The Zhongtong N12D electric double-deck bus for Singapore was unveiled at a global launch event on 11 October 2024. The event was organised by Shandong Heavy Industry Group, which owns Zhongtong Bus.
The launch event, which was held at Pasir Panjang Power Station, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Bus is 12 or 12.5m?
The front face is 死在难看。