Alstom, along with NTL and the RTM, has conducted the testing of Aptis, a complete electric mobility solution, on line 82 of the Aix-Marseille Provence Méditerranée Metropole network under real operating conditions.

The two prototypes of Aptis, co-developed by Alstom and its subsidiary NTL, and manufactured at the latter’s site in Duppigheim, were tested in the evaluation programme.

The tests assessed the charging system of the vehicle, its autonomy, insertion performance in traffic and other specific characteristics in a new urban situation.

The bus previously completed successful tests in Ile-de-France, Lyon, Strasbourg and Belgium.

Aptis features low floors with wide double doors to enable smooth passenger flows and easy boarding for passengers with restricted mobility.

“The tests assessed the charging system of the vehicle, its autonomy, insertion performance in traffic and other specific characteristics in a new urban situation.”

Designed to operate in the urban environment, Aptis requires less space to turn due to its four steerable wheels.

The operator can charge the bus inside the depot at night. Alstom will also provide a daytime charging solution.

Rapid charging of the bus can be done through an inverted pantograph or through Alstom’s ground-based static charging system, SRS.

With less maintenance and operating costs, the cost of ownership of Aptis is claimed to be equivalent to a conventional diesel bus.

A three-door version of the bus was previously tested for one year by Ile-de-France Mobilités on the Keolis network between Vélizy and Versailles (line 23).