Van Hool |
|
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive manufacture Automotive engineering |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Headquarters | Koningshooikt, Belgium |
| Key people | Bernard Van Hool (founder) Filip Van Hool (CEO) |
| Products | Bus Coach semi-trailers |
| Subsidiaries | Van Hool USA |
| Website | vanhool.com |
Van Hool Astromega TD927 coach for the Oxford Tube
Van Hool Alizée HE-II body on a ScaniaK113CRB coach for New Enterprise Coaches
A British spec double deck Van Hool coach.
A bi-articulated Van Hool AGG300
Front view of AGG300.
A Van Hool single articulated bus with North American specifications north of Toronto, Canada.
Van Hool NV is a Belgian family-owned coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches, trolleybuses, and trailers.
The company was founded in 1947 by Bernard Van Hool in Koningshooikt, near to Lier, Belgium. In the early years, the company introduced serial production and exported their products all over Europe. Since the mid-1980s, the company has also been active on the North American market, where it has become an important player.
On February 15, 1957, Van Hool signed a commercial agreement with Fiat; 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 as Van Hool-Fiat. Alongside these activities, the company continued as a renowned coachbuilder, enabling further expansion.
The Van Hool-Fiat co-operation was immediately a great success: a year and a half after the agreement was signed, in August 1958, 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.
In 1990, Van Hool purchased the coachbuilding business of LAG Manufacturing and continued producing their EOS models for about ten years.
Most of the buses and coaches are built totally by Van Hool, with engines and axles sourced from Caterpillar, Cummins, DAF and MAN and gearboxes from ZF or Voith, with some of their production still consisting of building bus and coach bodies on separate bus chassis from manufacturers such as Volvo and Scania.
Worldwide, Van Hool employs 4,500 people and manufactures over 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 the US.
Product range (Europe)
In Europe, Van Hool has the broadest range of coaches of all manufacturers on the market, though all designs share similar looks and are based on the same platform, the T9. The same philosophy is used on the transit bus range, the A-series. Many different versions are available, all sharing the same looks. In recent years, the company has been focussing on new propulsion technologies, introducing fuel-cell hybrid buses as well as diesel-electric hybrids.
Discontinued 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 large 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 Astromega’:
- T = Touringcar (touring coach)
- D = Dubbeldek (double deck)
- 8 = Part of the T8 series
- 24 = theoretical maximum number of seat rows
- Astromega = name of the double deck integrals
In 1991, an updated ‘T8 New Look’ was introduced. But this was called the T9 in its North American version. Production was ended in the late 1990s, following the introduction of the new (European) T9 platform.
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 (not to be confused with the US T9 series, which corresponds with the European T8 New Look) was launched in 1995. It included a completely new body design, as well as many other improvements. 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, making the T9-series the most extensive series of motorcoaches available today. Different models (all available in at least 2 lengths, see ‘products’ below) include the Atlino and Atlon, so-called double earners, 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 Astromega.
Additionally, the T9 body is also available on chassis by Scania, Volvo and VDL, though only in Sweden and on the British Isles. These motorcoaches are referred to as Alizee (single deck) and Astrobel (double deck).
TX series touring coaches
A Megabus Van Hool TDX27 Astromega at Buchanan 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 improvements. A complete family was developed, with different length and configurations.
ExquiCity BRT solution
In April 2011 Van Hool launched a new Multi Propulsion Platform called ExquiCity, aimed specifically at the BRT market. The bus has the styling and comfort of a tram, 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 of Parma (ExquiCity 18 trolley) and the French city of Metz (ExquiCity 24 diesel electric hybrid). A mock-up was presented at the UITP Congress in Dubai.
EX series touring coaches
A Van Hool EX16M produced in Macedonia. Shown at the IAA 2014
At the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung 2014 in Hanover, Germany, Van Hool presented a new series of touring coaches for the European market. This new line is called EX. It is produced in the Van Hool factory in Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. Macedonia is considered to be alow-wage country where production costs are much lower than in Belgium.
