ABC Bus Search 2020

ABC

2020

AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH

BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

• ELECTRO-MOBILITY TRANSITION

• NEW BUS TECH AND

ADVANCES

• PASSENGER PROTECTION

AND INNOVATIONS

• BUS DELIVERIES

ANALYSIS

CLASS LEADER

+

Fuso’s new safety-laden Rosa leads the pack CHASSIS + BODY SPECS | AIR-CON, SEATING, PARTS + ACCESSORIES SUPPLIERS GUIDE | PRODUCT REVIEWS

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ELEC TRIC

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UPFRONT

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

The technological advancement of bus and coach design, greater cost efficiencies and emissions reduction pushes on in earnest in 2020, as manufacturers, operators and policy advisors adjust to unforeseen public transport and tourism market forces.

W

elcome ladies and gentlemen, friends and relations, bus industry peers and casual ‘perusers’ alike to the 2020 annual Australasian Bus & Coach magazine Bus Search guide.

An insightful introductory tool as either a quick reference or more in-depth précis for a range of bus and coach products and services in one convenient publication, such is its intent.

Within these 116 pages we hope you find useful information on the latest and or enduringly benchmark-setting bus industry-shaping items in our chassis (pp.

12–37), bodies (pp. 38–47) and combined chassis and body sections (pp. 48–101) – all underwritten by an array of quality supplier products (pp. 104–116) such as air-conditioning units, bus and coach seating providers, passenger information systems and sundry other vehicleenhancement offerings to hopefully make your Australasian bus business better.

So, how has the past 12 months or so been? To the average bus punter a virus pandemic was the last thing they would have put money on occurring – and even we decided it best to delay producing this year’s Bus Search to accommodate such a fact for all participants, so sincerest apologies for that.

Yet, overall, we find ourselves collectively showing resilience and empathy and common-sense as best possible in many areas as we adapt to a changed market given the bus and coach PAX limitations enforced by social distancing and an initial need to limit the spread of what we are saturatingly told is an horrific death-inducing coronavirus.

Just how bad it really is – or not – I guess time will tell, though many are buoyed by a reduction in ‘cases’ and a mortality rate seemingly akin to – and often less than – normal expunction numbers of human life annually across the planet compared to other such 4

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“Choose wisely … to make their busproduct selection process an informed and commercially astute one.” influenza viruses and causes of death.

Aside from how such data is interpreted and by which groups and whatever vested interests seems to be a debate that will endure for some time still, but arguably growing consumer confidence with restrictions easing and state borders opening in time gives some of us hope that a resurging bus and coach market is underway and gaining good traction each day towards year’s end. We hope.

Against that backdrop, the quality of bus and coach product across the Australasian region is a strong mix of locally made and foreign imported goods that seems to cover an increasing range of components and consumables driving the transition to cleaner-running propulsion and greater electro-mobility across certain areas of the market. And, to be fair, there will be some brands missing purely because of delayed rollout of key products due to 2020’s impact, which is totally understandable.

A MATTER OF CHOICE With suitable charging infrastructure –

or lack thereof in most parts at present – and rapid advances in battery and fuel-cell technology, in this region at least there is plenty of time for operators to choose wisely what type of bus and coach applications they actually do need, by when, and for how much to make their bus-product selection process an informed and commercially astute one.

And while Bus Search 2020 is by no means an entirely comprehensive tome of every bus product out there on Earth, it does hopefully provide a useful snapshot of relevant products that are available, properly after-sales supported for our local market, and or indicate the type of technology filtering down into this region here someday soon from a range of key manufacturers.

With safety, quality and environmental friendliness ever the increasing focus of bus production in the past 20 years or so at least, these facets will only ever get more keenly enhanced and appreciated by a discerning global bus and coach market.

We hope you enjoy Bus Search 2020. busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 2:06:59 PM

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contents 03 EDITORIAL

Editor Cotter welcomes you back to the 2020 edition of the ABC magazine Bus Search. We hope you enjoy.

08 OVERVIEW – CHASSIS, BODIES, PUNDITS AND PREDICTIONS

Chassis and bodies form the bulk of the proud Australasian bus and coach industry and there’s been some exciting developments from some of the big players there.

10 THE NEW G4 DESTINATION DISPLAY

The new G4 range of destination signs from Hanover Displays are much slimmer and lighter than the current range of LED signs.

12 MAN-PENSKE SURFSIDE CITY BUS ORDER STARTS

The first of a 15-bus MAN-chassis fleet to Queensland-based Surfside Buslines has started, with the Bustech and Volgren-bodied units due for service on the Gold Coast and in the NSW Tweed Shire.

22 SCANIA CELEBRATES 2019 BUS AND COACH DELIVERY RECORD Eclipsing its previous high of 403 units, Scania set a year 2019 record bus and coach deliveries amount of 427 ‘new vehicles commissioned’,

28 HELLO KITTY – VOLVO E-BUS

Volvo’s massive Transperth supply order and CAT bus system is where leading European e-bus tech will start to seep into Australasian market waters. We speak exclusively with Volvo Bus Australia’s David Mead about all things electric bus.

38 BRISBANE HERITAGE ‘BUS 80’ LANDS AT MUSEUM

Following its long-awaited refurbishment, iconic heritage ‘Bus 80’ is now on display undercover for the first time in its 72-year life.

40 ELECTRIC SUNRISE

The bus industry is certainly changing thanks to new greener and environmentally friendly technologies. Huge advancements in viability and trials by companies such as Transdev Australasia of the Volgren-BYD e-bus help ensure we are on the right e-mobility path.

48 CHALLENGE ACCEPTED!

Building from the point of view of a driver and business owner, Challenger Bus and Coach is now offering a new range of high quality vehicles that have been designed specifically for Australia’s demanding conditions.

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EDITORIAL

FOLLOW US ONLINE AT: Facebook – facebook.com/ABCBusnews YouTube – bit.ly/busandcoachtv Twitter – twitter.com/ABCmag

Editor: Fabian Cotter ph: 0451 194 600 e-mail: fcotter@bauer-media.com.au

PRODUCTION

Art Director: Bea Barthelson Sub-Editor: Cat Fitzpatrick

PRINTING

IVE Print

ADVERTISING

Group Sales Manager – Industry: Adrian Christian ph: 0423 761 784 e-mail: achristian@bauer-media.com.au Group Sales Manager – Transport: Peter Gatti ph: 0437 895 600 e-mail: pgatti@bauer-media.com.au VIC Sales: Matt Alexander ph: 00413 599 669 e-mail: malexander@bauer-media.com.au QLD Sales: Hollie Tinker ph: 0466 466 945 e-mail: htinker@bauer-media.com.au SA/WA Sales: Nick Lenthall mobile: 0439 485 835 e-mail: nlenthall@bauer-media.com.au NSW Sales: Con Zarocostas mobile: 04357 594 238 e-mail: czarocostas@bauer-media.com.au

MARKETING & EVENTS

Marketing Manager: Andrew Amato ph: 03 9567 4145 e-mail: aamato@bauer-media.com.au

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54 IN THE STARS

Annual subscription rates (12 issues): Australia: $89* NZ: $A100.05 Overseas: $A122.50 (Australian air-mail only) *price includes GST

64 SAFETY FIRST

GM – Industry: Graham Gardiner Group Finance Manager: Cain Murphy Commercial Director: Matt Rice Digital Director: Tim Kennington Operations Manager: Regina Fellner People & Culture Manager: Nicola Ramsay

For nearly two decades, Frank Oliveri has been running Southern Cross Transit, a part of the G&C Oliveri Group of companies. With an aim to further improve its safety and efficiency standards, the school bus and charter services operator has recently added two new Mercedes-Benz O500 RS Irizar buses to its fleet.

The new Fuso Rosa protects precious cargo with class-leading light-duty bus safety features – the most advanced to appear in Australia.

68 SMALL FEET, BIG HEART

When launched a few years ago here in Australia, the Hino Poncho was a ‘cute little bus’ giving potential buyers something to think about. Years later with ‘on demand’ now in vogue, those thoughts are even more pertinent still.

