Van Hool

Van Hool
Company type	Private
Industry	Automotive manufacture; Automotive engineering;
Founded	1947
Headquarters	Koningshooikt,Belgium
Key people	Bernard Van Hool (founder); Filip Van Hool (CEO); Marc Zwaaneveld (co-CEO)
Products	Bus; Coach; Semi-trailers
Parent	VDL Groep, VDL Bus, and Coach
Subsidiaries	Van Hool USA; Van Hool North Macedonia ABC Companies
Website	Official website

Van Hool NV(Dutch pronunciation:[vɑnˈɦoːl]) is aBelgian coachbuilderand manufacturer ofbuses,coaches,trolleybuses,andtrailers.

A Van Hool single articulated bus with North American specifications north ofToronto,Ontario, Canada

Most of the buses and coaches are built entirely by Van Hool, with engines and axles sourced fromCaterpillar,Cummins,DAFandMANand gearboxes fromZForVoith.Some production involves building bus and coach bodies on separate buschassisfrom manufacturers such asVolvoandScania.

Worldwide, Van Hool employs 4,500 people and manufactures more than 1,700 buses and coaches (bodyworks and complete vehicles combined) and 5,000 trailers each year. It sells an average of 600 coaches annually in theUnited States.^{[citation needed]}

History

The company was founded in 1947 by Bernard van Hool (1902–1974) inKoningshooikt,nearLier, Belgium.In the early years, the company introduced serial production and exported their products all over Europe. The company has also been active on the North American market since the mid 1980s.

On February 15, 1957, Van Hool signed a commercial agreement withFiat;Van Hool would incorporate Fiat engines and other mechanical components (gearboxes, axles, steering) in its vehicles. It developed from a coachbuilder to a Belgian manufacturer of integral buses and coaches, known asVan Hool-Fiat.Alongside these activities, the company continued as a coachbuilder, enabling further expansion.

In August 1958, a year and a half after the agreement with Fiat was signed, the 100th Van Hool-Fiat was delivered, and by July 1961, the figure had exceeded 500. The co-operation agreement with Fiat was terminated in 1981.

Between 1974 and 1978 Van Hool andDundalk-based coachbuilders Thomas McArdle entered into a partnership known asVan Hool McArdleto take over the bus building factory ofCIÉat Spa Road, Dublin,Ireland.The factory mainly built buses for CIÉ in Ireland plus some for export to the UK. The factory was then closed leaving the Republic of Ireland without a bus manufacturer for several years.

Van Hool entered the Japanese market in the early-1980s when theMeitetsu Groupimported several Astr Omega double-decker buses for use as highway buses, followed byHato Buswho imported two Astr Omega s in 1997. Since 2016, Van Hool and Scania have jointly developed and produced the TDX24 Astr Omega double-decker highway bus (also marketed as theJ-InterCity DD[ja]) solely for the Japanese market, as the spiritual successor to theMitsubishi Fuso Aero Kingwhich was discontinued six years earlier.

In 1990, Van Hool purchased the coachbuilding business ofLAG Manufacturingand continued producing their EOS models for about ten years.

Van Hool filed for bankruptcy on Friday, 5 April 2024 and was declared bankrupt the following Monday (8 April 2024) by theCommercial Courtof Belgium, with production stopping and putting 1550 jobs at risk.^[2]

On 10 April 2024, it was announced that Van Hool's trustees had accepted a takeover bid from Netherlands-based bus manufacturer^[3]VDLand Germany-based semi-trailer manufacturerSchmitz Cargobull.

Product range (Europe)

In Europe, Van Hool has a broad range of coaches, though all designs share similar looks and are based on the same platform, the TX. The same philosophy is used on the transit bus range, the A-series. In recent years, the company has been focusing on new propulsion technologies, introducing fuel-cell hybrid buses as well as diesel-electric hybrids.