Product range (North America)
Due to American Federal Safety requirements and other unique factors, only highway touring coaches were introduced in the US initially. Transit coaches by Van Hool were not introduced until 2002. Currently, Van Hool has four separate product lines for sale: the T21-series deluxe touring coaches, the C20-series touring coaches, the
Van Hool TD925 double-decker coach
TD925 double-decker coach, and the A-series transit buses. Van Hool’s exclusive dealer in the US is ABC Companies.
Discontinued products
T8 series touring coach
The T815 was first introduced to the US 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 as 30, 40 and 45 foot 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. T9 series upgraded the suspension airbags to larger heavy-duty versions, as well as upgraded front axle to disc brakes instead of drum brakes. However, many of the earliest T9’s indeed lack these upgrades. What’s even more interesting, Van Hool’s VIN consider T8 and T9 to be the same family.
It was available as 40-foot (T940) or extended 45-foot (T945) versions.
Current products
T21 series luxury touring coach
Introduced in 1996 and based on the European T9 platform, the T21 series features an updated stream-line design and more engine choices. Whereas T8 and T9 series are almost exclusively powered by Cummins diesel engines, T21 are available with Cummins M11 plus engine, Detroit Diesel series 60 engine, or the latest Caterpillar C13 ACERT “clean diesel” engine. Most recent versions simplified the windshield into 2 panes only, replaced headlight assemblies with individual projector lamps, and consolidated the driver console.
Van Hool T2145 at Harbor and Katella in Anaheim © Andrew Novak
Available as 40-foot (T2140) or extended 45-foot (T2145) versions.
C20 series touring coach
Introduced as a lower-cost coach intended for long-line duty, the C20 series, with similar European looks to the T21 series, was introduced in 2000 to the US market. C20 is available with Cummins ISX12 or Detroit Diesel DD13 engine. Previous generations could also be equipped with Cummins M11 plus, Detroit Diesel series 60 and Caterpillar C13 engine. Both Allison B500 automatic and ZF AS Tronic automated gearboxes are available.
Greyhound operates a fleet of C2045s along with its MCI buses in Michigan.
SD956 Megabus Van Hool C2045E
Available as extended 45-foot (C2045) version only. Current model is C2045E.
A3 transit bus series
An AC Transit 30-foot Van Hool A300K bus
The popularity of A3 series in Europe led Van Hool and ABC to partner with AC Transit (Alameda and Contra Costa counties, California) to demo the A3 series as a future transit alternative in 2002. The A330 and AG300 low floor transit coaches formally entered service in AC transit fleet in June 2003. AC Transit now has over 330 Van Hool buses either in its fleet or on order as of August 2009.
Van Hool is building 16 hydrogen fuel cell buses for the USA at present (August 2009). 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.
Van Hool AG 300 – CTS – Strasbourg
The AG300 is an articulated 60-foot bus, while the A330 is a 40-foot bus.
In 2008, AC Transit took delivery of a fleet of new model A300L forty-foot buses. These buses are unique in the US market as they have their engines mounted in the wheelbase which makes their ride quality extremely stable and smooth. The new layout capitalizes on basic architectural design of the A300L’s earlier released little brother the 30-foot A300K (K stands for kort, “short” in Dutch and L for lang, “long”). A recent survey of AC Transit riders overwhelmingly approves of the design and quality of the new buses.
Salt Lake City (Utah Transit Authority) has purchased ten A300L 40-foot buses for its MAX Bus 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. They have also recently placed an order for four more because of overwhelmingly positive support of the first 10 buses and the “MAX” BRT service they operate.
York Region Transit (north of Toronto, Ontario) uses the A330 and AG300 buses on its Viva routes, though the A330 buses are being transferred to the conventional YRT service as more Nova LFX buses arrive for the Viva services. The Reseau de transport de Longueuil (south of Montreal, Quebec) also uses the AG300 buses, and was the first to use Van Hool transit buses in North America (AG700) in 1989.