76 FIRST 33 VOLVO-IRIZAR MINE BUSES DELIVERED

EXECUTIVE GROUP

PUBLISHED BY

Are Media Pty Limited ABN 18 053 273 546 73 Atherton Road, Oakleigh, Vic, 3166, Australia e-mail: abc@bauertrader.com.au

Only two months after a supply agreement was signed, the first of 33 Volvo chassis, Irizar-bodied coaches have been delivered to West Australian operator Go West Tours for its BHP Pilbara mining contract.

80 RECORD RUN FOR IVECO

Granted, it was under controlled conditions, but an Iveco-brand electric bus has travelled a massive 527km on one full charge.

90 SLIDE-OUT WHEELCHAIR LIFT KEY

For Are Media’s privacy policy please visit www.aremedia.com.au

Leading Victorian bus operator Ventura has added eight new Scania Touring school and charter coaches to its fleet, with a luggage-space-saving slide-out wheelchair lift a highlight.

94 STREET SMART

Inspired by its current global e-bus spread, Australian width requirements seem the only inconsequential restriction to Yutong’s Euro-focused, Busworld award-winning electric U12 landing here, too – someday in future, at least. Are its bold ‘smart phone’ looks its only magic trick? It seems not.

102 2020 BUS DELIVERIES DATA

We look back at the past year’s sales and performance figures in comprehensive graph form.

104 SUPPLIERS - AIRCON, SEATS, PARTS + ACCESSORIES

Our seating, air conditioning, parts and accessories systems section gives you guidance and contacts for some of the leading bus suppliers around town.

busnews.com.au

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DISTRIBUTION Distribution within Australia and New Zealand and beyond by paid subscription to the owners and managers of: • route buses • government bus operations • school buses • extended and day tour operations • express coaches • country and charter operations • bus and coach manufacturers • equipment suppliers • tourism attractions • railways management Notice: All material published in this magazine is published in good faith and every care is taken to accurately relay information provided to us. Readers are advised by the publishers to ensure that all necessary devices and precautions are installed and safe working procedures adopted before the use of any equipment found or purchased through the information we provide.

Further all performance criteria was provided by the representative company concerned and any dispute should be referred to them. No material may be reproduced in part or in whole without written consent from the copyright holder.

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OVERVIEW

BUS SEARCH

I

Exciting local and imported bus product over the next year is changing the public transport landscape, indeed.

t is irrefutable that 2020 has brought about impactful change to many people’s lives and the way we do business – be that good or bad – but it does not seem to have prevented the evolution of local and global bus product, which was well in motion before all this regardless.

The de-carbonisation agenda has been in play for a good few years now, driving rules and regulation changes in cities the world over.

In terms of commercial vehicles in the Australasian region, the Euro 6 emissions standard is not mandatory yet – and arguably that may prove still some time off given our landmass spread versus population versus sheer CV count on the roads compared with other western nations – but that still hasn’t stopped high-end Euro 5 and 6 product atop the wishlist of many bus and coach operators to date.

Likewise at the time of print, promotion of refined electro-mobility advances such as hydrogen fuelcell tech in coach applications is now common talk rather than wayoff ‘guestimation’ and conjecture; companies like Hyzon is in this space via the Western Australia mining arena recently, for example.

Be they as imported complete units or the latest chassis tech upon which local body manufacturers are now building on – like Custom’s Element and Element H2 city e-bus body, Volgren’s Optimus-based e-bus body designs and - as ABC revealed exclusively recently Bustech’s (Australian Bus Corporation) landmark Cummins-backed commonplatform EV multi-fit city bus body that can be used for Euro 6 diesel, or hydrogen and/or fully electric ‘drivetrains’, there is no doubt bus operators will be spoilt for choice when it comes to upgrading their fleets.

Where the local bus industry will be within the next 12–18 months from a product offering viewpoint really is an exciting prospect for capital equipment purchasers.

MAKING THE HOP With such a reliance on traditional 8

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diesel-use buses here, the latest Euro 6 tech from some manufacturers is also being introduced via promotion of hybrid tech.

Late 2019 Scania announced a global reveal of its new ‘silent mode’ Generation II hybrid bus, powered by a diesel-electric motor, at BusVic. The K 320 UB 4x2 diesel electric hybrid bus marks a significant step in urban bus functionality and environmental benefits, Scania states. Employing the 9.0-litre 320hp (239kW) fivecylinder Euro 6-compliant diesel engine typically used across Australia, and famed for its torquey 1,600Nm output, the hybrid further boosts its environmental credentials with a 177hp (132kW)/1,030Nm electric motor, both of which are seamlessly integrated with the Scania Opticruise transmission, says Scania.

The engine is compatible with up to 100 per cent biodiesel and HVO, which

silently and emission-free on electricity at higher speeds and cover longer distances than ever, Volvo states.

The B5L S-Charge delivers an environmentally sustainable electric solution to the Australian market that is ready to be deployed immediately – without the need to wait for additional infrastructure to be built, the company explains.

Brand fans were also treated to news this year that Volvo will deliver its first ever electric buses into Australia on 2.5m-wide Volgren bodies as part of its existing 900-bus supply agreement signed in March last year with Western Australia Public Transport Authority (PTA) operator Transperth.

It will interesting to see how this affects buyer choice in the pure e-bus market here in future given Yutong’s seeming dominance, which itself will be tested with recent news of Foton’s EV range here soon and an even more solid

“Brand fans were also treated to news this year that Volvo will deliver its first ever electric buses into Australia.” can help reduce CO2 emissions by up to 92 per cent, while the electric ‘silent mode’ reduces tailpipe emissions to zero.

Market rival Volvo had earlier brought in the first of eight new Volgren-bodied hybrid chassis buses for Latrobe Valley Bus Lines (LVBL) late 2018 – the first full service hybrid in Australia – which was launched in Moe, Victoria, offering “up to a 40 per cent fuel saving” and cleaner Euro 6 emissions standards for the local community, it announced at the time.

More recently in April 2020, Volvo launched its new S-Charge self-charging hybrid electric bus featuring a longer range and even smaller carbon footprint – from energy source to on-road use – plus full bio-diesel compatibility, which were striking hallmarks of the ‘S-Charge’ self-charging hybrid announced for Australia.

Officially known as the Volvo B5L S-Charge, this hybrid bus upgrade’s new capabilities mean it can now drive

push also from fellow Chinese e-bus manufacturer BYD we hear.

SAFETY FOCUS Gracing our cover this year is Fuso’s new safety-laden Rosa, with its safety features being the most advanced to ever appear in the Australian light-duty bus class.

First seen by a global audience at the Tokyo Motor Show late 2019 in Japan, Daimler’s Fuso has made a range of significant changes inside and outside the next-gen Rosa, which is available with 22 or 25 seats.

DELIVERIES RETROSPECTIVE And while it could all be a matter of interpretation, and hopefully not lost in translation, it was good to see from our annual bus deliveries analysis that the Australian market grew by some 250 deliveries year-on-year – and that was despite some months in 2020 taking the Covid hit. Enjoy Bus Search... busnews.com.au

7/10/2020 1:15:30 PM

A New Beginning

Mick Neskes National Sales Manager 0422 224 117

Grant Mascord National Contracts Manager 0413 036 651

Mike Dempsey General Manager, Denning 0407 703 266

Ben Kiddle Head of Custom Care 0416 331 633

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SPONSORED CONTENT

HANOVER DISPLAYS

THE NEW G4 DESTINATION DISPLAY The new G4 range of destination signs are much slimmer and lighter than the current range of LED signs. Hanover Displays again sets the global standard by offering efficient, reliable and cost-effective passenger information solutions.

T

he new range has latest generation surface-mount LEDs providing the best efficiency available, says Hanover; allowing for a much slimmer and lighter case design, enabling easier installation.

This in turn also supports savings on fuel consumption, the company says.

There is a reduction in the weight of the signs as the need for bulky power supply assemblies has been avoided.

The G4 power supply is the most efficient and lowest profile power supply to date, it says – ensuring the signs are ultra thin and light, with a wide viewing angle for optimum legibility.

Hanover says that it has put environmental sustainability at the heart of everything it does; from the 10

way it designs its products to how it produces them. Mindful of the need to reduce fuel consumption and C02 emissions, the G4 sign combines the very latest power efficient technology with patented power-saving software.

The company says it is also focused on helping its customers improve their own environmental performance; providing solutions that help them to reduce emissions, energy consumption and waste.