Previous Products

T8 series touring coach

The T8 platform was introduced in 1979. The body was based on the Alizee bodywork that had been launched the previous year. Over the course of several years, a range of touring coaches were developed based on this platform, each distinguished by a number and a name, following a clear naming convention. For example, in "TD824 Astr Omega":

T = Touringcar (touring coach)
D = Dubbeldek (double deck)
8 = Part of the T8 series
24 = theoretical maximum number of seat rows
Astr Omega = name of the double deck integrals

In 1991, an updated "T8 New Look" was introduced, called the T9 in its North American version. Production was ended in the late 1990s, following the introduction of the new (European) T9 platform.

Model names used during the T8's production run included:

Alicron = integral single deck coach (standard height)
Acron = integral single deck coach (high floor)
Astron = integral single deck (formerly interdeck) coach (3.88 m or 12 ft8+3⁄4inhigh, two-axle, mid engine, small lower saloon at rear)
Alizee = short length integral single deck coach, single deck coach body on other manufacturers' chassis
Alligator = integral articulated single deck coach
Altano = integral interdeck coach (low driving position and passenger seating above driver)
Aragon = single deck coach body built byVan Hool Españaon other manufacturers' chassis
Astral = interdeck coach body on mid-engined Volvo B10M chassis (two- or three-axle, small lower saloon at rear)
Astrobel = double deck coach body on other manufacturers' chassis (4 m or 13 ft1+1⁄2in high, three-axle, rear engine). A one-off extra-high body was also built on a mid-engined Volvo B10MT chassis for use in Britain.
Amarant = integral double deck coach (3.88 m or 12 ft8+3⁄4in high, two-axle, rear engine)
Astr Omega = integral double deck coach (4 m or 13 ft1+1⁄2in high, three-axle, rear engine)

A-series transit bus

In the 1980s, European countries started to move away from standard bus designs, leaving the design of transit buses to the manufacturers. Van Hool's response was the development of the A-series transit buses. The first member, the A500, was introduced in 1985. A complete family would follow, again following a clear naming convention. For example, in 'AG500':

A = Autobus (transit bus)
G = Geleed (articulated)
500 = height of the floor, in millimeters

Production of the A-series continued into the early 21st century, when it was replaced by the newA-series.

Current products

T9 series touring coaches

The new T9 series in Europe was launched in 1995. It included a completely new body design and many other changes. The same philosophy as with the T8 was applied: one platform, many different versions. Also, the naming convention was retained. Over the years, many new variants have been developed. Different models (all available in at least 2 lengths, see 'products' below) include the Atlino and Atlon, with different floor heights, the Alicron, Acron and Astron, standard touring coaches with different heights and thus different luggage space, the Altano, which has an underfloor cockpit, the Astronef, which features a sloping theatre-style floor, and the double deck Astr Omega.

Additionally, the T9 body is also available on chassis byScania,Volvo,andVDL,though only in Sweden and the British Isles. These motorcoaches are referred to as Alizee (single deck) and Astrobel (double deck).

(The European T9 series should not be confused with the T9 series in the United States market, which corresponds with the European T8 New Look.)

TX series touring coaches

AMegabusVan Hool TDX27 Astr Omega atBuchanan bus station

At Busworld 2011 in Kortrijk, Belgium, Van Hool presented the successor to the T9 series. The new series is called TX.

newA series transit buses

In 2001, Van Hool introduced the newA series transit buses, replacing the A series. It featured a new body design and many other changes. A complete family was developed, with different length and configurations.

ExquiCity BRT solution

A double-articulated ExquiCity 24Mettis[fr;de]atMetz

In April 2011, Van Hool launched the ExquiCity platform, aimed specifically at theBRTmarket. The bus has the styling and comfort of atram,with the flexibility and cost of a bus. The ExquiCity was launched in two lengths, the single-articulated ExquiCity 18 and the double-articulated ExquiCity 24. Both are available as trolley buses, diesel-electric hybrids, fuel-cell hybrids or full-electric buses.

First orders were placed by the Italian city ofParma(ExquiCity 18 trolley) and the French city ofMetz(ExquiCity 24 diesel electric hybrid). A mock-up was presented at theUITPCongress inDubai.A fleet of ExquiCity 18s commenced service inBelfast,Northern Irelandon 3 September 2018 delivering thebus rapid transitservice marketed under the nameGlider.

