Van Hool

Van Hool NV is a Belgian coachbuilder and manufacturer of buses, coaches and trailers.

The company was founded in 1947 by Bernard Van Hool in Koningshooikt, nearby Lier, Belgium. In the early years, the company introduced serial production and exported their products all over Europe. The latest market is in US with AC Transit (Alameda County, California) in 2006.

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 immediately was a great success: already in August 1958 the 100th Van Hool-Fiat was delivered, and by July 1961 the figure had exceeded 500. The cooperation agreement with Fiat was terminated in 1981.

Most of the buses and coaches are built totally by Van Hool, with engines and axles sourced from Caterpillar, Cummins and MAN and gearboxes from ZF or Voith, and some of their production consists of building bus and coach bodies on bus chassis from manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, 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.fact|date=February 2008

In the US, Van Hool has three separate product lines for sale: the T21-series deluxe touring coaches, the C20-series touring coaches, and the A-series transit coaches. Its exclusive dealer in the US is [http://www.abc-companies.com ABC Companies] .

Product range (United States only)

Due to American Federal Safety requirements and other unique factors, only highway touring coaches were introduced in the US initially. ABC Companies is the exclusive distributor of Van Hool coaches in the US. Transit coaches by Van Hool were not introduced until 2002.

Discontinued products

T8xx 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.

T9xx 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

T21xx series luxury touring coach

Introduced in 1996, 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.

Available as 40-foot (T2140) or extended 45-foot (T2145) versions.

C20xx 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 M11 plus engine, Detroit Diesel series 60 engine, or the latest Caterpillar C13 ACERT "clean diesel" engine. Greyhound operates a fleet of C2045s along with its MCI buses in Michigan.

Available as extended 45-foot (C2045) version only. Current model is C2045E.

A3xx transit bus series

The popularity of A3 series in Europe lead 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.

The AG300 is an articulated 60-ft bus, while the A330 is a 40-foot bus.

Many San Francisco Bay Area transportation advocates are highly critical of the design of the A330 and AG300 buses due to their poor ride, awkward seating and an internal step. Despite their attractive looks, which was the main reason AC Transit chose them, these buses have injury rates an order of magnitude higher than the other buses used by AC transit, are difficult for drivers to maneuver on city streets and are significantly more expensive than other buses used by AC Transit. [ [http://www.eastbayexpress.com/gyrobase/the_buses_from_hell/Content?oid=627762&showFullText=true East Bay Express | News | The Buses From Hell ] ]

York Region Transit (north of Toronto, Ontario) operates Viva which also uses the A330 and AG300 buses. 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.

TD925 Astromega double-deck touring motorcoach

The TD925 Astromega is a closed-top US-spec double decker motorcoach that is a variant of the TD927 Astromega coach available in Europe.

Products

* A308 midibus
* A320 standard bus
* A300 standard bus
* A300 CNG standard bus
* A360 standard bus
* A330 standard bus
* A330 CNG standard bus
* AG300 articulated bus
* AG500 articulated bus
* AGG300 bi-articulated bus
* A300T trolley bus
* AG300T articulated trolley bus
* AG300 CNG articulated bus
* AG700

Coaches:
* T915 Acron
* T917 Acron
* T917 Astron
* T916 Altano
* T917 Altano
* T918 Altano
* TD924 Astromega
* TD927 Astromega
* 913 CL
* 915 CL
* 915 TL
* 916 TL
* T911 Alicron
* T915 Alicron
* T916 Alicron

* T2145 US coaches
* C2045 US coaches
* TD925 US coaches

References

External links

* [http://www.vanhool.be/products_bus.asp?ParentID=9 Van Hool Buses] (except the United States)
* [http://www.abc-companies.com Van Hool Buses] (United States only)
* [http://busexplorer.com/PHP/FeaturePage.php?id=22 busexplorer.com Van Hool Coach Page]