Van Hool facts for kids
.png){kind=logo} |
|
| Private | |
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1947 |
| Headquarters | Koningshooikt, Belgium |
|
Key people
|
Bernard Van Hool (founder) Filip Van Hool (CEO) Marc Zwaaneveld (co-CEO) |
| Products | Bus Coach Semi-trailers |
| Subsidiaries | Van Hool USA Van Hool North Macedonia |
Van Hool NV (Dutch pronunciation: [vɑn ˈɦoːl]) is a Belgian company that builds buses, coaches, and trailers. It's a family-owned business located in Koningshooikt, Belgium.
Most of Van Hool's buses and coaches are built completely by the company. They use engines and parts from other big companies like Caterpillar, Cummins, DAF, and MAN. Sometimes, Van Hool also builds bus and coach bodies on frames made by companies like Volvo and Scania.
Van Hool is a large company with about 4,500 employees worldwide. Each year, they make over 1,700 buses and coaches, plus 5,000 trailers. They sell around 600 coaches in the United States every year.
Contents
The Story of Van Hool
The company was started in 1947 by Bernard van Hool (1902–1974). It began in Koningshooikt, a town near Lier, Belgium. In its early years, Van Hool started making vehicles in large numbers and selling them across Europe. By the mid-1980s, they also began selling their products in North America.
On February 15, 1957, Van Hool made a deal with Fiat. This meant Van Hool would use Fiat engines and other parts in its vehicles. Because of this, Van Hool grew from just building vehicle bodies to making complete buses and coaches in Belgium. These vehicles were known as Van Hool-Fiat.
Just a year and a half after the Fiat agreement, the 100th Van Hool-Fiat vehicle was delivered in August 1958. By July 1961, they had made over 500 vehicles. The partnership with Fiat ended in 1981.
Between 1974 and 1978, Van Hool worked with an Irish company called Thomas McArdle. They formed a partnership called Van Hool McArdle to take over a bus factory in Dublin, Ireland. This factory mainly built buses for the Irish transport company CIÉ, and some for export to the UK. The factory later closed.
Van Hool started selling in Japan in the early 1980s. The Meitetsu Group bought several Astromega double-decker buses for use as long-distance highway buses. Later, Hato Bus also imported two Astromegas in 1997. Since 2016, Van Hool and Scania have worked together. They developed a special double-decker highway bus, the TDX24 Astromega, just for the Japanese market.
In 1990, Van Hool bought the coach-building part of LAG Manufacturing. They continued to make LAG's EOS models for about ten years.
In April 2024, Van Hool faced financial challenges and temporarily stopped production. However, on April 10, it was announced that two companies, VDL from the Netherlands and Schmitz Cargobull from Germany, would take over Van Hool. This allowed the company to continue its operations.
Van Hool Vehicles in Europe
In Europe, Van Hool offers many different coaches. All their designs look similar and are built on the same main structure, called the TX platform. They use a similar idea for their city buses, called the A-series. Recently, Van Hool has been focusing on new ways to power their vehicles. They now make buses that use fuel cells (like hydrogen) and diesel-electric hybrid systems.
Older Models
T8 Series Touring Coaches
The T8 platform was first made in 1979. It was used to create many different touring coaches. Each coach had a number and a name. For example, in "TD824 Astromega":
- T means Touring coach.
- D means Double deck (two levels).
- 8 means it's part of the T8 series.
- 24 means the maximum number of seat rows.
- Astromega is the name for the double-deck coaches.
In 1991, an updated version called "T8 New Look" was released. It was called the T9 in North America. Production of the T8 series stopped in the late 1990s.
Some names of T8 coaches included:
- Alicron: A standard single-deck coach.
- Acron: A single-deck coach with a higher floor.
- Astromega: A large double-deck coach.
A-series City Buses
In the 1980s, Van Hool developed the A-series for city buses. The first one, the A500, came out in 1985. Like the coaches, these buses also had a clear naming system. For example, in 'AG500':
- A means Autobus (city bus).
- G means Geleed (articulated, meaning it bends in the middle).
- 500 means the height of the floor in millimeters.
The A-series was made until the early 2000s, when it was replaced by the newA-series.
Current European Models
T9 Series Touring Coaches
The new T9 series for Europe came out in 1995. It had a completely new look and many other changes. It followed the same idea as the T8: one main design with many different versions. The naming system stayed the same. Over the years, many new types have been made.
