Hybrid Van Hools For Ghent, Bruges And Leuven

摘要

The northern Belgian cities of Ghent, Bruges and Leuven will benefit from major investment in Belgian-built hybrid buses by publicly-owned Flemish operator De Lijn. As part of a €24million (￡20.4million) order for 74 buses, Van Hool will supply 35 diesel-electrics -five each of the A308 9.5m midibus and A300 11,9m rigid, along with 25 AG300 17.9m articulated hybrids. The balance of the order calls for 24 Van Hool and 15 Jonckheere Transit diesels, all with Euro5 engines and particulate filters. The hybrids are due for delivery between spring 2009 and June 2010, those for Ghent being replacements for the city's single-route trolleybus service. Bruges mayor Patrick Moenaert says his city's air is the cleanest of all urban areas in Flemish-speaking northern Belgium and he expects it to comply with more stringent European air quality laws from 2012. 'In order to achieve that, we clearly have to opt for eco-friendly, hybrid buses,' he says.