Van Hool AG 700 Divia 707
Washington, D.C.‘s Circulator uses the A330 buses. These 29 buses were purchased from AC Transit in 2005. In addition to the A330 models, the Circulator now uses the new A300K buses, which first went into service in April 2009. The Circulator recently took delivery of 14 A300K, 31-foot buses to build out its route structure. The A300K was chosen because of its unique ability to do the work of forty-foot buses for nearly all operations in the smaller envelope and with the smaller engine of a midi bus.
FirstTransit took delivery of 12 A300Ls and 4 AG300s in early 2009, for use on the University of Minnesota Campus Connector.
Baltimore, Maryland‘s Charm City Circulator have recently ordered and since put 5 A300Ls into service early 2011. The A300L was a supplement order to their already existing but rehabbing Designline buses.
Van Hool A300L
TD925 Astromega double-deck touring motorcoach
The TD925 Astromega is a closed-top US-spec double decker motorcoach that is a variant of the TD925 Astromega coach available in Europe.
Products
A Van Hool TD925 bus in New York City
A Van Hool C2045-L in New York
Van Hool T916 Astronef
Transit buses
- Europe
- A308 midibus, full low floor, with side-mounted engine. Also available as diesel-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 cell or electric)
- ExquiCity 24 bi-articulated BRT bus (diesel electric hybrid, trolley, fuel cell or electric)
- A308E Electric bus
- North America
- newA300K 30 ft bus, shortened A300L
- newA300L 40 ft full low floor bus, side-mounted midship engine
- newA330 40 ft full low floor bus, side-mounted rear engine
- newAG300 60 ft articulated full low floor bus, side-mounted midship engine
Touring coaches
Europe
- T915 Atlon
Van Hool T916 Atlon
- T916 Atlon
- TX11 Alicron
Van Hool TX15 Acron
- TX15 Alicron
- TX16 Alicron
- TX15 Acron
2014 Van Hool TX 17 Acron © bertiewillemsen
- TX16 Acron
- TX17 Acron
- TX18 Acron
van-hool-tx16astron TX16 Astron
- TX17 Astron
Van Hool TX17 Astronef
- TX15 Astronef
Van Hool TX 16 Astronef TX16 Astronef
- TX17 Astronef
- TX17 Altano
Van Hool TX18 Altano TX18 Altano
- TX19 Altano
A Van Hool EX15H available 2015
- TDX20 Altano
- TDX21 Altano
Van Hool TDXAltanoScania01a
- TDX25 Astromega
TDX27 Astromega
- EX15H (Available 2015)
2015-van-hool-ex-16m EX16M (Available 2015)
- EX17H (Available 2015)
- North America
TX40 +TX45
CX45
Van Hool TD 925 Astromega TD925 Astromega USA
DAF/Van Hool-bus van de TET in de jaren zeventig.
Van Hool-FIAT 320R-touringcar van de NBM.
Van Hool-bus van de NMVB in Brussel in de jaren tachtig.
Van Hool AGG300 van voormalig GVU Utrecht.
Van Hool-bus van TEC.
Van Hool-trolleybus in Gent.
Van Hool A330FC waterstofbus in Connexxion-uitvoering.
Een Van Hool T915 Alicron van Beuk.
EOS 233
1945-van-hool-stokvogel
1946-van-hool-commer-chassis
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1949-van-hool-latil.