Some T9 models include:
- Atlino and Atlon: Coaches with different floor heights.
- Alicron, Acron, and Astron: Standard touring coaches with different heights and luggage space.
- Altano: A coach where the driver sits low, and passengers sit above.
- Astronef: A coach with a sloped floor, like a theater.
- Astromega: The well-known double-deck coach.
TX Series Touring Coaches
In 2011, Van Hool showed off the TX series. This new series replaced the T9 series.
newA Series City Buses
In 2001, Van Hool launched the newA series of city buses. These replaced the older A series. They had a new design and many improvements. This series also includes different lengths and setups.
ExquiCity BRT Solution
In April 2011, Van Hool introduced the ExquiCity. This vehicle is designed for BRT systems. It looks and feels like a tram, but it's as flexible and affordable as a bus. The ExquiCity comes in two lengths: the single-articulated ExquiCity 18 and the double-articulated ExquiCity 24. Both can be trolleybuses, diesel-electric hybrids, fuel-cell hybrids, or fully electric.
The first cities to order ExquiCity buses were Parma, Italy (ExquiCity 18 trolley), and Metz, France (ExquiCity 24 diesel-electric hybrid). In 2018, a fleet of ExquiCity 18s started service in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for their Glider BRT service.
EX Series Touring Coaches
At a big car show in Germany in 2014, Van Hool showed its new EX series of touring coaches for Europe. These coaches are made at the Van Hool factory in Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia.
Van Hool Vehicles in North America
Because of different safety rules in the United States, Van Hool first only sold highway touring coaches there, starting in 1987. City buses from Van Hool didn't arrive until 2002. Today, Van Hool has four main types of vehicles in North America: the TX series luxury coaches, the CX series coaches, the TD925 and TDX double-decker coaches, and the A-series city buses. ABC Companies is Van Hool's only dealer in the United States.
In 2018, Van Hool announced plans to build a new factory in Morristown, Tennessee. This factory would make public transit buses. It was planned to open in 2020 and create 600 jobs, making about 400 buses each year.
Older North American Models
T8 Series Touring Coach
The T815 was first sold in the United States in 1987. Later models were all part of the T8 series. Early versions used Cummins L10 diesel engines, and later ones used Cummins M11 diesels. They were available in 30, 40, and 45-foot lengths.
T9 Series Touring Coach
The T9 series looks very similar to the T8 series and is also mechanically similar, with small updates. Later T9 models had bigger airbags for the suspension and front disc brakes instead of drum brakes. Van Hool considered the T8 and T9 to be the same family. They came in 40-foot (T940) or 45-foot (T945) versions.
A3 City Bus Series
Van Hool worked with AC Transit in California to show the A3 series as a new option for city buses in 2002. The AG300 is a 60-foot articulated bus (it bends in the middle), while the A330 is a 40-foot bus. These low floor city buses officially started service with AC Transit in June 2003. AC Transit has over 290 Van Hool buses in its fleet or on order.
Van Hool also built sixteen hydrogen fuel cell buses for the United States. These buses use fuel cells from UTC Power and special batteries. Twelve of these buses were bought by AC Transit, and four by CT Transit in Connecticut. These buses are special because they were designed from the start as fuel cell buses.
In 2008, AC Transit received new A300L 40-foot buses. These buses are unique because their engines are placed in the middle, between the front and rear wheels. This helps make the ride smoother. The A300L is a longer version of the A300K (K for "kort" meaning short in Dutch, L for "lang" meaning long). Riders liked the design and quality of these new buses.
Utah Transit Authority bought ten A300L 40-foot buses in 2008 and four more in 2009 for their MAX Bus Rapid Transit system. These buses have three doors and are built for cold weather and high altitudes.
York Region Transit (north of Toronto, Ontario) uses A330 and AG300 buses on its Viva routes. The Réseau de transport de Longueuil (south of Montreal, Quebec) was the first to use Van Hool city buses in North America (AG700) in 1989.
Washington, D.C.'s Circulator uses A330 buses. They bought 29 of these buses from AC Transit in 2005. The Circulator also uses the new A300K buses, which started service in April 2009. The A300K was chosen because it can do the work of a 40-foot bus with a smaller body and engine.