The new generation G4 signs are very lightweight and reduce power consumption without affecting legibility. This helps reduce fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and operating costs, says Hanover.

Hanover’s new patented software

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incorporated within the signs is extremely intelligent, it says, with it counting up the number of LEDs lit in any displayed message. When a specific percentage of the available LEDs is reached or exceeded by lit LEDs, the software automatically reduces the current. This saves energy and reduces unwanted glare, ensuring that the displays are power efficient and legible in all operating conditions.

The new signs are backwards compatible with all other products and programming software, with Hanover’s reliability backed up with its extended warranty. Products are manufactured to ISO14001 standard. For more information, visit: www.partssupply.com.au. busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 10:38:37 AM

“The G4 sign combines the very latest power efficient technology with patented power saving software.”

Top: The G4 range is slimmer and lighter, making them easier to install.

Above: Intelligent software reduces the current through the LEDs once a certain percentage of lit LEDs is reached; The G4 power supply is the most efficient and lowest profile power supply to date. busnews.com.au

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CHASSIS

MAN

MAN-PENSKE SURFSIDE CITY BUS ORDER STARTS

T

he first of a 15-bus MAN-chassis fleet to Queensland-based Surfside Buslines has started, with the Bustech and Volgren-bodied units due for service on the Gold Coast and in the NSW Tweed Shire, local distributor Penske Australia reports.

According to the company, the 15 MAN LE 19.320 Euro 5 route buses are low entry and low floor ensuring, “…great accessibility along with unparalleled comfort for drivers and passengers.”

With the first unit delivered on 24 August, 2020, the remainder of the units are scheduled for delivery

12

between now and the end of the year, the company explains.

“MAN Truck & Bus and Penske Australia have a long-standing relationship with Surfside Buslines’ sister company SkyBus in Australia and New Zealand, so it’s fantastic to be able to extend our partnership to Surfside Buslines, now part of Kinetic Group,” said Crinel Geaboc, head of bus and coach at Penske Australia.

“Surfside Buslines was looking for a low-entry solution that was very reliable, fuel efficient, and high performing with outstanding service

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intervals, and the LE 19.320 Euro 5 delivers exactly that.

“At 320hp, the Euro 5 engine is powerful yet economical and whisperquiet making it ideal for highlypopulated areas.

“This 4x2 RC2 configuration has a favourably high gross vehicle mass of 19 tonnes and comes with an electronically-controlled air suspension and an electronic braking system.

“We are confident that these buses will be well accepted by the team at Surfside Buslines and members of the public,” Geaboc explained.

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Above: “We are confident that these buses will be well accepted by the team at Surfside Buslines and members of the public,” said Crinel Geaboc [centre], head of bus and coach at Penske Australia. [L+R] : John Schneider, technical support rep Bus, Mark Nichols – regional sales manager MAN Bus.

ABOUT PENSKE Penske Australia is a leading supplier of the world’s finest heavy-duty trucks, diesel engines, gas engines, and power systems.

Distributing the Western Star Trucks, MAN Truck & Bus, Dennis Eagle, MTU, Detroit, and Allison Transmission brands, the company operates across the most dynamic markets including on-highway and various offhighway industries such as mining, power generation, construction and industrial, rail, marine, oil and gas, agriculture, and defence, it states.

Penske Australia also represents aftermarket products from leading oil, coolant, and filter brands, it confirms.

It is also the appointed retail dealer of these brands across select locations providing full retail sales, service, and parts functions, it says.

With more than 950 employees, the company is, “…committed to providing the most comprehensive 24/7 after-sales support through a network of strategically located branches and field locations, and more than 100 dealers,” it adds.

Penske Australia is wholly owned by international transportation services company, Penske Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: PAG), and operates independently to service its customer base.

busnews.com.au

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CHASSIS

MAN

THE FIRST PRESIDENT

MAN partnered with Bus and Coach Sales Australasia (BCSA/BLK) mid-2019 to give the market a quality yet affordable school/charter vehicle to compete with other OEMs. The MAN Bonluck President is the very first of its kind and is aimed specifically at the school bus and charter market.

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successful collaborations, but there needs to be reasons it actually ‘works’ for the end product to be a success in the marketplace.

Asked about this, Nichols says that this collaboration, “...is a success because quality is the main component – a quality chassis with a quality body. This will be one really long-lasting vehicle.

“I’m very happy with the interior fit-out and the noise level; MAN pride themselves on that whisper-quiet chassis and it works so well with this body. I think it’s come together great and it just works, I’m sure it will be very well received.”

The President we are driving today was built as a demonstration model, but has already been sold for a school bus application, MAN confirms.

“This is our first President, the MAN IC19.320 Euro 5 horizontal turbocharged inline six-cylinder (RR8) with a 12.36m bus body,” Nichols explained.

“It has a 57 seated-passenger capacity, but can also be built on the MAN two-axle chassis [13.2m], with 61 fixed adult seats.

We’ve already built two massive 65-seat capacity two-axle options for Coast and Country Buses. Those two big capacity ones are running around very successfully for them.”

Sixty-five seats is a huge capacity vehicle, which Nichols puts down to having worked closely with Lutz, MAN’s Germany engineer, and the team from Bonluck.

Asked if the vehicle ABC is test driving is the standard format President, Nichols said: “This is the standard format you can get, but if you order you certainly have choices. There are options: you can increase the horsepower of the chassis, there are body options, aircon options and of course there are the seating options.”

STRONG, SILENT TYPE

R

egional sales manager at MAN Mark Nichols explained to ABC magazine on our test drive that although the MAN-BLK President is aimed specifically at the school bus market, “...it certainly doesn’t look like a bread box”.

“It’s a very nice vehicle to drive,” he aded.

“I’ve driven it to Melbourne a couple of times and it’s exactly the same as driving a coach.”

We were speaking with him to find out more about the collaboration between MAN Bus and Bonluck (BLK), which Nichols described as being very close.

“We’re all from the bus industry; I’ve known Rodd Hood and Athol McKinnon from BLK for quite a number of years,” he commented.

“They approached us, and we were looking around at the same time, so I think it was meant to be. The bonus is we all get on very well, and we all work really well together. We’re based in Wacol and with these guys being based in Yatala, we’re only half an hour away from each other.”

QUALITY, QUALITY, QUALITY The relationship is always a big factor in

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“This chassis is a very economical chassis, whisper-quiet, with the clean side cooling package, and it does 320hp [239kW] with 1,600Nm of torque. It just works really well,” Nichols said.

Every MAN chassis we’ve ever driven, we have to agree, have been quiet. They have a certain feel to them, so we were looking forward to the drive to see if the same MAN feel came through.

Nichols also explains that the Bock air conditioning compressor is engine mounted rather than body mounted, which removes a lot of noise and vibration through the body, making the ride a lot quieter.

“It’s mounted on the side of the engine just like in a car and it actually moves with the engine,” he said.

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CHASSIS

Top: The driving experience is smooth and quiet, with good window tinting to assist driving in Australian summers.

Above: Sege seats in polyesterwool mix that’s built to last.

Opposite, Above + Below: A stand-out was just how quiet the ride was inside; Plenty of storage space, with three access doors on each side of the coach.

16

MAN

“A much quieter option and just another reason this chassis is super quiet,” he said.

THE TEST DRIVE Some Queensland sunshine greeted us as we drove from the BCSA (Bus and Coach Sales Australasia/Bonluck) headquarters in Yatala and did some suburban driving to give the President a run through familiar territory. After that we headed for the hills of Wolffdene to give it a bit of a more regional driving workout.

This was the first time driving the new platform of the BCSA and MAN collaboration. Our last drive of a President was April, 2017: a Bonluck President 2 powered by a Cummins engine with an Allison transmission. Collaborations give our industry the best of what’s on offer worldwide

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and it’s great to see companies like these two major players working together to come up with the goods.

The President has ADR68 Sege seats fitted – a popular choice amongst luxury coach builders and usually in leather. However, these are cloth and the polyester-wool mix fabric feels really strong and durable, MAN says that this vehicle is built to last and you can really feel that in the quality of the fit-out.

The chequed fabric seats combined with the wooden-look vinyl flooring and black accents are an appealing combination. Underneath, there’s 10 square metres of storage capacity with three doors on either side, so internally and externally the passengers’ needs are well appointed for.