1950-daf-autobus-met-van-hool-opbouw
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1952-van-hool-52-DAF ehad-schuurvondst
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1958-daf-van-hool-carr
1959-van-hool-de-voecht
1960-van-hool-440
1960-van-hool-440-serie
1960-van-hool-leyland
1962-leyland-van-hool-vad-7319
1963-van-hool-fiat-420ha-st2
1963-van-hool-leyland
1963-69-van-hool-fiat-314
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1964-van-hool-fiat-420ha5220-st2-a
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1967-van-hool-420-ha-st-2
1967-van-hool-ltm-7
1968-daf-sb1600-ds-605-daf-carr-van-hool
1968-van-hool-berg-4-lks-nl
1969-fiat-625n1p-fiat-72pk-carr-van-hool-nr-19
1969-van-hool-fiat-420-hau-st9
1970-daf-tb160-daf-dd530-carr-van-hool-nr-157
1970-73-van-hool-fiat-625
1972-van-hool-fiat-409-au9
1972-van-hool-fiat-409-zeventiger-jaren
1973-barreiros-6000-van-hool
1973-scania-br145van-hool-2
1973-scania-br145van-hool
1973-77-van-hool-fiat-300
1974-scania-br86br145-van-hool
1974-van-hool-fiat-314-3
1975-van-hool-au115x(leyland)
1975-van-hool-autobus
1975-van-hool-daf-au115x
1975-76-van-hool-fiat-409au95
1976-van-hool-440-serie
1976-van-hool-a124-daf-litouwen
1977-van-hool-autobus
1978-van-hool-a120
1978-van-hool-alizc3abe-t815
1978-van-hool-man-a120
1978-84-van-hool-alizee
1979-van-hool-alizee
1979-van-hool-bus-car
1979-van-hool-elizee-b7cf
1979-van-hool-klimaat-systemen
Van Hool Vliegtuig Bussen
1980-van-hool-au138
1982-van-hool-alizee-t815-litouwen
1982-van-hool-volvo-litouwen
1985-van-hool-ag280-2
1985-van-hool-astromega-td824-uk
1985-van-hool-man-ag280-2
1986-van-hool-t800-serie-vip
1987-van-hool-alizee
1989-van-hool-ag700
1989-van-hool-astral-volvo-uk1
1990-van-hool-a500-tot-ag700
1990-van-hool-astrobel-estland
1991-van-hool-a500
1991-van-hool-a600
1992-arke-van-hool-t815-acron
1992-van-hool-ag300
1992-van-hool-t815-alicron-rai
1992-van-hool-volvo-estland
1993-van-hool-a300
1993-van-hool-altano-t816-litouwen
1994-arke-tad-6817-rai-pr-van-hool
1994-van-hool-a360
1994-van-hool-immage-rai
1994-van-hool-t8-new-look-rai
1994-98-van-hool-a308
1996-van-hool-a300-serie-rai
1996-van-hool-a300-serie-1-rai
1996-van-hool-t9-acron-rai-car
1997-van-hool-a300-serie-busworld
1997-van-hool-a320
1997-van-hool-a330-gnv
1997-van-hool-alizee-uk
1997-van-hool-eos-serie-busworld
1997-van-hool-t9-acron
1997-van-hool-t9-busworld
1997-van-hool-t9-busworld
1997-van-hool-t915-acron-1-busworld
1997-van-hool-t915-alicron
1997-van-hool-t917-acron
1997-van-hool-t924-astromega-busworld
1997-van-hool-t9451
1998-van-hool-a-300-wagen-60-is-ook-leswagen
1998-van-hool-italia-kleinbus
1998-van-hool-td924-astromega
1999 Volvo Vanhool Astrabel tri-axle coach
2000 Van Hool 872 Riga
2000 Van Hool T9450-283
2000 Van-Hool-Bus in München
2001 Van Hool bkv-lov868-mt
2001 Van Hool C2045-L
1999-volvo-vanhool-astrabel-tri-axle-coach
2002-abc-bus-van-hool-45-foot-demonstrator-coach
2003-van-hool-c2000-capital-trailways-of-alabama © Robert Redden
2004-van-hool-agg300
2004-van-hool-agg300-doppelgelenkbus © O.Nordsieck
2005-van-hool-libdem-battle-bus
2007-van-hool-astromega-ned
2008-van-hool-acron-t917-uk
2008-van-hool-altano-td921-uk
2009-van-hool-a300l
2009-van-hool-alizee-t9-london
2009-van-hool-astrobel-uk
