Alstom and NTL have presented a new electric public transport vehicle with a unique design. The layout of the new Aptis is based on that of a tram, incorporating low-floor accessibility and 360° views. Two or three large double doors enable easy on-and-off passenger flows and smooth access for wheelchairs and strollers. Aptis has four steerable wheels, so it occupies 25% less surface area in curves, and minimizes the space needed to park at stops.

NTL is now manufacturing Aptis prototypes at its factory in Duppigheim in the Alsace region of France. French transport operator STIF plans to launch two trials in Paris and the Ile-de-France region during the second half of 2017.

Aptis can be charged overnight at a depot, or at the end of each line during daily operations. Fast charging can be done using an inverted pantograph or Alstom’s SRS ground charging system.

Alstom and NTL will provide an entire system, including dimensioning, charging options, road infrastructure, leasing and warranty options.

According to the companies, Aptis’s low maintenance and operation costs, and its longer service life, give it a total cost of ownership equivalent to legacy diesel buses.

“With Aptis, we complete our electric mobility offering and are now able to offer cities a full range of urban solutions,” says Alstom CEO Henri Poupart-Lafarge. “It was a real challenge to create this innovative concept, made possible thanks to NTL’s knowledge of vehicles on tires and Alstom’s expertise in electric traction and system integration.”

Source: Alstom