As soon as you sit behind the wheel of the President you feel at home. It might be because it’s a MAN chassis, which are very predictable, so you can trust in the quality.

There are no complaints with regards to visibility out the front and mirror vision is good in all areas, it seems.

There is some pretty impressive soundproofing; jumping onto the highway all we could hear is a slight noise from the aircon system and a little tyre noise from the road, which is to be expected from brand new tyres. Everything else is remarkably quiet.

The chassis comes standard with an electronic braking system (EBS), electronic stability program (ESP) and electronically controlled air suspension (ECAS), but can also be ordered with a ‘Driver Assistance Package’ that has cruise control/ adaptive cruise control (ACC), emergency braking assist (EBA), lane guard system (LGS) and automatic wipers and headlights.

The ECAS is good feature for school bus applications as it electronically controls the suspension to stabilise despite loading conditions, making it perfect for country roads and a changing load like you get with school children.

Stability plays a huge part in both passenger and driver comfort. MAN says this is part of its ‘comfort suspension’ and the drive today was a firm but very comfortable one and easy on the driver.

With 1,600Nm of torque the bus punches along quickly. There’s definitely no waiting for the power to kick in, it’s pretty instant. Sometimes with Euro 5 you can expect things to be a little slower off the mark, but the President certainly isn’t.

In our drive we were able to get in a good mix of urban roads, highway driving and some country hillside driving, so we got a good feel for the vehicle over different road conditions. In all-flat driving you can’t get a true feel for power and torque.

As a driver, it’s a pretty nice feeling sitting up the front, We just kept coming back to the sound quality – it really is so quiet inside. We couldn’t even hear the cars passing. Without the mirrors, we wouldn’t have even known a car was busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 11:56:57 AM

“The Bock air conditioning compressor is engine mounted rather than body mounted, which removes a lot of noise and vibration.” approaching – which is really impressive and this certainly will make longer journeys more comfortable for the driver, as well as it being an all-round positive, more comfortable experience for passengers as well.

The window tinting comes as standard from BLK and it’s really dark, which is a welcome addition for the Australian summer and passenger comfort, we say.

The retarder system was also a stand-out and we gave the hill descent feature a go – just double tap the brake and it will not go above your current speed. It’s not a cruise control, but it stops you from gaining momentum downhill, which is

a handy feature, especially for regional areas.

Drivers today are spoilt with the developments in bus and coach technology, they are so carlike and comfortable. Today’s drive of the MAN President was all we expected it would be.

Us older or experienced drivers have probably all had stints on buses that were actually physically tiring to drive, so having a bus this smooth and easy to drive plays a big part in reducing driver fatigue and improving the overall safety and longevity of driver health.

It’s very easy to be impressed by the features offered on this new MAN-BLK President and truly appreciate just how far our industry has come.

Specs MODEL MAN-BLK President CHASSIS MAN IC19.320 E5 (RR8) LENGTH 12.36m ENGINE OUTPUT MAN D2066 Euro 5. Power – 235kW (320hp)@1,900 RPM TRANSMISSION ZF 6AP 2000B Ecolife BODY Bonluck President SEATS Sege – two-axle max 57 seats; three-axle max 65 seats STORAGE 9–10.0 cubic metres AIRCON Spheros CC-355 or Thermo King KRS STEERING ZF Servocom 8098 SAFETY SYSTEMS EBS, ESP, ECAS, cruise control/ACC, EBA, LGS, automatic wipers and headlights

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CHASSIS

MAN

ADDRESS:

WEB:

72 Formation Street, Wacol, Qld, 4076 Queensland: (07) 3271 7777

man.com.au EMAIL:

bussales@man.com.au

MAKE: MAN

MODEL: LE 19.320 RC2

MAKE: MAN

MODEL: LE 19.330 RC2

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

10.5 to 13.0

Length (metres)

10.5 to 13.0

Wheelbase (mm)

4000 Buggy Form

Wheelbase (mm)

4000 Buggy Form

Front Overhang (mm)

Provisional

Front Overhang (mm)

Provisional

Rear Overhang (mm)

3400 (3150 opt)

Rear Overhang (mm)

3400 (3250 opt)

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

Dependent on wheelbase. 52 degree front inner wheel cut angles

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

Dependent on wheelbase. 52 degree front inner wheel cut angles

ENGINE: Make/Model

ENGINE: MAN/D2066 LUH32 EGR Euro 5. No Adblue required Opt: D2066 LUH58 SCRT Euro 6

Make/Model

MAN/D1556 LOH SCR without EGR Euro 6

Configuration

Configuration

Inline 6-cyl. 9ltr turbo

Inline 6-cyl. 10.5ltr turbo

Power (hp/kW)

Power (hp/kW)

330/243

320/235

Torque (Nm)

Torque (Nm)

1400

1600

Oil Capacity (litres)

Oil Capacity (litres)

40.5

42

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel Euro 5 or Euro 6

Capacity (litres)

2 x 150

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel Euro 6

Capacity (litres)

2 x 145

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

ZF/6 speed 6AP2000 EcoLife

AXLES: Type – Front

MAN/VOK-07-B-11/7200kg. Cast cranked rigid front axle with stabiliser and steering damper

Type – Rear

MAN/HY1350-B03/13000kg. Stabiliser bar

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Air (ECAS)

Type – Rear

Air (ECAS)

BRAKES:

ZF/6 speed 6AP1400 EcoLife

AXLES: Type – Front

MAN/VOK-07-B-11/7200kg. Cast cranked rigid front axle with stabiliser and steering damper

Type – Rear

MAN/HY1350-B03/13000kg. Stabiliser bar

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Air (ECAS)

Type – Rear

Air (ECAS)

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Service Brakes

Air/Disc

Air/Disc

Retarding Brake System

Retarding Brake System

Integrated hydraulic retarder

Integrated hydraulic retarder

EBS

EBS

EBS

EBS

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

Alternator

Alternator

2x 120A

2x 120A

Starter

Starter

24V/5.5kW

24V/5.5kW

Batteries

2x 12V 225Ah

2x 12V 225Ah

Batteries

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud steel

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud steel

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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ADDRESS:

WEB:

72 Formation Street, Wacol, Qld, 4076 Queensland: (07) 3271 7777

man.com.au EMAIL:

bussales@man.com.au

MAKE: MAN

MODEL: ND323 F A95

MAKE: MAN

MODEL: IC 19.290 RR8

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

12 to 13.7

Length (metres)

10.5 to 12.5

Wheelbase (mm)

5220 Standard

Wheelbase (mm)

Buggy Form

Front Overhang (mm)

2310

Front Overhang (mm)

Provisional

Rear Overhang (mm)

2668 + 1500

Rear Overhang (mm)

3150 (3400 opt)

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

Dependent on wheelbase. 52 degree front inner wheel cut angles

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

Dependent on wheelbase. 56 degree front inner wheel cut angles

ENGINE:

ENGINE:

Make/Model

MAN/D2066 LUH32 EGR Euro 5. No Adblue required

Make/Model

MAN/D0836LOH64 EGR Euro 5. No Adblue required

Configuration

Inline 6-cyl. 10.5ltr turbo

Configuration

Inline 6-cyl. 7ltr turbo

Power (hp/kW)

320/235

Power (hp/kW)

290/213

Torque (Nm)

1600

Torque (Nm)

1100

Oil Capacity (litres)

42

Oil Capacity (litres)

27.5

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Type

Diesel Euro 5 or Euro 6

Type

Diesel Euro 5

Capacity (litres)

1 x 350

Capacity (litres)

1 x 300

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

TRANSMISSION: ZF/6 speed 6AP2000 EcoLife

AXLES:

Auto Model / Type

ZF/6 speed 6AP1200 EcoLife

AXLES:

Type – Front

MAN/ VOK-08-B/8000kg. Rigid front axle

Type – Front

MAN/ VOK-08-B/8000kg. Rigid front axle

Type – Rear

MAN/HONP-13100/13000kg. Stabiliser bar

Type – Rear

MAN/HY1350-B03/13000kg. Stabiliser bar

SUSPENSION:

SUSPENSION:

Type – Front

Air (ECAS)

Type – Front

Air (ECAS)

Type – Rear

Air (ECAS)

