Electric Bus Travel: Through the USA in a Double-Decker with a Battery

The pace is relentless with fossil-free bus travel: In February, a fully electric Van Hool single-decker CX45E from ABC Companies traveled 2,700 km along the U.S. West Coast from Newark (California) to Seattle (Washington State) in just two days. Now, the Van Hool distributor has stepped up and taken on the ultimate electromobility challenge: crossing the USA in a battery-electric double-decker coach, the Van Hool TDX25E. The journey began at ABC's headquarters in Winter Garden (Florida) and ended at ABC's branch in Costa Mesa (California). The route, over 4,000 km long, involved overcoming elevation differences of more than 1,500 m, crossing mountains, and dealing with various road conditions and climate zones. A new distance record for road testing with electric buses was set. The new double-decker electric model completed the route in six days, using public charging stations along the way.

From Concept to Commercial Availability

The TDX25E series vehicle used in the demonstration is the first of its kind in North America.

Our 56-seater CX45E, which was launched in 2020, was the inspiration and the impetus for the rapid development and deployment of the new double-decker TDX25E. Demand for these vehicles is very high in many markets, and our technology partners Van Hool and Proterra have shown clearly that they are able to turn this demand into real solutions that can be quickly integrated into fleets and provide reliable, repeatable results. (Roman Cornell, President and CCO of ABC Companies)

The Vehicle

The premium double-decker bus TDX25E is the battery-electric version of the TDX series with high comfort for up to 69 passengers. The 13.7 m long model is equipped with a battery system from Proterra and a Siemens Elfa-II drivetrain. ABC Companies Fleet Electrification Services recorded real-time data throughout the journey.

The Data

The TDX25E achieved an average consumption of 2.08 kWh/km on the highway. With a possible top speed of 71 km/h, an average speed of about 60 km/h was recorded by the end of the trip. The total range per charge averaged 420 km at temperatures between 5 and 27°C. Charging power of up to 147 kWh enabled relatively short charging times, averaging only 3.5 hours. Given a total storage capacity of 676 kWh, the bus's state of charge never dropped below 8% during the journey.

The Verdict of Passengers and Drivers

Our customers are very impressed with the ride quality, comfort, and range of these vehicles. As companies commit to reducing their CO₂ footprint, high-passenger-capacity e-models like the TDX25E and CX45E are becoming an increasingly important option for fleet operators. (Thom Peebles, Vice President Marketing ABC Companies)

Our drivers and staff were impressed by the performance, comfort, and quiet ride of these buses and adapted quickly to operating these vehicles. From the easy charging process to the familiar controls for drivers and the support from ABC, the integration of these electric vehicles went much more smoothly than we imagined. (Eddie Serrano, Vice President and General Manager of Empire Coach Line, which provided the drivers)

ABC Companies: Comprehensive Fleet Electrification

Road tests like the 2,700 and 4,000 km demonstrations are a key part of ABC Companies' fleet electrification strategy for commercial passenger transport. These tests provide critical data that enable continuous program development and optimization for ABC Companies and its technology partners. Real-time monitoring and data collection provide insights to improve energy consumption. Additionally, monitoring driver behavior and the extensive use of the public charging system demonstrated during this test can help create future training modules and regional route plans.