Škoda delivers trams in the largest order in history for KVG
10/08/2023
Škoda Group will be delivering 22 trams to Kasseler Verkehrs-Gesellschaft (KVG), as part of a contract worth €88 million, the largest investment in vehicles in the history of KVG.
The first tram is expected to come into service in 2026 and regular service to begin in 2027. In addition to the contract for 22 new 30m two-way trams, there is an option to purchase an additional 18 trams, meaning that Skoda could deliver up to 40 trams.
Production is arranged to begin at the end of 2024 and will be introducing features that will improve the passenger experience. For example, each tram will have four doors on each side and a low-floor design to facilitate boarding and alighting for people with reduced mobility.
The trams will be among the first from the Škoda Group outfitted with the company's innovative anti-collision technology. The system creates a virtual tunnel in front of the tram in which it detects all static and dynamic obstacles and, if it detects one, alerts the driver and activates the emergency brake. The entire surrounding area is monitored by a suite of sensors that includes LiDAR, an IMU unit and a camera. The LiDAR is responsible for 3D mapping of the surrounding area within a range of 100-150 m in both horizontal and vertical fields of view. The IMU unit feeds information about the vehicle’s tilt into the system and helps the sensor output from the anti-collision system to reflect the profile of the track. The camera provides high-resolution 2D images which capture more detail.
Dr Olaf Hornfeck, member of the board of directors of KVG, said, ‘Škoda submitted the most cost-effective bid. This contract paves the way for the gradual modernisation of our public transport system, as this is a prerequisite for revamping mobility in Kassel and the surrounding area.’
Production is arranged to begin at the end of 2024 and will be introducing features that will improve the passenger experience. For example, each tram will have four doors on each side and a low-floor design to facilitate boarding and alighting for people with reduced mobility.
The trams will be among the first from the Škoda Group outfitted with the company's innovative anti-collision technology. The system creates a virtual tunnel in front of the tram in which it detects all static and dynamic obstacles and, if it detects one, alerts the driver and activates the emergency brake. The entire surrounding area is monitored by a suite of sensors that includes LiDAR, an IMU unit and a camera. The LiDAR is responsible for 3D mapping of the surrounding area within a range of 100-150 m in both horizontal and vertical fields of view. The IMU unit feeds information about the vehicle’s tilt into the system and helps the sensor output from the anti-collision system to reflect the profile of the track. The camera provides high-resolution 2D images which capture more detail.
Dr Olaf Hornfeck, member of the board of directors of KVG, said, ‘Škoda submitted the most cost-effective bid. This contract paves the way for the gradual modernisation of our public transport system, as this is a prerequisite for revamping mobility in Kassel and the surrounding area.’