Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (N12) – ComfortDelGro Bus

The Zhongtong LCK6126EVG is an electric single-deck city bus model offered by Chinese bus manufacturer Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd. (中通客车). The 12-metre bus belongs to Zhongtong’s N series range of electric city buses, and is hence also referred to as the Zhongtong N12.

Local private bus operator ComfortDelGro Bus procured a fleet of Zhongtong N12 buses for use on university shuttle bus routes, configured as full-low-floor battery-electric buses in both two-door and three-door specifications. Buses entered service in September 2022. This article only covers Zhongtong N12 buses operated by private bus operators in Singapore, which as of early 2023, has only been procured by ComfortDelGro Bus.

For the version of this bus supplied to the Land Transport Authority for trials, visit this article: Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (Public Bus).

See also: Electric Buses in Singapore

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Background

The N series electric city bus range was launched by Zhongtong on 1 November 2019. Four models of different lengths were offered, namely the N8, N10, N12, and N18, the last of which is an articulated bus.

According to Zhongtong, extensive optimizations for energy saving, such as improved regenerative braking, HVAC, and other subsystems, achieve a 7 to 10% improvement in energy consumption over previous generations of electric buses. These features, combined with long-life traction batteries (supplied by CATL) and maintenance-free motor bearings, contribute to the low cost of ownership. Its steel unibody construction also achieved a 5-star safety rating by C-SCAP.

The bus has entered service in many Chinese cities, the largest being an order for 811 units for Harbin that were optimized for cold weather operation. Outside of China, around 30 buses were delivered to Egypt in 2020, and trial buses were delivered to Porto (Portugal) and Israel for trial in 2021. Zhongtong N12 buses in both battery-electric and trolleybus variants were also delivered to Mexico City in 2021 for trial.

Zhongtong’s entry into the Singapore electric bus scene comes amid the Land Transport Authority (LTA)’s push to rapidly electrify the public bus fleet. Half of all public buses will be electric by 2030, which is about 3,000 buses.

ComfortDelGro operations

ComfortDelGro Bus’s Zhongtong N12 buses are primarily used for its contracted shuttle bus operations, serving as campus shuttle buses at NUS and NTU, as well as Sentosa shuttle buses on Sentosa island.

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ComfortDelGro Bus orders

Private bus operator ComfortDelGro Bus secured multi-year operating contracts from both the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in November 2021 and February 2022 respectively, for the provision of campus shuttle bus services at both universities.

As part of these contracts which commenced in late 2022, ComfortDelGro Bus would gradually introduce electric buses to the shuttle bus routes. While a rollout timeline was not provided, all buses serving both campuses would eventually be replaced with electric ones, which is about 50 buses. Zhongtong LCK6126EVG buses formed the majority of this bulk order, with smaller numbers of BYD B12 buses (10 units) also procured.

According to requirements announced by both universities, buses had to be wheelchair accessible and equipped with a telematics system, an anti-fatigue system as well as a forward collision and side collision warning system. A mobile app would offer access to real-time information on bus location along the route, arrival time, and passenger occupancy rate.

2 Door Variant

In August 2022, 5 of these Zhongtong LCK6126EVG buses were spotted in Singapore pending registration. These were configured as low-floor buses with 2 passenger doors. 3 units bore the NUS’ livery of orange & blue, while the other 2 units for NTU bore a blue livery.

Registration & Rollout (2-Door Variant)

Registration of these buses commenced on 21 September 2022.

• PD496S, PD622U & PD728Z
  (Registered on 21 Sep 2022; with NUS Livery)
• PD583Z & PD698B
  (Registered on 19 Oct 2022; with NTU Livery)

These buses entered service on NUS’ Internal Shuttle Bus network on 26 September 2022, with PD496S and PD622U deployed on Service BTC, and PD728Z deployed on Service D1.

Over at NTU, these electric buses were first spotted in service on 7 November 2022, serving the Campus Rider (Green Loop).

Following the rollout of 3-door BYD B12A03 buses at NUS on 21 November 2022, PD496S & PD622U were withdrawn from the NUS ISB network and transferred to the Sentosa bus service network. Both buses were repainted in full orange livery and began service in Sentosa on 30 November 2022.

