25E
averaged an impressive 2.08kWh/mile for highway travel.
Capable of a 71 mph top speed,
the coach averaged 60 mph during the demonstration. The total projected range
per charge averaged 260 miles during the trip, while temperatures varied from
40 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The charging rate of up to 147 kWh enabled
relatively short charging times, averaging just 3.5 hours. With a total storage
capacity of 676 kWh, the coach never fell below an 8% state of charge during
the trip.
“Response
to our electrified vehicle lineup has been quite enthusiastic,” said Thom
Peebles, ABC’s Vice President of Marketing. “Customers are very impressed with
the ride quality, amenities and range of these vehicles, and as organizations
commit to reducing their carbon footprint, high passenger capacity EV models
like the TDX25E and CX45E are becoming an increasingly important option for
fleet operators.”
Empire Coach Line provided the
driver for the TDX25E cross-country demonstration.
“Our drivers and staff have
been amazed by the performance, comfort and smooth, quiet ride of these coaches
while being able to quickly acclimate to operating these vehicles. From the
simple charging process to the familiar driver controls and support ABC offers,
integrating these electric vehicles has been much smoother than we thought
possible,” said Eddie Serrano, Vice President and General Manager of Empire.
Holistic approach to EV
ABC says its holistic approach
to fleet electrification gives owners a clear vision of how to integrate EV
into their operations. Fleet integration, passenger capacity needs, available
charging windows, EV infrastructure and more help ABC guide owners to EV
options that offer a right fit for existing and future fleet operation.
“We’re having great success
with our approach to EV integration with public and private operators,” Cornell
said. “By understanding operational needs right now, but just as importantly
future needs, we can help fleet owners optimize their EV investment, see
immediate benefits in terms of EV equipment management and cost of operation,
and avoid unpredictable outlays.”
Road tests, such as the
recently completed 1,700- and, 2,500-mile demonstrations, are an integral part
of ABC’s fleet electrification services for commercial passenger transport, he
added.
“These tests generate critical
data that enable continuous program development and optimization for ABC Companies
and its technology partners. Real-time monitoring and data collection offer
insights to improve energy consumption,” said Cornell. “Moreover, monitoring
driver behavior and extensive use of the public charging ecosystem demonstrated
during this test can help guide future training modules and regional route
mapping.”
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Peter
Says
Florida to California is the shortest route from
cost-to-coast, 2,487 miles compared with New York to Los Angeles at 2,778 miles
and 42 hours of driving and a wider variation in driving conditions.
From Winter Garden, Florida, to Costa Mesa, California,
(the Easy Street route) is 2,487 miles and would require a minimum of 10
recharging stops at 3.5 hours each. This means that the normal 37-hour trip
would be almost doubled to 72 hours. An electric Greyhound bus would be little
better than a mule train.
The 37 hours of normal travel time
would require at least three additional overnight stops, or more drivers if
they wanted to do it 'non-stop.' So, the cost would probably double.
And for what? The emissions-free
claim is false. That would only be the case if the material used in the
manufacture were emissions-free, and if the generation and transmission of the
electricity to the charging station was also emissions-free, which they are not.
The electric vehicle dream has been
around for more than a century, but the internal combustion engine consistently
eclipses the EV with every new development and refinement.
So, don't hold your breath for
another century. For the foreseeable future, EVs will be nothing more than the wet dreams of misguided planet savers.
