The buses are set to arrive to West-Brabant in the first half of 2025. The buses are based on a new modular drive system architecture to increase passenger space and allows for the placement of batteries solely on the roof. Both the 12-metre and 18-metre vehicles will have batteries with a capacity of 400 kWh, charged via a plug-in socket. For added operating convenience, each bus will have two charging sockets – on the left and right side. The 30 buses for West-Brabant will be equipped with central traction engines.
“With the investment of these buses, we invest in the future. We take a huge step regarding our zero emission ambitions. Over 90% of the public transport by bus in West-Brabant is electric, with no emission. It fits our ambition to work CO2 neutral in 2027”, said Jan Pieter Been, regional director Arriva Zuid. Arriva has opted for innovative driver amenities to increase safety and comfort. A comprehensive monitoring system will be available on board each bus, with Fisheye cameras observing areas in front of the vehicle and on its right side, as well as cameras in place of traditional side mirrors.
Among the assistance solutions are a system alerting the driver to pedestrians and cyclists in the vicinity of the bus, a lane departure warning system and fatigue monitoring system. The interior will feature comfortable seating, onboard WiFi, and USB chargers for passengers to charge their phones. The Bravo brand will be visible in the interior of the buses, next to the exterior. The branding colours red, purple and blue are visible in the seats, floors and bars of the buses. Also, part of the visible design is the heart shaped Bravo logo.
