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Pilot buses gather speed successfully: In Seattle the first electric buses of altogether 141 buses are being tested

Posted: 18 December 2014 | Vossloh Kiepe

Since fall of 2014 King County Metro Transit, the Seattle bus operator, has been testing the first battery trolley buses of the type Xcelsior XT40 on its routes…

Pilot buses gather speed successfully

The new buses that come in 12 and 18 m lengths operate without emissions. Image: Klaus P. Canavan

Since fall of 2014 King County Metro Transit, the Seattle bus operator, has been testing the first battery trolley buses of the type Xcelsior XT40 on its routes. As the buses are equipped with traction batteries, they can drive up to about 3-5 miles without overhead contact lines and bypass obstacles easily.

Pilot buses gather speed successfully

The new buses that come in 12 and 18 m lengths operate without emissions. Image: Klaus P. Canavan

The new buses that come in 12 and 18 m lengths operate without emissions,  All the existing high-floor trolley buses have reached the end of their lives and are to be replaced by the modern electric buses.

In 2013 the bus manufacturer New Flyer and the traction specialist Vossloh Kiepe received the large order for 141 innovative battery trolley buses. The delivery of the pilot units was scheduled for fall of 2014. Thus, the first test runs take place now, as planned.

Vossloh Kiepe delivers all the traction equipment for the environment-friendly electric buses. The vehicles are manufactured by New Flyer and are Buy America compliant. In addition, thecore components of the innovative electric traction equipment are manufactured by Vossloh Kiepe. The scope of supply includes powerful traction batteries, state-of-the-art traction equipment and fully automatic current collectors of the OSA 500 series.

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