EX series touring coaches

AVan Hool EX16Mproduced inMacedonia.Shown at theIAA2014.

At theInternationale Automobil-Ausstellung2014 inHanover,Germany, Van Hool presented the new EX series of touring coaches for the European market. It is produced in the Van Hool factory inSkopje,the capital of theNorth Macedonia.^[4]

Product range (North America)

Due to American federal safety requirements and other unique factors, only highway touring coaches were introduced in the United States initially, starting in 1987. Transit coaches by Van Hool were not introduced until 2002. Currently,^[when?]Van Hool has four separate product lines: the TX series deluxe touring coaches, the CX series touring coaches, the TD925 and TDXdouble-deckercoach, and the A-series transit buses. Van Hool's exclusive dealer in the United States is ABC Companies.

In 2018, Van Hool Headquarters announced plans to construct a new manufacturing facility inMorristown, Tennesseedesigned to produce public transit buses. The facility was planned to open in 2020, and employ 600 workers, capable of making approximately 400 buses annually.^[5]

Discontinued products

T8 series touring coach

The T815 was first introduced to the United States market in 1987. Later subsequent models are collectively known as the T8 series. The earliest use Cummins L10 diesels. Later versions use Cummins M11 diesels. It was available in 30,-40-and-45-foot (9.14, 12.19 and 13.72 m) length versions.

T9 series touring coach

T9 series are almost identical to the T8 series visually, and are largely identical mechanically as well, except for incremental updates. Later models in the T9 series have larger suspensionairbags,as well as frontdisc brakesinstead ofdrum brakes.Van Hool'sVINconsider T8 and T9 to be the same family. It was available as 40-foot (12.2 m) T940 or extended 45-foot (13.7 m) T945 versions.

A3 transit bus series

Van Hool and ABC partnered withAC Transit(AlamedaandContra Costacounties,California) to demonstrate the A3 series as a future transit alternative in 2002. The AG300 is anarticulated60-foot (18.3 m) bus, while the A330 is a 40-foot (12.2 m) bus. The A330 and AG300low floortransit coaches formally entered service in AC Transit's fleet in June 2003. AC Transit has over 290 Van Hool buses either in its fleet or on order as of August 2016.^[6]

Van Hool was building sixteen hydrogenfuel cellbuses for the United States as of August 2009^[update].These buses are powered by fuel cells from UTC Power and lithium batteries from EnerDell. Twelve of the buses are being purchased by AC Transit and four by CT Transit of Hartford, Connecticut. This project is unusual in that the buses have been designed from the ground up as fuel cell buses and are designed, built, and integrated by a single manufacturer.

In 2008, AC Transit took delivery of a fleet of new model A300L 40-foot (12.2 m) buses. These buses are unique in the United States market, as they have their engines mounted between the front and rear axles in an attempt to improve the ride quality. This bus is a longer version of the previously introduced 30-foot (9.1 m) A300K (Kstands forkort,"short" in Dutch andLforlang,"long" ). A survey of AC Transit riders found that they approved of the design and quality of the new buses.

Utah Transit Authority(based inSalt Lake City) purchased ten A300L 40-foot (12.2 m) buses in 2008, followed by four more in 2009, for itsMAXbus rapid transit system. These buses differ from AC Transit's A300Ls as they have three doors and are equipped for cold weather and high altitude operations.

York Region Transit(north ofToronto,Ontario) uses the A330 and AG300 buses on itsVivaroutes, though the A330 buses are being transferred to the conventional YRT service as more Nova LFX buses arrive for the Viva services. TheRéseau de transport de Longueuil(south ofMontreal,Quebec) also used the AG300 buses, and was the first to use Van Hool transit buses in North America (AG700) in 1989.

Washington, D.C.'sCirculatoruses the A330 buses. These 29 buses were purchased from AC Transit in 2005. In addition to the A330 models, the Circulator now^[when?]uses the new A300K buses, which first went into service in April 2009. The Circulator recently^[when?]took delivery of fourteen A300K, 31-foot (9.4 m) buses to build out its route structure. The A300K was chosen because of its ability to do the work of 40-foot (12.2 m) buses for nearly all operations with the smaller body and engine of a midi bus.