Type – Rear

Air (ECAS)

BRAKES:

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Air/Disc

Service Brakes

Air/Disc

Retarding Brake System

Integrated hydraulic retarder

Retarding Brake System

Integrated hydraulic retarder

EBS

EBS

EBS

EBS

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

Alternator

2x 120A

Alternator

2x 120A

Starter

24V/5.5kW

Starter

24V/5.5kW

Batteries

2x 12V 225Ah

Batteries

2x 12V 225Ah

WHEELS & TYRES:

WHEELS & TYRES:

Type

10 stud steel

Type

10 stud steel

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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CHASSIS

MAN

ADDRESS:

WEB:

72 Formation Street, Wacol, Qld, 4076 Queensland: (07) 3271 7777

man.com.au EMAIL:

bussales@man.com.au

MAKE: MAN

MODEL: IC 19.320 RR8

MAKE: MAN

MODEL: IC 19.330 RR8

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

11.0 to 13.0

Length (metres)

11.0 to 13.0

Wheelbase (mm)

4000 / Provisional

Wheelbase (mm)

4000 / Provisional

Front Overhang (mm)

Provisional

Front Overhang (mm)

Provisional

Rear Overhang (mm)

3400 (3150 opt)

Rear Overhang (mm)

3400 (3250 opt)

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

Dependent on wheelbase. 56 degree front inner wheel cut angles

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

Dependent on wheelbase. 56 degree front inner wheel cut angles

ENGINE: Make/Model

ENGINE: MAN/ D2066 LUH32 EGR Euro 5. No Adblue required Opt: D2066 LUH58 SCRT Euro 6

Make/Model

MAN/ D1556 LOH SCR without EGR Euro 6

Configuration

Configuration

Inline 6-cyl. 9ltr turbo

Inline 6-cyl. 10.5ltr turbo

Power (hp/kW)

Power (hp/kW)

330/243

320/235

Torque (Nm)

Torque (Nm)

1400

1600

Oil Capacity (litres)

Oil Capacity (litres)

40.5

42

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel Euro 5 or Euro 6

Capacity (litres)

480 (opt: 2 x 200)

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel Euro 6

Capacity (litres)

480 (opt: 2 x 200)

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

ZF/6 speed 6AP2000B EcoLife

AXLES: Type – Front

MAN/ VOS-08-B-01/8000kg. Independent front axle with stabiliser

Type – Rear

MAN/HY1350-B03/13000kg. Stabiliser bar

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Air (ECAS)

Type – Rear

Air (ECAS)

BRAKES:

ZF/6 speed 6AP1400 EcoLife

AXLES: Type – Front

MAN/ VOS-08-B-01/8000kg. Independent front axle with stabiliser

Type – Rear

MAN/HY1350-B03/13000kg. Stabiliser bar

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Air (ECAS)

Type – Rear

Air (ECAS)

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Service Brakes

Air/Disc

Air/Disc

Retarding Brake System

Retarding Brake System

Integrated hydraulic retarder

Integrated hydraulic retarder

EBS

EBS

EBS, Opt: LGS, EBA and ACC

EBS, Opt: LGS, EBA and ACC

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

Alternator

Alternator

2x 120A

2x 120A

Starter

Starter

24V/5.5kW

24V/5.5kW

Batteries

2x 12V 225Ah

2x 12V 225Ah

Batteries

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud steel

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud steel

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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ADDRESS:

WEB:

72 Formation Street, Wacol, Qld, 4076 Queensland: (07) 3271 7777

man.com.au EMAIL:

bussales@man.com.au

MAKE: MAN

MODEL: CO 19.360 RR2

MAKE: MAN

MODEL: CO 26.510 RR4

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

11.0 to 13.0

Length (metres)

12.5 to 14.5

Wheelbase (mm)

Buggy Form

Wheelbase (mm)

Buggy Form

Front Overhang (mm)

Provisional

Front Overhang (mm)

2005 temporary

Rear Overhang (mm)

3400

Rear Overhang (mm)

1,470 + 3,100 (2950 opt)

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

Dependent on wheelbase. 56 degree front inner wheel cut angles

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

Dependent on wheelbase. 56 degree front inner wheel cut angles

ENGINE: Make/Model

ENGINE: MAN/ D2066 LOH38 SCR EEV Opt: D2066 LOH31 SCRT Euro 6

Make/Model

MAN/ D2676 LOH37 SCRT

Configuration

Configuration

Inline 6-cyl. 12.5ltr turbo. Up to 500hp available

Inline 6-cyl. 10.5ltr turbo. Up to 500hp available

Power (hp/kW)

Power (hp/kW)

510/380

360/265

Torque (Nm)

Torque (Nm)

2500

1800

Oil Capacity (litres)

Oil Capacity (litres)

42

42

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel Euro 5 or Euro 6

Capacity (litres)

480

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel Euro 6

Capacity (litres)

480

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

ZF/12 speed EEV Engine: 12 speed TipMatic (automated).

Euro 6 Engine: 6 speed EcoLife (360-420hp only)

AXLES:

AXLES: Type – Front

MAN/ VOS-08-B-01/8000kg. Independent front axle with stabiliser HY1350-B01/13000kg. Stabiliser bar

Type – Front

MAN/ VOS-08-B-01/ 8000kg. Independent front axle with stabiliser (opt: rigid axle)

Type – Rear

Type – Rear

HY1350-B03/13000kg. Stabiliser bar

SUSPENSION:

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Air (ECAS)

Type – Rear

Air (ECAS)

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Air/Disc

Retarding Brake System

Integrated hydraulic retarder

EBS

EBS, Opt: LGS, EBA and ACC

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2x 120A

Starter

24V/5.5kW

Batteries

2x 12V 225Ah

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud alloy

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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ZF/12 speed TipMatic ZF Traxon 12TX 2811 BO with intarder

Type – Front

Air (ECAS)

Type – Rear

Air (ECAS)

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Air/Disc

Retarding Brake System

Integrated hydraulic retarder

EBS

EBS, Opt: LGS, EBA and ACC

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2x 120A

Starter

24V/5.5kW

Batteries

2x 12V 225Ah

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud alloy

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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CHASSIS

SCANIA

SCANIA CELEBRATES 2019 BUS AND COACH DELIVERY RECORD Eclipsing its previous high of 403 units, Scania set a year 2019 record bus and coach deliveries amount of 427 ‘new vehicles commissioned’, the company reports.

S

cania’s success spans its heavy-duty market offerings from city, school and charter buses to long-distance touring coaches, and across government and retail customers, it states.

“This very welcome sales success has been built on 35 years of unwavering commitment to our loyal Australian customers,” said Julian Gurney, director of sales for Scania Buses and Engines.

“We are dedicated to ensuring our vehicles deliver maximum uptime for our customers throughout their lengthy working lives.

“While we have some of the 22

longest-lived buses in operation anywhere in the world, as a result of government city bus operating requirements, Scania has been focused on ensuring our products live up to industry expectations and deliver day-after-day.

“In addition to the performance of our vehicles and our sales team, we must also mention the commitment of our technical teams around the country who ensure our buses continue to perform reliably across hundreds of thousands, and sometimes millions of kilometres,” he explained.

“Many of these technicians are

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CHASSIS

SCANIA

Above + Right: Melbourne’s bus fleet has been upgraded and modernised with Scania’s latest models.

Below: The final delivery of 60 Scania K310UB (Euro 5) and 40 Scania K320UB (Euro 6)-chassis vehicles complete the 100-bus delivery to Transdev Melbourne.

24

employed by Scania’s company-owned branches in nine locations across Australia, but we also have experienced Scania technicians working for our network of independent authorised Scania dealers covering towns and cities throughout the country,” Gurney said.

POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION While the lion’s share of deliveries in 2019 were city and school buses, the allnew, fully imported Scania Touring school and charter coach with the 360hp Euro 6

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engine launched 12 months ago, made a positive contribution to sales, the Gurney says.

“The Scania Touring is a Scania from bumper-to-bumper and this ‘one-stop’ concept has been readily adopted by customers across Australia,” he said.

“It is also good to see that close to one third of all city bus deliveries were powered

by Scania Euro 6-compliant engines, underscoring the shift towards a more sustainable transport solution for Australian cities,” he added.

