Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (N12)

Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (N12)
Zhongtong N12 on Bus Service 3
Manufacturer Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd.
Bodywork NA (integral)
Years in operation 2023—Present
Operators Go-Ahead Singapore
Technical Data
Length 12 m
Motor Dana–Prestolite TM4 SUMO MD
Battery CATL LFP (422 kWh)
Accessibility Low Floor
Emission Standard Zero tailpipe emissions

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.

A 3-door Zhongtong N12 demonstrator unit was supplied to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for revenue service trials. Registered to Go-Ahead Singapore as SG4010H, the bus entered passenger service on 24 April 2023 and was deployed on Bus Service 3.

The bus was re-deployed to Pasir Ris Bus Services from 30 October 2023, operating on Service 358, as well as other bus services based in Pasir Ris such as Services 15, 354, 359 & 403.

This article only covers the Zhongtong N12 public bus operated by Go-Ahead Singapore. For the version of this bus operated by private bus operators in Singapore (ComfortDelGro Bus and Tong Tar Transport), visit this article: Zhongtong LCK6126EVG [Private Bus].

In line with LTA’s ongoing efforts to rapidly electrify the public bus fleet, half of all public buses will be electric by 2030. More detailed coverage of this rollout is covered at Electric Buses in Singapore.


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. In addition, numerous electric bus makers have supplied trial buses to LTA, which are detailed in the Electric Buses in Singapore article (see: Electric Buses supplied to LTA for Trial).

LTA Trial Bus

In September 2022, a Zhongtong LCK6126EVG was spotted inside the Cycle & Carriage compound at Pandan Gardens, bearing the placeholder registration plate “SG0000M”. The bus is configured with three dual-leaf passenger doors, similar to the Linkker LM312 and CRRC C12.

That same month, two-door Zhongtong LCK6126EVG buses made their debut with ComfortDelGro bus on campus shuttle buses at NUS, with three-door variants entering service later in 2022.

On 10 March 2023, this demonstrator bus was registered to Go-Ahead Singapore, bearing the registration number SG4010H.

The bus is currently based at Loyang Bus Depot and recharged at existing 90kW DC electric bus chargers supplied by NARI, which were installed as part of the Yutong E12 & Yutong E12DD rollout. Revenue service commenced on Monday, 24 April 2023, and is currently deployed on Bus Service 3, where it is being evaluated alongside current and former electric buses such as the Yutong E12 and the CRRC C12.

At launch, the bus was observed to suffer from intermittent issues with the front Electronic Display Sign. On Thursday, 27 April 2023, the bus was no longer sighted on revenue service and it returned to service on 3 May.


Further Orders

In November 2023, Cycle & Carriage (partnering with Zhongtong Bus) was awarded a contract to deliver 120 single-deck 3 door electric buses to the Land Transport Authority progressively from 2024. This is out of the 360 single-deck buses procured by LTA in 2023.


Brief Specifications

Zhongtong LCK6126EVG – Specifications (TBC)
(Land Transport Authority trial bus)
Motor
Dana–Prestolite TM4 SUMO MD (TZ368XSPE300WH)
Permanent magnet synchronous electric motor
Nominal power/torque of 145 kW / 1055 Nm
Maximum power/torque of 245 kW / 3329 Nm
Battery
CATL Lithium iron phosphate battery (Capacity 422 kWh)
Charged via DC plug-in charger (CCS Type 2 connector)
Bodywork
Zhongtong integral bodywork (Steel monocoque structure).
Full low-floor configuration
EDS Luminator ULTIMA Electronic Display Sign (EDS)
Orange LED Matrix design. Luminator Basic driver controller.
PIDS Luminator SMART Passenger Information Display System (PIDS)
Interior-facing LCD screen (29”) and exterior-facing LCD screen + LED Text Display
Interior & Exterior Speakers
ADAS TNT Surveillance T-Guard
– Forward collision warning system & lane departure warning (T-FA Front Alert Camera)
– Side collision warning system (T-SA Side Alert Cameras)
– Anti-Fatigue system (T-DA Driver Alert Camera)
– Surround view camera system (T-A.I. 360°)
Passenger Capacity 28 Seated + 57 Standing = 85 Passengers
2 Wheelchair Bays
Other Specifications Valeo REVO-E Global air conditioning
Ster 8MI seats
TNT Surveillance T-APC passenger counters
Actia dashboard
ZF steering and drive axles
• USB Charging Ports
• Stroller restraint system​

 


LTA Trial Bus

Interior

The Zhongtong LCK6126EVG is a low-floor single-deck bus, offering step-free access across the entire length of the bus. The three-door configuration promotes ease of passenger access, with all doors being dual-leaf and at least a metre wide.

The interior layout of the bus closely resembles the Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (N12) delivered to Tong Tar Transport, including the dark blue-grey floorboards, yellow stanchion poles, seating layout with 28 seats, and interior fittings. Seats are supplied by Polish company Ster (model: Ster 8MI), and upholstered in blue and red, with red seats intended as priority seats.

