| Zhongtong LCK6126EVGS (N12D) |
|
 Zhongtong N12D at SITCE 2024 |
|
| Manufacturer | Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd. |
| Bodywork | NA (integral) |
| Years in operation | TBC |
| Operators | TBC |
| Technical Data | |
| Length | 11.990m |
| Motor | Dana–Prestolite TM4 SUMO MD |
| Battery | CATL LFP |
| Accessibility | Low Floor |
| Emission Standard | Zero tailpipe emissions |
The Zhongtong LCK6126EVGS (marketed as Zhongtong N12D) is a battery-electric double-deck city bus manufactured by Chinese bus manufacturer Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd. (中通客车). It is a right-hand-drive vehicle equipped with three doors and two staircases.
The bus was unveiled at a global launch event organised by Shandong Heavy Industry Group, which owns Zhongtong Bus, on 11 October 2024 at Pasir Panjang Power Station in Singapore. In addition, the bus was also exhibited at the LTA-UITP Singapore International Transport Congress & Exhibition (SITCE) in November 2024.
Delivered in a Lush Green livery, this demonstrator unit is likely to be offered to the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for revenue service trials.
In line with LTA’s ongoing efforts to rapidly electrify the public bus fleet, half of all public buses will be electric by 2030. Detailed coverage of this rollout can be found at Electric Buses in Singapore.
Initial Sightings
The Zhongtong N12D electric bus was initially identified in a Facebook video uploaded in June 2024 by 杨敏媛, captioned ‘The double decker made by Zhongtong’, showing two right-hand-drive Zhongtong double-deck buses in Lush Green livery. Dialogue in the video identifies these buses as being for the Singapore market.
Another exterior photo was shared by user SSX on the buspedia website, dated 17 June 2024, and referencing the model number LCK6126EVGS.
Official Launch
On 11 October 2024, a launch event was held at Pasir Panjang Power Station, and was also a handover ceremony for Zhongtong electric buses for the Singapore market, which included several new Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (N12) single-deck buses. LTA had procured a total of 120 such buses back in 2023.
The handover ceremony marked the delivery of these buses to Cycle and Carriage (C&C), the local automotive dealer for Zhongtong Bus.
SITCE 2024
The bus was exhibited at the LTA-UITP Singapore International Transport Congress & Exhibition (SITCE) in November 2024.
Specifications
| Zhongtong LCK6126EVGS (N12D) – Specifications |
|
| Manufacturer | Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., Ltd. |
| Dimensions |
Length × Width × Height: 11990 mm × 2550 mm × 4330 mm |
| Weights |
Unladen Weight: 18,800 kg Maximum Laden Weight: 26,300kg |
| Tyres |
275/70 R22.5 |
| Electric Motor |
Dana–Prestolite TM4 |
| Battery |
CATL Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery Charged via 2x DC plug-in chargers (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 |
| Air-con |
Spheros DD540-E |
| Driver Assistance | 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 | 13 Seated (Lower Deck) + 45 Seated (Upper Deck) + 64 Standing = 122 Passengers Not including 2 foldable seats, 2 wheelchair bays |
| Other Specifications | • Ster 8MI seats • USB charging ports • Automatic wheelchair boarding ramp • Camera mirror system • VDO Tachograph |
Design
Following the likes of 3-door Double-Deck Buses procured by LTA in 2019, the Zhongtong N12D features a full-low-floor design along with three passenger doors and two staircases, allowing commuters to move through the vehicle quickly and safely. The rear staircase is also directly opposite the exit door, allowing upper deck passengers to quickly exit the bus from the rear.
The lower deck features two wheelchair bays as per existing LTA requirements for new buses. Side-facing seats are installed on the lower deck rear; a departure from forward- and rear-facing seats preferred in newer bus designs.
The bus also touts a generous driving range of up to 600 km. However, the test cycle used to derive this range and the bus’ battery capacity is not yet known, and the real-world range could be affected by heavy air-conditioning demands for buses operating in Singapore’s climate.
The bus is likely destined for trials with the Land Transport Authority (LTA), in line with its vision of a 100% cleaner energy public bus fleet by 2040. If so, the bus will join a long list of electric buses supplied to LTA for revenue service trials since 2021.