FirstTransit took delivery of twelve A300Ls and four AG300s in early 2009, for use on the University of Minnesota Campus Connector.

Baltimore, Maryland'sCharm City Circulatorhave recently^[when?]ordered and since put five A300Ls into service early 2011. The A300L was a supplement order to their already existing, but rehabilitatingDesignlinebuses.

TX- American Version highway Coach

Vanhool tx45 Going through Downtown NYC

In 2015 Vanhool started production of the TX40 and Tx45 highway coach in the US. In 2018 production of the TX series stopped in the US.

Current products

T21 series luxury touring coach

Introduced in 1995 and based on the European T9 platform, the T21 series features an updated design and more engine choices. Whereas the T8 and T9 series are almost exclusively powered by Cummins diesel engines, the T21 series is available with Cummins M11 plus,Detroit DieselSeries 60, or Caterpillar C13 ACERT engines. Later models of the T21 simplified the windshield into two panes only, replaced headlight assemblies with individual projector lamps, and consolidated the driver console. It is available as 40-foot (12.2 m) T2140 or extended 45-foot (13.7 m) T2145 versions.

C2000 series touring coach

AFung Wah BusVan Hool C2045 in easternConnecticut

Introduced as a lower-cost coach for long-distance routes, the C20 series, styled similarly to the T21 series, was introduced in 2000 to the United States market. C20 is available withCummins ISX12orDetroit DieselDD13 engines. Previous generations could also be equipped with Cummins M11 plus, Cummins ISM, Detroit Diesel series 60 andCaterpillar C13engines. BothAllison B500automatic andZF AS Tronicautomated gearboxes are available.^[7]Greyhoundoperates a fleet of C2045s along with its MCI buses in Michigan.

AnAcademy Bus LinesCX35 inNew York City

CX series touring coach

Introduced in 2013 for the 2014 model year, the CX45 is a redesigned C2045 with a redesigned front end, new rear cap, and new interior features. It was offered with the Cummins ISX12 until 2019, before switching to the CumminsX12.TheDetroit DieselDD13 is also offered.^[8]^{[unreliable source?]}

In 2015, Van Hool introduced a 35-foot coach to the North American market to compete with theMCI J3500.This coach is called the CX35 and is offered with a CumminsL9(ISL9before 2017) engine.^[9]^{[unreliable source?]}

Introduced in 2019, the CX45E is an all-electric version of the CX45, withProterrabatteries. A CX35E is in the works, but has not been released as of yet.^[10]^[11]^{[unreliable source?]}^[12]

An AC Transit 30-foot (9.1 m) Van Hool A300K bus

TD925 Astr Omega double-deck touring motorcoach

The TD925 Astr Omega is a closed-top double-decker motor coach meeting United States specifications. It is a variant of the TD925 Astr Omega coach available in Europe.

Products

A Van Hool TD925 bus inNew York City

A Van Hool C2045-L in New York City

Van Hool T916 Astronef

Transit buses

Europe

A308 midibus, full low floor, with side-mounted engine. Also available asdiesel-electric hybrid.
A309 midibus, low entry (low floor up to the second door). Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
A320 standard bus (out of production)
A300 standard bus, full low floor, with side-mounted engine. Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
A300 CNG standard bus
A360 standard bus, low entry. Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
A330 standard bus, full low floor, engine placed horizontally in the back. Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
A330 CNG standard bus
AG300 articulated bus. Also available as diesel-electric hybrid.
AGG300 bi-articulated bus
A330T trolleybus
AG300T articulated trolleybus
AG300 CNG articulated bus
ExquiCity 18 articulated BRT bus (diesel electric hybrid,trolley,fuel cellorelectric)
ExquiCity 24 bi-articulated BRT bus (diesel electric hybrid, trolley, fuel cell or electric
A308Eelectric bus
newA300K 30-foot (9.1 m) bus, shortened A300L
newA300L 40-foot (12.2 m) full low floor bus, side-mountedmidship engine
newA330 40-foot (12.2 m) full low floor bus, side-mounted rear engine
newAG300 60-foot (18.3 m) articulated full low floor bus, side-mounted midship engine