In January 2023, the last remaining 2-door bus at NUS (PD728Z) was repainted to a full white livery and redeployed to the NTU ISB network, marking the end of 2-door Zhongtong operations at NUS.

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3 Door Variant

3-door variants were first sighted in November 2022 and were fully registered in December 2022 (30 units). They were first deployed on NUS and NTU ISB services on 22 Dec 2022 and 3 Jan 2023 respectively.

• PD679G
  (Registered on 2 Dec 2022)
• PD516T, PD533T, PD539C, PD554H, PD576U, PD581D, PD593U, PD658S, PD696G, PD705P & PD726D
  (Registered on 13 Dec 2022)
• PD487T, PD760D, PD773S, PD776J, PD788A, PD810T, PD964H, PD992B, PD1029B & PD1049T
  (Registered on 21 Dec 2022)
• PD771Y, PD778D, PD804L, PD807D, PD1018H & PD1022U
  (Registered on 22 Dec 2022)
• PD933T & PD1064Z
  (Registered on 23 Dec 2022)

Several of these buses entered service at NTU in a plain white livery without NTU promotional decals.

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Brief Specifications

These buses are built by Zhongtong in Liaocheng, China.

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ComfortDelGro Bus Order (For NUS / NTU Deployments)

Interior

The Zhongtong LCK6126EVG is a low-floor single-deck bus, offering step-free access across the entire length of the bus. Buses procured by ComfortDelGro Bus feature both two-door and three-door configurations.

Like the Volvo B9L buses, the interior design prioritizes standing space, given the mostly short-haul trips undertaken on campus shuttle buses.

The interior design strongly mimics that of Yutong E12 electric buses purchased by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and Yutong ZK6126HGA buses purchased by Woodlands Transport. These buses use the same grey floorboard design with crescent patterns, and seats are all supplied by Polish company Ster (model: Ster 8MI), upholstered in blue.

USB charging ports are provided at each seat and at wheelchair bays, rated at 2.1 A output. Four additional pairs of inductive chargers (model: Aircharge Nylon) are provided between opposing-facing seats, embedded within a black panel. These chargers are compatible with the Qi wireless charging standard and are able to charge most smartphones.

Wheelchair Accommodation

The bus features two wheelchair bays, both located opposite the exit door. They each accommodate one passenger-in-wheelchair (PIW). Foldable armrests and a stroller restraint system are provided for wheelchair users and the securing of prams respectively, mirroring similar features on LTA-procured buses.

Passenger Information Display System

The bus is installed with a Passenger Information Display System, with coloured LCD screens and LED text displays facing inside and outside the bus.

As of launch, the default formatting of the interior screen (used across NUS, NTU and Sentosa) displays bus stops in top-to-bottom order, this being the opposite of LTA-procured public buses, which display bus stops in bottom-to-top order. The left side of the PIDS screen lists bus stops, while the right side is free advertising space mainly used for promotional clips.

The LED text display mounted at the front indicates the bus’ next stop and destination. Both LCD and LED screens also display “Bus Stopping” whenever the stop request button is pressed.

Drivers’ Cab

The driver’s cab features an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite, including a 360-degree Surround View monitor and an Anti-Fatigue system. These features have previously been made standard on LTA-procured public buses.

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ComfortDelGro Bus Order (3-Door variant)

The 3-door variant retains much of the interior design elements from the earlier 2-door variant. The third door subtracts 7 seats from the bus, for a new seating capacity of just 22 passengers.

Prior to entry into service, the knee-level edges beside the last row of seats were lined with foam tape likely to mitigate passenger injury; however, this did not appear to be a permanent solution, as the taps frequently wore down or peeled off after a short time.

The interior sees minor design differences compared to the two-door batch, as covered by this article by The ISB Man:

• Interior PIS screen uses untinted glass for improved visibility (previously orange-tinted glass)
• Interior partition panels between seating/standing areas slightly enlarged
• Repositioned interior number plates

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Major Accidents

 

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Continued on Page 2:

• Gallery (NUS)
• Gallery (NTU)
• Gallery (Interior)
• Gallery (Pre-Delivery)

The post Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (N12) – ComfortDelGro Bus first appeared on Land Transport Guru.