Norway’s busiest gateway for passenger traffic – Oslo Airport – is to take delivery of eight VDL Bus & Coach Citeas SLFA-181 electric buses – which is part of the airport’s strategy to reduce its carbon emissions.
The order will contribute to the further electrification of the airport. Oslo via operator Avinor is one of the leading airports in Europe in cutting emissions and for investing in green technology.
Avinor said that it aims to halve the total greenhouse gas emissions it can control by 2022, as compared with 2012. These buses will begin to operate in 2020.
Each electric bus will be equipped with a 216 kWh battery system. Charging operations will be executed both overnight in the depot and at the gate. Dutch company Heliox will charge the charging points. For interim fast charging, a 300 kW rapid charger will be installed at the gate. By means of a pantograph on the roof of the bus, the battery can be fully recharged, in just a short time.
To reduce the energy consumption by the bus, the interior temperature can be given an extra boost during the rapid charging session. eight charging posts will be installed at the depot, each with a capacity of 30 kW. Here the buses are fully recharged at night, and if required, pre-heated.
In the specific shuttlebus application, additional attention will be focused on the climate system and maintaining a comfortable temperature for the passengers, particularly during the winter period.
VDL says that via the smart energy management with strategic charging sessions, even in extreme weather conditions, passenger comfort and vehicle availability will be guaranteed.
“The decision was taken to purchase the BRT model (Bus Rapid Transit), with which we won the prestigious international Red Dot Award in 2017,” said Frank Reichel, managing director VDL Bus & Coach Norway AS.
“However, Avinor is interested in more than just the design. Opting for our electric buses says a great deal about the ambitions of the airport. It ties in seamlessly with the overall picture of Norway as a frontrunner in the field of electric travel in Europe.”
Every year, 1.2 million passengers are transported between the gates and the aircraft at Oslo Airport.
“The introduction of electric shuttle buses is an important measure for reducing emission of greenhouse gases at the airport,” said Stine Ramstad Westby, executive vice president operations and infrastructure at Avinor.
