Equipment News Van Hool Ships First Electric Coach to the U.S. Van Hool, an independent Belgian manufacturer of buses, coaches and industrial vehicles, has shipped the first CX45E, a 100 percent battery-electric coach, to the US. After an intense period of development and testing, the CX45E is now being commercially launched by Van Hool’s North American exclusive distributor ABC Bus Companies Inc. An additional 10 units will be shipped to the U.S. in the first half of 2021. The all-electric CX45E will then be delivered to two North American customers. The CX45E is a fully electric powered coach for the North American market. Proterra, a leading American producer of battery technology for heavy-duty vehicles, was selected by Van Hool to supply the E2 battery technology. The 100 percent electrically driven vehicle has a range of up to 310 miles, depending on the climate conditions and the route’s topography. The CX45E will mainly be used for commuting by groups of employees and/or regular passenger transport. Filip Van Hool, CEO of Van Hool, explained: “With this announcement it all became a reality. A few years ago we put the first technical concepts of the CX45E on paper, and today the end-result leaves for the U.S. We were, of course, able to draw on our vast experience we have built up over decades in the design and production of electric buses. In 1985 we built our first trol-
ley electric buses. In 2005 we were the first manufacturer to design a hydrogen-powered electric bus for the North American market, and the platform of our successful Exqui.City trambus can be equipped with different electric drivetrains. In total, more than 1,000 electrically powered vehicles have left Van Hool’s factory. And we will continue our efforts to market environmentally friendly and cost-efficient electric vehicles in the future, both in Europe and in our second home market – North America.” Filip Van Hool adds: “Though not as prominent as in North America, in Europe too we see growing interest in a European version of the electric coach. With the experience gained in developing the CX45E, we firmly believe we are ready to quickly deliver a solution for customers who are looking for such a product, if European interest becomes more pronounced.” “The cooperation between Van Hool and its distributor in the North American market, ABC Bus Companies Inc., began 33 years ago,” says Filip Van Hool. “After all these years of hard work, together we have managed to put Van Hool on the map in America. Today there are more than 11,000 Van Hool coaches and buses on U.S. roads serving many customers, including a number of large Silicon Valley companies that organize shuttles for their employees. As there was demand from several customers for fully electrically powered vehicles, we at Van Hool and ABC Bus Companies Inc., looked
for a solution. Van Hool is excited and proud to work with Proterra, a pioneering company in the development and production of battery technology.” The CX45E was designed, developed and prototyped at the parent company in Koningshooikt, Belgium. The productionready versions of the 10 CX45E coaches planned for the first half of 2021 will also come from the Belgian factory. The vehicles will be driven from Koningshooikt to Zeebrugge for shipment to the U.S. Van Hool is an independent Belgian bus, coach and industrial vehicle manufacturer. The company, which was founded in 1947, is based in Koningshooikt. The vast majority of units produced are destined for Europe and the U.S. Van Hool has around 4,100 staff worldwide, the majority of whom work at the production facilities in Koningshooikt (Belgium) and Skopje (North Macedonia). Prevost Delivers Two Commuter Coaches to BSOOB Transit Prevost announced Biddeford Saco Old Orchard Beach Transit, located in southeastern Maine, has taken delivery of two 2021 Prevost X3-45 commuter coaches. The coaches are the first new additions of any kind to the BSOOB fleet in nearly 10 years and will replace two units that were deemed beyond their useful life. “Prevost is extremely pleased to partner with BSOOB Transit on the purchase of two
Van Hool recently shipped its first CX445E battery-electric coach to the United States. Developed and built at Van Hool’s headquarters in Koningshooikt, Belgium. The CX45E was designed specifically for the American market and will be sold by Van Hool’s exclusive North American distributor, ABC Companies. With a range of up to 310 miles on a single charge, the CX45E will be suited to commuter and shuttle operations.
6 • National Bus Trader / January, 2021
