10 articulated VDL Citea Electrics – using opportunity charging – have entered service in the City of Groningen, the Netherlands.
The arrival of the electric buses is in line with the council’s objective that all buses in the city will be completely electric by 2020.
A fully-electric bus network will contribute to Groningen’s target of being energy-neutral by 2035.
From 2030, public transport throughout the Netherlands will “no longer be allowed to emit harmful substances.”
The 10 artics work on Q-link bus lines 1 (Groningen Main Station–Zuidhorn) and 2 (Europapark–Reitdiep) in Groningen.
Q-link is the BRT bus network from the outskirts to major destinations in the City of Groningen.
At night the buses are fully charged at Qbuzz’s depot.
VDL supplies the buses and is responsible for the complete system, providing installation of the charging stations as well.
The buses were built at the factory in Heerenveen and are deployed close to home.
