Alstom is sending Aptis on a six-week roadshow in Spain to be tested, together with local transport companies, in Barcelona, Madrid and Vigo.
The first operational test starts in January in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area, before going to Madrid on the 4th of February. The roadshow will then continue in Vigo from 14 to 22 February.
The tests conducted in the customer depots as well as under real operating conditions are designed to evaluate the specific characteristics of Aptis in a new urban setting, its charging system, its autonomy, and its insertion performance in traffic, following the first successful tests in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
Aptis, a bus inspired by the world of the tram, provides a unique comfort experience for passengers. Low floors throughout the vehicle and wide double doors allow smooth passenger flows and easy access for wheelchairs and pushchairs.
Panoramic windows at the front and rear of the bus provide 20% more window surfaces than a conventional bus, as well as a lounge area at the rear.
The vehicle fits perfectly into the urban environment thanks to its two steerable axles that minimise the turning radius and the footprint on the road (-25% compared to a conventional bus).
This performance is an advantage especially at bus stops, where an automatic parking system has been developed, reducing the space required for parking (and therefore leaving extra space for other vehicles) and increasing accessibility for passengers.
At night, Aptis can be recharged inside the depot. Alstom also provides a daytime charging solution at the end of each line.
Rapid charging is carried out either via an inverted pantograph or via SRS, Alstom’s innovative ground-based static charging system.
Thanks to reduced maintenance and operating costs, and a longer service life than that of a bus (20 years), the total cost of ownership of Aptis is equivalent to that of today’s diesel buses.
“We are pleased that Aptis is raising interest among Spanish cities with its ground-breaking features. This Spanish roadshow is a great opportunity to once again demonstrate Aptis’ unique insertion capacities within new urban environments,” said Antonio Moreno, President of Alstom in Spain.
