Predictika · Electric bus quotes

An AI sales agent's Citea electric bus quote, checked before it goes out

An AI sales agent prepares a quote for VDL new generation Citea electric buses: the model, passenger class, capacity and battery energy the customer needs, the charging solution, and the length, height, weight, capacity and motor type the quote states. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the technical specifications in VDL's public brochure and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.

Scope: VDL new generation Citea electric buses (LF-122, LF-181, LE-122, LE-135, LE-149; brochure v4.0, January 2025): class, passenger capacity, battery energy, charging solution and the stated length, height, weight, capacity and motor. No prices. See everything this validator covers

This validator models the five new generation Citea models in VDL's public technical specification table, not just the scenarios shown below.

  • Passenger class — the LF-181 is listed for Class 1 only; the other four models are listed for Class 1 and 2.
  • Capacity and battery energy — each model has a maximum passenger capacity (89 to 163) and a maximum total battery energy (575 to 791 kWh); a quote above either limit is blocked.
  • Charging solution — CCS2, bus-mounted pantograph or infrastructure-mounted pantograph are listed for every model; anything else is blocked.
  • Stated figures — bus length (12.2 to 18.1 m), height (3.19 m), gross vehicle weight (19,500 to 30,000 kg), maximum capacity and motor type (electric portal axle on the low-floor models, central motor on the low-entry models) are compared with what the quote states.
  • Country availability — the brochure says the product range may vary from country to country, so a quote whose delivery country has not been checked needs a person to confirm.

Any Citea quote that touches these rules is in scope — not only the scenarios pictured here. Not covered: prices (none are in the brochure), battery configurations below the stated maximum (the brochure lists only multiple optional sizes and the maximum), older or other Citea generations, other VDL products, and options not named above. Data in the brochure is subject to change without notice.

The AI sales agentBuilds the bus quote from the conversation and says it is ready.
Predictika validatorChecks every rule at once and returns the verdict, each finding, and the computed figures.

7 scenarios in 3 groups · each group runs from the agent’s first attempt to the outcome · click one to switch

What the agent proposes

The AI sales agent says

Illustrative agent statement. The validator receives the structured request below.

Proposing agent: AI sales agent (scripted)

Before sending, the agent must call Recorded run

Predictika validator


      

        
        
        
      

      
Waiting for the call.

      
    

  

  
  

    
Where rules-based CPQ gets it wrong
Click to expand
    
Our assessment of what a typical rules-based CPQ (product rules, price rules and validation rules, as in Salesforce CPQ) does with the same cases. It is a judgment about effort and reliability, not a claim that nothing can be built.

    
What the validator caughtTypical rules-based CPQPredictika
A passenger class a model is not listed forOnly with care
A per-model product rule that must be written and maintained for each model.		The model and the class are in one request and checked on every call.
A capacity or battery energy above the model maximumOnly with care
Each of the five models has its own limits, so each needs its own validation rule and numbers.		The need and the model are compared on every call, in any order.
A stated length, weight or motor type that does not match the modelOnly with workarounds
These are derived figures; checking a stated value against them takes extra rules that interact with the rest of the quote.		The stated figures are fields in the request and are compared with the computed ones.
Every problem returned in one answerOnly with workarounds
Rules tend to fire as the quote is saved or a step is completed, so a rep often fixes one error and meets the next.		All findings come back together, whatever order the choices arrived in.

  

  

    
What this validator catches: findings from its test cases
Click to expand
    
Every rule is checked on every call, in any order the choices arrive; one problem never hides another. Blocking findings stop the quote; approval findings need a person to sign off; everything else is computed.