2010-van-hool-acron-t916-uk
2010-van-hool-new-a-330-hybride
2010-van-hool-proef-citybussen-hybride-aandrijving-svd09 © Ron van Poppel
2011-van-hool-alizee-t9-uk
2011-van-hool-td-925-astromega
2012-van-hool-alligator T931 © Bertie Willemsen
2013-van-hool-td927-astromega
2013-van-hool-tdx-27-astromega-th-lubbe-zoeterwoude © Jaap de Koning
2014-van-hool-t916-atlon
2014-van-hool-tx-17-acron © bertiewillemsen
2015-van-hool-ex-16m
barreiros-5300-con-carroceros-van-hool-renault
barreiros-van-hool-c-gran
daf-van-hool-3
daf-van-hool-jac-de-groot-11
daf-van-hool-a
journeys-van-hool-eastbound © Hank’s Truck Pictures
1962 leyland-van-hool-vad-7319-1962
pegaso-van-hool
Pegaso van Hool
sd956-megabus-van-hool-c2045e1
van-hool-jonckheere-sammlung
van-hool aleria-2a
van-hool-306
van-hool-409-ai-61
van-hool-409-au-92
van-hool-440
2012 van-hool-915cl
van-hool-915tl
van-hool-a-300-strd-dijon
van-hool-a-308-urbus-dax
van-hool-a-308
van-hool-a-330-a-330-cng
van-hool-a-330-divia-dijon
van-hool-a-330-gnv-tl-lausanne
van-hool-a-360-mouchet-montballiard
van-hool-a-500-tub-st-brieuc
van-hool-a-508-sibra-annecy
van-hool-a-508-du-rc3a9seau-urbain-trace-de-colmar
van-hool-a-600-de-lijn-bruxelles
van-hool-a120-techn-spec
van-hool-a120f
van-hool-a300-0292-073
van-hool-a300-0591-067
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van-hool-a330-gnv
van-hool-a500-0791-068
van-hool-a500-0990
van-hool-a507a508-pr88-053
van-hool-a508-1092-078
van-hool-a600-0991-069
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van-hool-across-87-048
van-hool-afrique-scania
van-hool-ag-300-cts-strasbourg
van-hool-ag-300-gpl-filbleu-tours
van-hool-ag-700-divia-dijon
van-hool-ag-700-divia-dijon 707
van-hool-ag300-de-lijn
van-hool-ag300-f
van-hool-ag300
van-hool-ag300t
van-hool-ag300t-o-gelenkbus © O.Nordsieck
van-hool-ag300t-o-gelenkbus-sws © O.Nordsieck
van-hool-ag700-0990-066
van-hool-agg300
van-hool-alicron-t815-9-86-038
van-hool-alicron-t915-f
van-hool-astromega-oxford-tube
van-hool-b8b5-t-814
Van Hool TX40 &TX45 banner
Van Hool C2000 Series Banner
van-hool-coach-engeland
van-hool-coach 420
Van Hool GCA 3035RE Series
Van Hool GCA M1235 Series
van-hool-jonckheere fiat
van-hool-new-a-308-tub-blois
van-hool-new-a-320-ctc-montceau-les-mines
van-hool-new-a330
van-hool-new-a600
van-hool-new-alizee
van-hool-new-enterprise-coach-m54-aww
van-hool-sleeperbus-14
van-hool-stoelen
van-hool-t-8121
van-hool-t9-astral
van-hool-t815-acron
van-hool-t911-alicron
van-hool-t913cl
van-hool-t915-alizee-reiseb-hardings © O.Nordsieck
van-hool-t916-altano
van-hool-t917-acron
van-hool-t917-altano
van-hool-t918-altano
Van Hool T2100 Series Banner
van-hool-t2145-at-harbor-and-katella-in-anaheim © Andrew Novak
van-hool-td824-astromega-gb
van-hool-td824-astromega-blue-sky
van-hool-td924-astromega
van-hool-td925-double-decker-coach
van-hool-tdx27-astromega
van-hool-tdx27-astromega
van-hool-tdx altano scania
van-hool-trolley-bus-seen-in-service-in-athens-greece
van-hool-tx-16-astronef
van-hool-tx15-acron
van-hool-tx16 astron
van-hool-tx17 astronef
van-hool-tx18-altano
van-hool-vliegtuigbus-algiers-160pass-146staan-en-14-zitpl
van-hool-volvo-alizée
van-hool-waterstofbus
van-hool-bodied-volvo-b10m-single-deck-coach
That’s it
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