Lower Deck
Driver Cabin
Interior
Staircase
Upper Deck
Background – Zhongtong Electric City Buses in Singapore
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, as detailed in the Electric Buses in Singapore article (see: Electric Buses supplied to LTA for Trial).
The Zhongtong LCK6126EVG (N12) low-floor electric bus first entered the Singapore market in 2022, with private bus operator ComfortDelGro Bus procuring 35 units in total (5 × 2-door; 30 × 3-door), for use as campus shuttle bus services at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), under new multi-year operating contracts. Some of these buses were later deployed on Sentosa Island’s shuttle bus services.
Later in 2023, private bus operator Tong Tar Transport took delivery of Zhongtong N12 3-door buses, for use at Resorts World Sentosa. Another 12 buses were procured for the Mandai Khatib Shuttle, entering service on 18 June 2024.
In the public transport scene, Zhongtong provided one 3-door N12 bus to LTA for trial purposes in 2023. Go-Ahead Singapore operated the bus out of Loyang Bus Depot from April 2023 to April 2024.
In November 2023, Zhongtong was awarded a tender to supply 120 3-door single-deck electric buses under Contract PT601. Buses procured under this contract are scheduled to be progressively deployed for passenger service from December 2024.
The upcoming Zhongtong double-deck electric buses mark another step for Zhongtong in the Singapore market. On top of securing LTA orders for electric single-deck buses, it has also developed an electric double-deck bus for local evaluation, indicating its commitment to the local market and possibly raising its standing for future electric double-deck bus procurement contracts, should the trial succeed.
See Also:
References:
Back to Bus Models
Honestly, it’s a good thing that we chose lime green colour to be the common livery instead of red.
Lime green colour is the common bus livery colour in China. Otherwise it’s other light colour like light blue, light brown, or white colour.
Meanwhile, red colour is the common bus livery colour in the west, especially UK.
It’s probably because we use same colour as China, that is why we have been able to get a lot of support from China to promote our clean energy buses movement.
As reward, really should have awarded a bus package to a China company, to see how they manage effectively with their method. Previously so many tenders, got China contenders, price relatively average (not the lowest, not the highest, middle). Really should give chance to China to see how they run a bus package, rather than only restrict to UK and Australia bus operators.
Perhaps time to consider the above paragraph already.
Anyway, I have a gut feeling this double decker would be the Volvo B9TL replacement, to be the majority double decker bus model eventually.
Volvo B9TL first launched in Q4 2010. It has been 14 years already. Can justify early retirement by about 2 years like that, to make way for this Zhong Tong N12D double decker bus model, if they really so interested in wanting to promote clean energy buses.
Since anyway, now just launch only, mass production after that, and mass development after that probably will start in 2026 or 2027. In time for Volvo B9TL retirement.
Yup, probably the Volvo B9TL replacement. The design looks rather simple, therefore economical enough to mass procure and deploy thereafter.
The above are my personal opinion regarding this matter.
You forgot that ADL Enviro 500EV,And don’t rule out MAN,Volvo that has potential to build three axles EV DDs.
You’re a foreigner
You have 0 say in the matter of the future of SG’s bus industry
The mainlanders will only screw things up further and make things even more unreliable than the locals which is saying a lot
Stop trying to shill to the CCP, we do not want more explosions to happen here than what already happens in the PRC
Finally, a new double decker electric bus by Zhongtong for Singapore! Can’t wait to see these 2 electric buses in service! Hope these 2 buses will be deployed in trial to the following bus services-
Go Ahead bus services 2, 3, 68, 118 or 518,
SBS Transit services 8, 10, 14, 19, 22, 28,30, 31, 35, 39, 65 or 72,
SMRT services 67, 180, 184, 188, 903, 962 or 964,
Tower Transit services 854, 856, 963, 965, 966 or 969.
My wish that let this just remain as a demonstrator and nothing more.
Zhongtong N12DD?
Beside Zhongtong,LTA should consider the new ADL Enviro500EV..Hopefully MB or MAN Ev bendy buses for airport and short haul high loading feeder service.
243G/W,225G/W can try a few bendy buses.