    
1The Citea LF-181 is listed for Class 1 only; the quote asks for Class 2.
2The customer needs room for 111 passengers; the selected model has a maximum passenger capacity of 110.
3The customer needs room for 90 passengers; the selected model has a maximum passenger capacity of 89.
4The quote asks for 576 kWh of battery energy; the selected model offers at most 575 kWh.
5The quote asks for 650 kWh of battery energy; the selected model offers at most 647 kWh.
6The quote has a charging solution that is not one of the listed options (CCS2, bus-mounted pantograph, infrastructure-mounted pantograph).
7The quote states a bus length of 13,500 mm, but the selected model is 12,200 mm long.
8The quote states a bus height of 3300 mm, but the brochure lists 3190 mm.
9The quote states a gross vehicle weight of 30,000 kg, but the selected model is listed at 19,500 kg.
10The quote states a maximum passenger capacity of 105, but the selected model is listed at 110.
11The quote names the wrong electric motor type for the selected model (low-floor models have electric portal axles with hub motors; low-entry models have a central motor).
12The brochure says the product range may vary from country to country; a person should confirm the model and options for the delivery country.
13The customer needs room for 170 passengers; the selected model has a maximum passenger capacity of 163.
14The quote asks for 800 kWh of battery energy; the selected model offers at most 791 kWh.
15The quote states a bus length of 12,200 mm, but the selected model is 18,100 mm long.

  

  

    
Scenarios and results
Click to expand
    
The recorded result of the validator for each scenario on this page: the request the AI agent sent, the verdict, and every finding, in the order they appear above.

    
1. Capacity, battery and motor: An LE-135 quote for more passengers and battery energy than the model has

    
The agent's request. Please quote 5 VDL Citea LE-135 electric buses, Class 1, for 100 passengers with 700 kWh of battery energy, charged with CCS2 plug. The quote states a length of 13,500 mm, a height of 3,190 mm and a gross vehicle weight of 25,250 kg, with electric portal axle motors. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Passengers needed exceed the maximum capacity. The customer needs room for 100 passengers; the selected model has a maximum passenger capacity of 89.
    • 
      
  • Battery energy above the model maximum. The quote asks for 700 kWh of battery energy; the selected model offers at most 647 kWh.
    • 
      
  • Stated gross vehicle weight differs. The quote states a gross vehicle weight of 25,250 kg, but the selected model is listed at 19,500 kg.
    • 
      
  • Stated motor type differs. The quote names the wrong electric motor type for the selected model (low-floor models have electric portal axles with hub motors; low-entry models have a central motor).
    • 
    

    
2. Capacity, battery and motor: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 5 VDL Citea LE-149 electric buses, Class 1, for 100 passengers with 700 kWh of battery energy, charged with CCS2 plug. The quote states a length of 13,500 mm, a height of 3,190 mm, a gross vehicle weight of 25,250 kg and a maximum capacity of 138 passengers, with electric portal axle motors. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Stated length differs. The quote states a bus length of 13,500 mm, but the selected model is 14,900 mm long.
    • 
      
  • Stated motor type differs. The quote names the wrong electric motor type for the selected model (low-floor models have electric portal axles with hub motors; low-entry models have a central motor).
    • 
    

    
3. Capacity, battery and motor: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 5 VDL Citea LE-149 electric buses, Class 1, for 100 passengers with 700 kWh of battery energy, charged with CCS2 plug. The quote states a length of 14,900 mm, a height of 3,190 mm, a gross vehicle weight of 25,250 kg and a maximum capacity of 138 passengers, with a central motor. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Bus summary. 5 bus(es), 14,900 mm long, up to 138 passengers, gross vehicle weight 25,250 kg, up to 791 kWh of battery energy.
    • 
    

    
4. Class and charging: An LF-181 quote with Class 2, an unlisted charging solution and the wrong length

    
The agent's request. Please quote 5 VDL Citea LF-181 electric buses, Class 2, for 150 passengers with 700 kWh of battery energy, charged with a charging solution that is not in the brochure. The quote states a length of 12,200 mm, a height of 3,190 mm, a gross vehicle weight of 30,000 kg and a maximum capacity of 163 passengers. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Class 2 not available on the LF-181. The Citea LF-181 is listed for Class 1 only; the quote asks for Class 2.
    • 
      
  • Charging solution not listed. The quote has a charging solution that is not one of the listed options (CCS2, bus-mounted pantograph, infrastructure-mounted pantograph).
    • 
      
  • Stated length differs. The quote states a bus length of 12,200 mm, but the selected model is 18,100 mm long.
    • 
    

    
5. Class and charging: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 5 VDL Citea LF-181 electric buses, Class 1, for 150 passengers with 700 kWh of battery energy, charged with bus-mounted pantograph. The quote states a length of 18,100 mm, a height of 3,190 mm, a gross vehicle weight of 30,000 kg and a maximum capacity of 163 passengers. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Bus summary. 5 bus(es), 18,100 mm long, up to 163 passengers, gross vehicle weight 30,000 kg, up to 791 kWh of battery energy.
    • 
    

    
6. Capacity near the limit and delivery country: An LF-122 quote one passenger and one kWh over its limits, country unchecked

    
The agent's request. Please quote 5 VDL Citea LF-122 electric buses, Class 1, for 111 passengers with 576 kWh of battery energy, charged with CCS2 plug. The quote states a length of 12,200 mm, a height of 3,190 mm and a gross vehicle weight of 19,500 kg. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Blocked.

