Between 19 and 24 October Kortrijk Xpo will be hosting Busworld, the biennial international trade fair. This year Van Hool’s participation in this prestigious event will mark the company’s 60th anniversary. Bernard Van Hool set up his coach-building business way back in the autumn of 1947, so it is only fitting that next season’s coach range will be dubbed “The Diamond Edition”.

With eight coaches and four city buses on its stand, Van Hool will have ample opportunity to demonstrate its technical and innovative capabilities and expertise. The company’s current extensive range of coaches and buses is the result of 60 years of continuous innovation and a steadfast commitment to creatively respond to customer needs while paying close attention to quality, reliability and safety. Van Hool has solid experience in integrating tried-and-tested mechanical components into drivetrains and developing finely tuned suspension systems in-house. In these areas Van Hool is second to none in the coach-building market.

Investments: to improve the quality of its products still further and optimise the production process, Van Hool has invested heavily in new machinery over the past year. Several welding robots have been acquired and integrated into the production process in order to assemble the many component parts of both the chassis and the bodywork as efficiently as possible. Profile sections can be cut to the required dimensions at enormous speed using the new laser cutter. The new generation of flat-sheet laser cutters also operates at speeds many times faster than the previous generation. Van Hool constantly seeks the right balance between automation and flexibility in order to ensure cost-efficient production.

Upgrading: the T9 coaches have undergone several design upgrades, with the main emphasis on reducing energy consumption. The 2008 range is immediately recognisable by its new LED tail lights. The repeater lights above the back window and the marker lights have also been upgraded. The coaches are now fully fitted with LED lighting both inside and outside. Depending on the various technical design options of the LED lighting and the use of different fans in the air-conditioning system, power consumption of these items can be reduced by 50-75%, which means lower diesel consumption.

The new multisets in the overhead consoles are another important example of innovation. These house the reading lights, air nozzles and loudspeaker, as well as the controls for the reading lights, the emergency button, the attendant call button and the on/off switch for the loudspeaker. The night lights are now a restful blue colour. As an added safety feature, the driver now has a microphone fitted to his seat and a Bluetooth adapter for a mobile phone.



Coaches can optionally be fitted with a transparent roof hatch.


Eight coaches will provide an overview of the range and demonstrate the various possible powertrain combinations:
• The T911 Alicron has a MAN Euro IV engine and an MB transmission. The vehicle has a private lounge for six people.
• The T915 Alicron also has a MAN Euro IV engine, but with a ZF AS-Tronic transmission.
• The T915 Acron is the largest 2-axle coach and has a MAN Euro IV engine and a ZF AS-Tronic transmission.
• The T917 Acron, with a cam steered trailer axle, is powered by a DAF Euro V engine through a ZF AS-Tronic transmission.
• The T916 Astron has the same powertrain: a DAF Euro V engine with a ZF AS-Tronic transmission.
• The T917 Astron is also powered by a MAN Euro IV engine through a ZF AS-Tronic transmission.
• The T917 Altano, with an underfloor crew compartment, has a DAF Euro V engine and a ZF AS-Tronic transmission.
• The TD925 Astromega is a short double decker and once again combines a DAF Euro V engine with a ZF AS-Tronic transmission.

A few more models will be on show outside, ready and waiting for a test drive. Certainly plenty for visitors to feast their eyes on!

Public transport: a significant part of the Van Hool stand is devoted to buses intended for the public transport system. Van Hool vehicles are a permanent fixture in many companies in Belgium and abroad.

Van Hool will be exhibiting a two-door version of a low-floor A330 bus built for the Brussels transport company STIB/MIVB. This vehicle is part of a 115-bus order and is equipped with a MAN Euro IV engine and a VOITH transmission.

Also on display will be the new A360H, a low-entry intercity bus with a vertical MAN or DAF engine. Up to the central exit door this is a low-floor model, without any steps. Beyond the central door the floor slopes up to above engine level, making it possible to provide sufficient seating in the rear section of the bus. To ensure sufficient headroom at the back, part of the roof has been raised. The conventional configuration of a central rear engine and a conventional rear axle can thus be retained, an option that is popular with many private operators.



An AG300 in a version intended for the Walloon transport company TEC (part of a 31-bus order) demonstrates how successful Van Hool is with its articulated “puller” buses.

The most eye-catching public transport vehicle on show will undoubtedly be the hybrid fuel cell bus, which will be unveiled for the first time. This is the first full-scale hybrid bus (electric traction from the fuel cell and batteries). Another feature is that the braking energy is recovered, which means that this type of fuel cell bus needs much less power than earlier generations. Furthermore, it has the same capacity (up to 104 passengers), delivers the same performance and has the same range (up to 350 km) as a modern diesel bus. To achieve this, Van Hool has developed a 13.2-metre long vehicle with three axles. The second axle is cam steered.

Since there is no combustion process involved, the bus does not produce any harmful exhaust emissions such as CO₂ (greenhouse gas), NO_x (acid rain) or particulate matter. All that emerges from the exhaust is a bit of water vapour. Zero emissions make the hydrogen bus very environmentally friendly. It is also considerably quieter than a modern diesel bus, because the fuel cell has no moving mechanical parts.

Since 18 June this year the Flemish transport company De Lijn has operated this bus between Lier and Antwerp. This trial is due to run for six months and the bus has already exceeded expectations in terms of performance.

Van Hool is not only investing in the fuel cell bus as an alternative power system, but is also continuing to explore new ways of drastically reducing environmental pollution. A trolleybus exhibited on the outdoor stand, destined for the Italian city of Lecce, is one such option. Van Hool also manufactures compressed natural gas buses for use in urban transport.

We look forward to welcoming you to the Van Hool stand in Hall 6.