VDL

The VDL Group, with its head office in Eindhoven (The Netherlands), is an international industrial company focused on the development, production and sales of semi-manufactured products, buses & coaches and finished products and the assembly of cars. Since the founding in 1953 this family-owned company has grown to include 104 operating companies, spread over 20 countries with more than 17.000 employees (see also www.vdlgroep.com).

VDL ETS BV, focuses on research, development and testing of new possibilities, in particular for transport-related activities of VDL companies. The objective is to develop environmentally-friendly and innovative hardware and software solutions in the field of electric transport (E-mobility), battery technology, charging infrastructure, hydrogen, energy storage, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and guidance and navigation technology. VDL ETS is housed On De Vest 11 in Valkenswaard the Netherlands.

VDL Bus Valkenswaard BV, as our production plant for long haul coaches will be involved during the project for the production and supply of the necessary vehicles , assisting the testing as link third Party to VDL ETS who will operate as the main partner in this project.

Current challenge through the arrival of new E mobility services and increasing concerns about air quality in the growing cities with more and more smart technology is the understanding of reduced on-board energy consumption for light weight E-buses and hybrid long haul Coaches to be able to enter Cities with Zero Urban Emission Zones (ZUEZ) , improved passenger comfort, extension of the limited range and durability aspects. For optimizing and control the most cost effective way to operate and maintain these E- and hybrid fleets new to develop innovative innovations are needed by combining the available data sources from route planning , available vehicle range per charge, power supply charging infrastructures capacity and the necessary maintenance scheduling.

Especially for the Long Haul applications above 600 km per day of the future sustainable transport hybrid vehicles with this added zero emission range for ZUEZ is necessary to full fill a range of at least 50 km emission free.

VDL ETS is a 100% owned company inside the VDL Group focuses on research, development and testing of new possibilities, in particular for transport-related activities of VDL companies. The objective is to develop environmentally-friendly and innovative hardware and software solutions in the field of electric transport (E-mobility), battery technology, charging infrastructure, hydrogen, energy storage, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and guidance and navigation technology for predictive eco routing.