Aptis. Credit: courtesy of NTL.

Alstom is set to carry out an operational test of the 100% electric mobility solution ‘Aptis’ in the Netherlands this month.

Co-developed by Alstom and its subsidiary NewTL S.A.S. (NTL), Aptis will undergo testing together with transport company QBuzz in Utrecht, Groningen and Assen, and with Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram (RET) in Rotterdam.

The trials started on 9 April in Utrecht, and will be carried out in Rotterdam from 16 to 20 April, Groningen from 23 to 27 April, and in Assen from 30 April to 3 May.

Alstom Benelux managing director Marcel Miller said: “This Dutch roadshow is a great opportunity to once again demonstrate Aptis’ unique insertion capacities within new urban environments.

“It wouldn’t have been possible without a real interest on the part of both Qbuzz and RET for modern solutions serving the mobility of tomorrow.”

“It wouldn’t have been possible without a real interest on the part of both Qbuzz and RET for modern solutions serving the mobility of tomorrow.”

Manufactured at NTL’s French production site in Duppigheim, the prototype vehicles are tested in real operating conditions to evaluate its specific characteristics under urban settings.

Its charging system, autonomy and the insertion performance in traffic is tested under these road shows and trials.

Equipped with low floors and wide double doors, the vehicle ensures smooth passenger flow and access for people with limited mobility.

The vehicle also features two steerable axles that minimise the turning radius and the footprint on the road.

They can be charged at night or through a daytime charging solution at the end of each line. Rapid charging of these buses can be carried out by an inverted pantograph or via SRS, Alstom’s static charging system.

Aptis is said to have lower operating and maintenance costs and a longer service life compared to the conventional buses.