“Even more encouraging to see is the size of the carry-over orders we have to take us deep into 2020.

“The rollout of new buses replacing older vehicles with heavier carbon footprints is in busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 11:37:33 AM

“It is also good to see that close to one third of all city bus deliveries were powered by Scania Euro 6-compliant engines, underscoring the shift towards a more sustainable transport solution for Australian cities.” line with community expectations and desires, and shows that both retail and government procurement is targeted towards cleaning up urban air quality.

“By transitioning older buses into retirement as an industry we are making a meaningful contribution to reducing our environmental impact where most people live and work,” Gurney said.

REDUCED EMISSIONS “Scania is also very proud to have busnews.com.au

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delivered our very first hybrid bus to McHarry’s Buslines of Geelong, Victoria, in 2019.

“This is sure to be just the first of many. Not only does our Scania hybrid bus reduce exhaust emissions significantly, but it will also provide a substantial reduction in diesel consumption, thereby reducing operating costs,” he explained.

Scania says it will continue to pursue alternative and renewable fuel options for the Australian bus market

in 2020 and beyond, in line with its parent company’s rollout of electrified chassis options, as well as non-diesel fuel-powered internal combustion engine offerings.

“We have a range of alternatives available across our product portfolio that will both reduce operating costs and the consequent carbon footprint and, as the industry moves towards a greener business model, Scania is ready and able to help drive this shift,” Gurney said.

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CHASSIS

MAKE: SCANIA

SCANIA

MODEL: K 310/320

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Scania Australia 212-216 Northbourne Road, Campbellfield, VIC, 3061 Phone: 03 9217 3300

www.scania.com.au

SERIES: UB 4X2

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

MAKE: SCANIA MODEL: K 310/360

SERIES: IB 4X2

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL

DIMENSIONS:

K310

K320

DIMENSIONS:

K310

K360

Length (metres)

9 (buggie)

8.55 (buggie)

Length (metres)

8.55 (buggie)

8.55 (buggie)

Wheelbase (mm)

3000

3000

Wheelbase (mm)

3000 buggie

3000

Front Overhang (mm)

2500 - 2700

2500 - 2700

Front Overhang (mm)

2275 - 2500

2500 - 2700

Rear Overhang (mm)

3290

3280

Rear Overhang (mm)

3290

3280

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

23

23

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

23

23

ENGINE:

K310

K320

ENGINE:

K310

K320

Make/Model

Scania/DC9 110 Euro 5

Scania/DC9 108 Euro 6

Make/Model

Scania/DC9 110 Euro 5

Scania/DC9 112

Configuration

5 cylinder

5 cylinder

Configuration

5 cylinder

5 cylinder

Power (hp/kW)

310/228 (SCR only)

320/235 (SCR only)

Power (hp/kW)

310/228 (SCR only)

360/265 (SCR only)

Torque (Nm)

1550Nm @ 1100 - 1350rpm

1600Nm @ 1050 - 1300rpm

Torque (Nm)

1550Nm @ 1100 - 1350rpm

1700Nm @ 1100 - 1350rpm

Oil Capacity (litres)

31

31

Oil Capacity (litres)

31

31

FUEL SOURCE / CAP:

K310

K320

FUEL SOURCE / CAP:

K310

K360

Type

Diesel

Diesel

Type

Diesel

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

300 (approx)

Body Builder

Capacity (litres)

310 (approx)

465

TRANSMISSION:

TRANSMISSION:

Manual Model / Type

NS/NS/NS

Auto Model / Type

ZF/6AP 1700 B Automatic/6 speed

AXLES: Type – Front

Scania/AMA 780/Fixed I-Beam

Type – Rear

Scania/R660/Rated at 12,000kg. 4.88:1 diff ratio

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

I-Beam - 2 x airbags rated at 7100kg

Type – Rear

4 x airbags rated at 12000kg

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2x 150 amp

Starter

5 Hp

Batteries

2x 12 volt 230Ah

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

Steel Rims / Polished Alloy Option

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

CLUTCH: Model/Type

NS/NS

Diameter (mm)

NS

Control

NS

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Manual Model / Type

Scania/GR875R/8 Speed Fully Automated Manual Transmission with Retarder

Auto Model / Type

ZF/6AP 1700 B Automatic/6 speed

AXLES: Type – Front

Scania/AMA 860/Fixed I-Beam

Type – Rear

Scania/R660/Rated at 12,000kg. 4.88:1 diff ratio (Auto Trans) / 3.07:1 diff ratio (Man Trans)

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

I-Beam - 2 x airbags rated at 7500kg

Type – Rear

4 x airbags rated at 12000kg

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2x 150 amp

Starter

5 Hp

Batteries

2x 12 volt 230Ah

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

Durabright Polished Alloy Rim

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

CLUTCH: Model/Type

K432 (Man Trans)/Pull

Diameter (mm)

430mm

Control

Sachs

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MAKE: SCANIA

MODEL: K 440/450

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Scania Australia 212-216 Northbourne Road, Campbellfield, VIC, 3061 Phone: 03 9217 3300

www.scania.com.au

SERIES: EB6X2*4

APPLICATION: LONG DISTANCE

MAKE: SCANIA

MODEL: K320UB HYBRID

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

DIMENSIONS:

K440

K450

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

10 (buggie)

10 (buggie)

Length (metres)

8.55 (buggie)

Wheelbase (mm)

3000 buggie

3000 buggie

Wheelbase (mm)

3000

Front Overhang (mm)

2500

2500

Front Overhang (mm)

2500 - 2700

Rear Overhang (mm)

4355

4385

Rear Overhang (mm)

3280

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

24

24

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

23

ENGINE:

K440

K450

ENGINE:

Make/Model

Scania/DC13 05 Euro 5

Scania/DC13 124 Euro 6

Make/Model

Scania/DC9 108 Euro 6

Configuration

6 cylinder

6 cylinder

Configuration

5 cylinder

Power (hp/kW)

440/324 (SCR only)

450/331 (SCR only)

Power (hp/kW)

320/235 (SCR only)

Torque (Nm)

2300Nm @ 1100 - 1350rpm

2350Nm @ 1000 - 1300rpm

Torque (Nm)

1600Nm @ 1050 - 1300rpm

Oil Capacity (litres)

43

43

Oil Capacity (litres)

31

FUEL SOURCE / CAP:

K440

K450

FUEL SOURCE / CAP:

Type

Diesel

Diesel

Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

Body Builder

Body Builder

Capacity (litres)

Body Builder

TRANSMISSION: Manual Model / Type Auto Model / Type

TRANSMISSION: Scania/GRSO895R/12 Speed Fully Automated Manual Transmission with Retarder NS/NS/NS

AXLES: Type – Front

Scania/AMI 700D/Independent

Type – Rear

Scania/R660/Rated at 12000kg with 3.07:1 diff ratio

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Independent – 2 x airbags rated at 7,500kg

Type – Rear

6 x airbags rated at 17500kg

BRAKES:

Manual Model / Type

NS/NS/NS

Auto Model / Type

E–GRS895 12 speed OPTICRUISE

AXLES: Type – Front

Scania/AMA 780/Fixed I-Beam

Type – Rear

Scania/R660/Rated at 12,000kg. 3.42:1 diff ratio

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

I-Beam - 2 x airbags rated at 7100kg

Type – Rear

4 x airbags rated at 12000kg

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Service Brakes

Disc

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Retarding Brake System

Yes

Yes

EBS

EBS

Yes

Yes

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

Alternator

Hybrid Inverter

Hybrid Inverter

2x 150 amp

Starter

Starter

5 Hp

5 Hp

Batteries

Batteries

4 x 12 volt

2x 12 volt 230Ah

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

Durabright Polished Alloy Rim

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

CLUTCH:

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

Steel Rims / Polished Alloy Option

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

CLUTCH:

Model/Type

Model/Type

K432/PULL

K432/Pull

Diameter (mm)

Diameter (mm)

430mm

430mm

Control

Control

SACHS

Sachs

busnews.com.au

Scania Chassis 2020.indd 27

SERIES: UB 4X2

ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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29/09/2020 11:13:49 AM

CHASSIS

VOLVO

HELLO KITTY VOLVO E-BUS

Brand fans have long awaited news of when leading European e-bus tech might start to seep into Australasian market waters. Volvo’s massive Transperth supply order and CAT bus system is where this Swede will pounce first. We speak exclusively with Volvo Bus Australia’s David Mead about all things electric bus. Fabian Cotter reports.