    
    
      
  • Passengers needed exceed the maximum capacity. The customer needs room for 111 passengers; the selected model has a maximum passenger capacity of 110.
    • 
      
  • Battery energy above the model maximum. The quote asks for 576 kWh of battery energy; the selected model offers at most 575 kWh.
    • 
      
  • Availability in the delivery country not checked. The brochure says the product range may vary from country to country; a person should confirm the model and options for the delivery country.
    • 
    

    
7. Capacity near the limit and delivery country: The agent resubmits after fixing the errors

    
The agent's request. Please quote 5 VDL Citea LF-181 electric buses, Class 1, for 111 passengers with 576 kWh of battery energy, charged with CCS2 plug. The quote states a length of 18,100 mm, a height of 3,190 mm, a gross vehicle weight of 30,000 kg and a maximum capacity of 163 passengers. It is ready to send.

    
Verdict: Allowed.

    
    
      
  • Bus summary. 5 bus(es), 18,100 mm long, up to 163 passengers, gross vehicle weight 30,000 kg, up to 791 kWh of battery energy.
    • 
    

  

  

    
Narration transcript
Click to expand
    
The text of the narrated walkthrough, step by step.

    
    
      
  1. Welcome to a demo of Predictika's Validator. An AI sales agent prepares a quote for VDL new generation Citea electric buses: the model, passenger class, capacity and battery energy the customer needs, and more. Before it goes out, the agent sends it to Predictika, which checks it against a declarative model of the technical specifications in VDL's public brochure and returns a verdict, every reason and the figures it computed.
    2. 
      
  2. I will start with the first request by the agent.
    3. 
      
  3. The agent says. Please quote 5 VDL Citea LE-135 electric buses, Class 1, for 100 passengers with 700 kWh of battery energy, charged with CCS2 plug. The quote states a length of 13,500 mm, a height of 3,190 mm and a gross vehicle weight of 25,250 kg, with electric portal axle motors. The rest of the request is on screen.
    4. 
      
  4. Before it goes out, the agent calls the validator.
    5. 
      
  5. Blocked, with four findings, all in one answer. The customer needs room for 100 passengers; the selected model has a maximum passenger capacity of 89. The quote asks for 700 kWh of battery energy; the selected model offers at most 647 kWh. The quote states a gross vehicle weight of 25,250 kg, but the selected model is listed at 19,500 kg. The other one is on screen.
    6. 
      
  6. The validator returned four blocking findings in one answer. A check that reads one field at a time would pass most of this; it shows only when the choices in the quote are checked against each other.
    7. 
      
  7. What this shows: for a capacity or battery energy above the model maximum, a rules-based CPQ is error-prone for this.
    8. 
      
  8. Now the agent resubmits.
    9. 
      
  9. The corrected request. It changes the model to Citea LE-149. It sets the stated maximum capacity as to 138.
    10. 
      
  10. It calls the validator again.
    11. 
      
  11. Still blocked, with two findings, all in one answer. The quote states a bus length of 13,500 mm, but the selected model is 14,900 mm long. The quote names the wrong electric motor type for the selected model (low-floor models have electric portal axles with hub motors; low-entry models have a central motor).
    12. 
      
  12. Three findings cleared; still blocked on stated motor type differs, and newly found: stated length differs.
    13. 
      
  13. The agent resubmits once more.
    14. 
      
  14. The revised request. It changes the stated length as to 14,900 mm and the stated motor type as to central motor.
    15. 
      
  15. It calls the validator once more.
    16. 
      
  16. This time the validator clears it.
    17. 
      
  17. Both earlier findings are cleared.
    18. 
      
  18. Four problems caught in one call, fixed in two passes, and a clean quote. That is the value of Predictika's validator: catching mistakes before they reach the customer.
    19.