Current North American Models
T21 Series Luxury Touring Coach
Introduced in 1995, the T21 series is based on the European T9 platform. It has an updated design and more engine options. While older T8 and T9 series mostly used Cummins diesel engines, the T21 series can have Cummins, Detroit Diesel, or Caterpillar engines. Later T21 models had a simpler two-pane windshield and updated headlights. It comes in 40-foot (T2140) or 45-foot (T2145) versions.
C2000 Series Touring Coach
The C20 series was introduced in 2000 as a more affordable coach for long trips in the United States. It looks similar to the T21 series. The C20 can have Cummins ISX12 or Detroit Diesel DD13 engines. Greyhound uses a fleet of C2045s.
CX Series Touring Coach
The CX45 was introduced in 2013 as a redesigned C2045. It has a new front and back, and new features inside. It uses Cummins or Detroit Diesel engines.
In 2015, Van Hool introduced a 35-foot coach for North America, called the CX35. It competes with other similar coaches. It uses a Cummins L9 engine.
In 2019, Van Hool released the CX45E, which is an all-electric version of the CX45. It uses Proterra batteries. An electric CX35E is also being developed.
TD925 Astromega Double-Deck Touring Motorcoach
The TD925 Astromega is a double-decker coach with a closed top. It meets the specific requirements for use in the United States. It's a version of the TD925 Astromega coach available in Europe.
Van Hool Products
City Buses
Europe
- A308 midibus: A smaller bus with a low floor. Also available as a diesel-electric hybrid.
- A309 midibus: Low entry bus (low floor up to the second door). Also available as a diesel-electric hybrid.
- A300 standard bus: Full low floor, with engine on the side. Also available as a diesel-electric hybrid.
- A300 CNG standard bus: Uses compressed natural gas.
- A360 standard bus: Low entry. Also available as a diesel-electric hybrid.
- A330 standard bus: Full low floor, engine placed horizontally in the back. Also available as a diesel-electric hybrid.
- A330 CNG standard bus: Uses compressed natural gas.
- AG300 articulated bus: Bends in the middle. Also available as a diesel-electric hybrid.
- AGG300 bi-articulated bus: Bends in two places.
- A330T trolleybus: Powered by overhead electric lines.
- AG300T articulated trolleybus: Bends in the middle and powered by electric lines.
- AG300 CNG articulated bus: Bends in the middle and uses compressed natural gas.
- ExquiCity 18 articulated BRT bus: Bends in the middle, for Bus Rapid Transit. Available as diesel electric hybrid, trolley, fuel cell, or electric.
- ExquiCity 24 bi-articulated BRT bus: Bends in two places, for Bus Rapid Transit. Available as diesel electric hybrid, trolley, fuel cell, or electric.
- A308E electric bus: Fully electric.
- newA300K 30-foot bus: A shorter version of the A300L.
- newA300L 40-foot full low floor bus: Engine mounted in the middle on the side.
- newA330 40-foot full low floor bus: Engine mounted in the back on the side.
- newAG300 60-foot articulated full low floor bus: Bends in the middle, engine mounted in the middle on the side.
Touring Coaches
Europe
- T915 Atlon
- T916 Atlon
- TX11 Alicron
- TX15 Alicron
- TX16 Alicron
- TX15 Acron
- TX16 Acron
- TX17 Acron
- TX18 Acron
- TX16 Astron
- TX17 Astron
- TX15 Astronef
- TX16 Astronef
- TX17 Astronef
- TX17 Altano
- TX18 Altano
- TX19 Altano
- TDX20 Altano
- TDX21 Altano
- TDX25 Astromega
- TDX27 Astromega
- EX15H
- EX16M
- EX17H
North America
- TX40
- TX45
- CX35
- CX45
- TD925 Astromega USA
Japan
- TDX24 Astromega
Trolleybuses
- Van Hool A300T
- ExquiCity Trolleybus
-
VanHool A300T in Greece
-
Van Hool AG280T in Bulgaria
-
Van Hool ExquiCity in Austria
Airport Shuttle Buses
- Van Hool AP1130
- Van Hool AP1137
- Van Hool AP1237
- Van Hool AP1325
- Van Hool AP2375
-
Van Hool AP-series bus at Palermo Airport, Italy
-
Van Hool AP1137 in Turkey
Van Hool in Racing
Van Hool used to own a racing team called Team Astromega. This team competed in races like International Formula 3000 and A1 Grand Prix. One of the drivers was a family member, Mikke Van Hool.