Like the Tong Tar Transport bus, the interior partition panels are installed in the same positions, but they have an additional extension protruding towards the aisle, possibly for extra modesty protection. The rear-most pair of seats can be accessed via a floor step and stanchion pole. However, the left-side seats just in front of the third door have reduced legroom due to the door mechanism protruding into this area.

Wall-mounted USB charging ports are provided at each seat, rated at 2.1 A output, with a spring-loaded dust cover.

Rather than using Zhongtong’s own dashboard design which is fixed in place, the LTA demonstrator has opted for an adjustable Actia dashboard, similar to those on the Yutong E12/Yutong E12DD. This design also places the door control buttons in easier reach for the driver.

The Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) suite is supplied by TNT Surveillance, comprising forward and side collision warning systems with lane departure warning, complemented by a 360-degree surround-view camera system, and an anti-fatigue system.

Wheelchair Accommodation

The bus has two wheelchair bays positioned across from the middle door. Passengers-in-wheelchair (PIW) board and alight via a manual wheelchair ramp installed at the middle door.

Each bay can accommodate one PIW and is equipped with a retractable safety belt and stroller restraint system for securing prams. However, there are no foldable seats provided in the wheelchair bays.

The handlebar in the wheelchair bay is fixed, despite the top portion being a pivoting mechanism that locks at 90-degree intervals, and this could be a result of a modification made prior to revenue service. Additionally, the single-piece wheelchair backrest lacks a recess for any such handlebar to be stowed, resulting in it protruding outside of the backrest. This design oversight is apparent in the Tong Tar Zhongtong N12.

EDS/PIDS

The Zhongtong LCK6126EVG offered for LTA trials is fitted with Electronic Display Sign (EDS) and Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) units from Luminator Technology Group, which promotes commonality and hence ease of integration with many other buses operating in Singapore’s public bus fleet.

The EDS (model: Luminator ULTIMA) is an orange LED matrix displaying the bus service number and destination, mounted to the front, left side, and rear of the bus.

The PIDS (model: Luminator SMART) comprises an interior-facing LCD screen and an exterior-facing LCD screen. The interior LCD display shows the next bus stop, and up to 3 subsequent bus stops served by the bus route, along with rail connections at these bus stops. The exterior-facing LCD display shows the next few MRT stations that the bus serves, and the number of bus stops to that MRT station.

The LCD display panels are accompanied by a LED Text Display mounted at the front and rear of the bus interior. This unit shows the service number, destination, and name of the next bus stop.

Doors

The doors fitted to the LTA demonstrator unit are the same as those fitted to Zhongtong N12 buses delivered to private operators. The brand is not known, but appears to be less robust in operation as compared to other door models commonly used on Singapore buses (e.g. SMC Transit, Masats, Ventura, etc.).

The front door uses inward gliding doors, while the exit doors are sliding plug doors. All doors are double leaf.


Youtube

The bus was also documented by a local Youtuber prior to registration, whilst the bus was stationed outside the Cycle & Carriage compound. Uploaded in December 2022, fare revenue equipment was already installed on the bus.

Gallery:

Gallery (Interior):


See Also:

LTA Trial Bus Series:
Registration Type Bus Model
SG4001J Electric SD 2 Door (Low Entry) BYD K9
SG4002G Diesel Euro V SD 3 Door (Low Entry) MAN Lion’s City SD – 3-door Concept Bus
SG4003D Diesel Euro 6 DD 2 Door Volvo B8L
SG4004B Hybrid SD 2 Door Mercedes-Benz Citaro hybrid
SG4005Z Electric DD 2 Door BYD K9RC
SG4006X Electric SD 3 Door CRRC TEG6125BEV03
SG4007T Electric SD 3 Door Volvo BZL
SG4009M
Electric SD 3 Door Ankai G9
SG4010H Electric SD 3 Door Zhongtong LCK6126EVG
SG4012C Electric SD 3 Door FTBCI FBC6120BRS7
SG4013A Electric SD 3 Door BYD B12A03

 

References:

22 thoughts on “Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (N12)

  • 14 February 2024 at 5:50 PM
    Permalink

    Does anyone know the schedule for SG4010H? I would like to catch this bus before it’s trial ends.

    Reply
  • 25 April 2023 at 12:14 PM
    Permalink

    Like CRRC C12 was deployed on Bus Service 3

    Reply
  • 9 November 2022 at 6:02 PM
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    Oh yeah, by the way, for 3-door LTA trial bus, I saw the EDS showing “Luminator Technology Group” parked inside C&C Pandan Gardens. It was a setup and what it appears to be using Luminator ULTIMA EDS model.

    Reply
    • 18 March 2023 at 10:49 PM
      Permalink

      Confirmed!
      EDS: Luminator ULTIMA Electronic Display Sign (EDS)
      Orange LED Matrix design.
      Luminator Basic driver controller.
      PIDS: Luminator SMART Passenger Information Display System (PIDS)
      Interior-facing LCD screen (29”) and exterior-facing LCD screen
      Interior & Exterior Speakers

      Reply
  • 31 October 2022 at 5:07 PM
    Permalink

    looks like a new byd 3 door bus will be in nus later.

    Reply
    • 23 November 2022 at 8:48 PM
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      It already entered service.

      Reply

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