VDL opts for cameras to replace wing mirrors
By Jim Gibbins - 1st November 2019
The Netherlands / Israel - Cameras in combination with two screens mounted on the A pillars inside the vehicle are to replace side mirrors on VDL’s Citea bus and Futura coach range in the next few months, announced Henk Coppens, CEO of VDL Bus & Coach NV of Eindhoven, speaking at Busworld Europe last month. The company is working with MobilEye NV of Jerusalem, Israel (a provider of safety systems and is a subsidiary of Intel Corporation in Santa Clara, California since March 2017) to offer this camera-based system.
The system eradicates blind spots and allow drivers to have good visibility in all weather conditions, said Alex de Jong, Business Manager Public Transport at VDL Bus & Coach. Pieter Gerdingh, Business Manager Coach for VDL said without mirrors on the outside of the coach there is less drag, suggesting a fuel consumption reduction benefit of up to 4%; depending on use and conditions of operation.