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busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 11:30:37 AM

“W

hen we hit the roads of Perth we won’t be trialling the technology – we will be showing our electric offering in a commercial operation from day one!” said David Mead, vice president Volvo Buses Asia Pacific and acting general manager for Volvo Buses Australia.

It will take a bit of time, but they will get here. Volvo’s bringing in some Australia-friendly electric bus tech matched to a suitable Volgren body and it will eventually be used on a Perth CAT bus route by early 2022. That’s the short of it.

The long of it? We’ll get to see one of four of these e-buses a bit sooner at

busnews.com.au

BusSearch_2020_028-33_Chassis_Volvo_ FC.indd 29

the 2021 UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Melbourne, scheduled to be held December 14–17, 2021, where the first of these Perth-bound buses will make its debut to an international audience.

When ABC magazine first published the announcement about the Volvo electric buses the reader response was pretty intense, it must be stated.

Not like ‘tattoo a Volvo badge on the forehead and ride an oversized wooden Dala horse in the middle of an Ikea store singing ABBA’s 1970s hit Mamma Mia’ or anything – but pretty close nonetheless.

The breaking news that Volvo will deliver its first ever electric buses into

Australia – four e-buses with 2.5m-wide locally made Volgren bodies – as part of its existing 900-bus supply agreement signed in March 2019, with Western Australia Public Transport Authority (PTA) operator Transperth, was pretty huge. And that it didn’t bang on about that damned coronavirus was probably an added bonus, too! Good news for once, it seemed.

Following the Melbourne Summit in December 2021, this first VolvoVolgren e-bus and three others like it will eventually make their way to Western Australia to begin necessary integration efforts prior to commencing operation in

ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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6/10/2020 11:30:56 AM

CHASSIS

VOLVO

“We are excited to be partnering with PTA in Perth for our first electric buses in Australia,” said Mead. early 2022 – as expected by both Volvo and the PTA, they confirmed.

How this all came about was because the March 2019 Volvo-PTA agreement includes provisions for the introduction of alternativepowered vehicles into the Perth public transport bus network when the technology became

available in Volvo’s Australian bus product line, explained Volvo.

“We are excited to be partnering with PTA in Perth for our first electric buses in Australia,” said Mead.

“Our relationship with the PTA now spans over a decade and in years to come the city of Perth will indeed be a Volvo city with 100 per cent of the bus fleet being Volvo.

“Volvo’s contract with PTA included a technology roadmap that allowed PTA to access diesel, self-charging electric and battery-electric vehicles over time.

“PTA can access the variety of tools available to them and match the technology to the route and need,” Mead explained.

NITTY-GRITTY

Above: Staff will be trained on using the new electric buses.

Right: David Mead – vice president Volvo Buses Asia Pacific and acting general manager for Volvo Buses Australia.

Opposite: ABC’s ‘Artist’s impression’ of the bus’ rear.

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ABC magazine contacted Mead for more in-depth info about the new e-buses and what it would and could mean in writing further e-bus business in the Australasian market.

We know Volvo has electric buses operating elsewhere in the world, so will the Aussie version be a new layout and design, or be based on preexisting tech?

“The Volvo electric chassis is based on established Volvo technology already implemented in Europe,” Mead confirmed.

“Volvo Buses have long been recognised as a leader in electro-mobility and sustainable public transport. The Volvo electric driveline has been busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 3:32:55 PM

VOLVO BUS AUSTRALIA - 50TH ANNIVERSARY

ABC well proven as the backbone for Volvo’s complete electric buses in Europe, where they have been in operation since 2015,” Mead confirmed.

In terms of dimensions, what length can the Volvo electric chassis be built to?

“The Volvo electric chassis can be built from 10.8 to 12.5 metres in Australia and can be fitted with a locally manufactured fully ADR [Australian Design Rules]-compliant 2.5m-wide body – optimised for Australian conditions.”

How many electric motors does it have?

“The Volvo electric chassis can be customised to have one or two electric motors connected to a two-speed transmission. The choice is based on the type of operation the bus will be in. Maximum power output is 1x or 2x 200kW [motors] and maximum torque is 1,900Nm at the driven axle. This is optimised to ensure a good driving performance of the vehicle,” Mead said.

Crucially, which type of batteries does the Volvo electric chassis use?

“The Volvo electric chassis comes with lithium-ion batteries, with a maximum of five batteries providing up to 470kWh storage capacity. The bus driveline runs on a traction voltage system with a nominal voltage of 600V DC. The traction voltage system is also used to power various auxiliary loads, such as the air compressor and the air conditioning compressor. The energy for the traction voltage system is stored in the lithium-ion batteries located on the roof of the bus. The battery can be charged externally and on-board by regenerating energy released during braking,” he explained.

So what about the floor layout, we asked…

“The 4x2 Volvo electric chassis allows for vehicles to be built with a full low floor. This allows for greater accessibility to passengers to provide a true city bus experience.”

What charging system can you have on the Volvo electric?

“Each bus can operate either using the fast-charge system with Combined Charging System (CCS) for in-depot charging and/or pantographs (Opportunity Charging) either on-route or at the end stations,” he said.

With the PTA deal and the now late-202 UITP event essentially a showcase for Volvo’s localised e-bus tech, when will the Volvo electric chassis be available to purchase in Australia by other operators? busnews.com.au

BusSearch_2020_028-33_Chassis_Volvo_ FC.indd 31

NSW RURAL operator Buslines - covering various isolated and scattered depots and workshops across the state – has streamlined its essential service operations using its majority Volvo bus fleet via Volvo’s Connected Services, the company reports.

Volvo Bus Australia - which is approaching its 50th anniversary of doing business in Australia in 2021 – has “proudly supported” Buslines over the past 19 years after Ray Andrich, Volvo Bus Australia’s regional sales manager, sold the operator its first B7R in 2001, Volvo Bus confirms.

Volvo’s Connected Services has been at the forefront of these solutions and has been a guiding force in providing unparalleled diagnostic services remotely, with efficiency and accuracy, Volvo states.

Buslines Group CEO Peter Ferris believes Volvo’s Connected Services has streamlined the essential service operations for its Volvo vehicles.

“Having been a customer with Volvo Bus Australia for the past 19 years, we are continuously impressed with their technology and service advancements,” said Ferris.

“For Buslines Group, Volvo’s Connected Services has been an absolute dream in giving us real-time diagnostics, data updates and seamless solutions,” he explained.

According to Volvo Bus, remote diagnostics provides the opportunity to identify issues remotely in order to optimise operating efficiencies – ultimately, keeping buses on the road for longer.

Buslines’ Group fleet and maintenance manager Aaron Neilson explains the benefit of using the technology across a large number of workshops, recounting a recent example of a warning light showing on a bus on a route in Byron Bay. The workshop team was able to log on remotely, check-in on the fault and make the call whether to bring the bus back to the workshop at Lismore, or for it to finish its run.

It’s the flexibility and peace of mind, he says, that is only available via Volvo’s Connected Services offering.

Neilson also credits the strong relationship with Volvo’s regional service manager Daniel Coleman as another reason he can trust his Volvo fleet is in the best condition it can be in.

FLEET CONTROL Both Ferris and Neilson agree that Connected Services has played an essential role in improving the level of fleet control for Buslines.

“The overall service offering is second to none,” said Neilson.

Ferris stated: “We are very grateful for the team at Volvo Bus Australia who have worked with us around the clock to provide us with the solutions and support we need in order to run our company effectively.

“We are also very lucky to have established such a strong relationship with Volvo Bus over the years, and I’m sure there are many more to come,” he added.

LONG RELATIONSHIP Volvo Bus Australia – which is approaching its 50th anniversary of doing business in Australia in 2021 – has “proudly supported” Buslines over the past 19 years after Ray Andrich, Volvo Bus Australia’s regional sales manager, sold the operator its first B7R in 2001, Volvo Bus confirms.

Nearly two decades later, Andrich remains the first point of contact at Volvo Bus Australia for Buslines, it says. In addition, David Woodward, Volvo Bus Australia’s national competence manager, attends the annual Buslines Training event to deliver specialised Volvo bus training.

Andrich, Woodward, Coleman and the team have continuously provided specialised solutions and services to Buslines throughout the years, Volvo Bus explains.

As 2021 approaches, Volvo Bus Australia and Buslines will soon officially mark 20 strong years of being partners in business, servicing regional New South Wales and their communities – and now with the benefit of technology such as Connected Services, Volvo says.

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6/10/2020 11:31:33 AM

CHASSIS

VOLVO

ABOUT BUSLINES

Originally founded as ‘John A Gilbert Pty Limited’ in 1926, Buslines now operates 380 vehicles, servicing a network of bus routes in major country towns throughout New South Wales, it states.

The group transports more than 15 million customers annually and employs more than 540 staff, it confirms.

Buslines is also committed to a philosophy of excellence, which has in turn been seen through every division of the company – especially when it comes to its fleet, it states.

After making its first purchase from Volvo Bus in 2001 – five B7R buses – Volvo buses now make up more than half of Buslines’ fleet, with a total of 178 owned and operated by the company, Volvo confirms. The fleet boasts several Volvo B7R, B7RLE, B12BLE and B8RLE buses, it says.

With buses moving in and out of Buslines’ 13 depots and 12 workshops across New South Wales countryside, the company depends on reliable and committed teams internally and externally to support its vision and services, Buslines explains.

“Volvo Buses have long been recognised as a leader in electro-mobility and sustainable public transport.”

Above: L-R: Buslines Group CEO Peter Ferris, Buslines’ Group fleet and maintenance manager Aaron Neilson and Volvo Bus Australia’s regional sales manager Ray Andrich.

Opposite from top: At this stage, the bus is to first be shown at the 2021 UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Melbourne; The delay is down to ensuring that new product is ready to last for 25 years in Australian conditions, said Volvo’s David Mead; The lithium-ion batteries are located on the roof of the bus.

32

“The chassis will be commercially available at the end of 2022. Volvo is happy to begin discussions with customers at any time. The team at Volvo Buses Australia would welcome the opportunity to discuss future electric bus projects,” he said.

Arguably, there will be many Volvo fans asking why such a delay in bringing its e-bus technology here to the Australian market. Was it for good reason or no reason?

“Volvo Bus has been in the Australian market for almost 50 years. When we bring a product to market we know it must be able to work for 25 years in Australian conditions; we want to ensure we are ready to work with local body builders who know the market, we know it must stand up to the hot Australian summers and we know operators expect any Volvo product to deliver industry-leading uptime,” Mead stated, adamantly.

“We know that this means we have a little bit more work to do. But when we hit the roads of Perth we won’t be trialling the technology – we will be showing our electric offering in a commercial operation from day one!”

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BUS MAKE-UP As Volvo explains, the units will be all-electric 11.7-metre long, 2.5-metre-wide vehicles with local Australian bodies designed and built by Volgren Australia. Whilst these units will be the first of their kind for Volvo in the Asia-Pacific region, the chassis are based on established Volvo technology already implemented in Europe, it states.

“Volvo Buses have long been recognised as a leader in electro-mobility and sustainable public transport,” Mead said.

“The Volvo electric driveline has been well proven as the backbone for our complete electric buses in Europe, where they have been in operation since 2015.

“Delivering the product in chassis form, we can work with long-term partners such as Volgren to assemble the bus here in Australia.

“It also has allowed us to create new climate options for the vehicle, more suited to Australian conditions” he added.

LONG-TERM PLANNING While handover of the first electric buses to the PTA is not scheduled until late next year, the planning is well underway, Volvo confirms.

Implementing electric vehicles involves many more stakeholders than a traditional bus sale – with Volvo saying the planning for this project started last year. busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 3:33:31 PM

“This project is about much more than the buses. We have worked with the PTA on a number of areas including simulating the routes to create our charging strategy, charging infrastructure, understanding capital works needs in the depot, training of staff, safety elements, certification and standards compliance. That means we are creating a scalable, end-to-end implementation plan that can be replicated in the future,” explained Mead.

The company points out that whilst Volvo has extensive experience in electric buses, full commercialisation of the localised electric bus solution for Australia will not be until 2022.

AND NOW THE WAIT… So these are the timeframes we are looking at and the machinations that need to happen before we get to see the Volvo-Volgren e-buses in the flesh on home soil and then in eventual service in Perth, WA, by early 2022.

Like any good cat on the hunt, it’s taken its time, slowly and silently and patiently slinking up and assessing and testing and checking the Australasian market, waiting for the right time to pounce.

There’ll be more than a few operators eagerly watching to see how this PTA delivery pans out – and so too other European electric bus manufacturers, as well. And let’s not forget the Australian e-bus making entities and current Asian manufacturers that are here now or have emerged.

Yup, interesting electric-bus times ahead…

Stay tuned. busnews.com.au

BusSearch_2020_028-33_Chassis_Volvo_ FC.indd 33

Specs MAKE: Volvo MODEL: Electric Chassis Concept LENGTH: 11m - 12.5m DRIVELINE: One or two electric motors, two-speed transmission; Power (max.) – 1x or 2x 200kW, Torque (max.) – 1,900Nm at the driven axle BATTERIES: Lithium-ion, up to 470kWh capacity CHASSIS: Full low-floor CHARGING: CCS system

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CHASSIS

VOLVO

WEB:

PHONE:

www.volvobuses.com.au

NSW: Qld & NT: Vic, SA & Tas: WA:

EMAIL:

info.bus.au@volvo.com ADDRESS:

Ray Andrich 0418 213 320 or Stuart Woodward 0406 465 301 Tony Browne 0418 215 743 Darren Cottle 0419 500 324 or Anthony Fisicaro 0418 365 356 Adrian Boevé 0488 902 205

41 Bivouac Wacol QLD 4076

MAKE: VOLVO MODEL: B8R EU5

MAKE: VOLVO MODEL: B8RLE EU5

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

12.5

Length (metres)

12.5

Wheelbase (mm)

5000-7400

Wheelbase (mm)

5000-7400

Front Overhang (mm)

2330-2500

Front Overhang (mm)

2500

Rear Overhang (mm)

3173

Rear Overhang (mm)

3173

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Pending Body Configuration

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Pending Body Configuration

ENGINE:

ENGINE:

Make/Model

Volvo/D8C

Make/Model

Volvo/D8C

Configuration

Vertical 8L

Configuration

Vertical 8L

Power (hp/kW)

330/243

Power (hp/kW)

330/243

Torque (Nm)

1200

Torque (Nm)

1200

Oil Capacity (litres)

33

Oil Capacity (litres)

33

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Type

Diesel

Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

300lt

Capacity (litres)

270lt

TRANSMISSION:

TRANSMISSION:

Manual Model / Type

NA

Manual Model / Type

NA

Auto Model / Type

ZF/ZF Ecolife 6AP1200C/ZF: 6 speed fully automatic transmission with lock up function and integrated retarder.

Voith: 4 speed fully automatic transmission with integrated retarder & electronic control system.

Auto Model / Type

ZF or Voith/ZF Ecolife 6AP1200C, Voith DIWA 854.6/ZF: 6 speed fully automatic transmission with lock up function and integrated retarder. Voith: 4 speed fully automatic transmission with integrated retarder & electronic control system.

AXLES:

AXLES:

Type – Front

Volvo/NA/Rigid I Beam

Type – Front

Volvo/NA/Rigid I Beam

Type – Rear

Volvo/RS1228C/Single reduction axle with alternative ratios available. Designed to be lightweight, quiet in operation & provide maximum ground clearance.

Type – Rear

Volvo/RS1228C/Single reduction axle with alternative ratios available. Designed to be lightweight, quiet in operation & provide maximum ground clearance.

SUSPENSION:

SUSPENSION:

Type – Front

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Front

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Rear

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Rear

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

BRAKES:

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Disc

Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes (with Electronic stability control)

EBS

Yes (with Electronic stability control)

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

Alternator

2 x 110A

Alternator

2 x 110A

Starter

Volvo

Starter

Volvo

Batteries

2x225Ah

Batteries

2x225Ah

WHEELS & TYRES:

WHEELS & TYRES:

Type

10 stud steel or aluminium wheels

Type

10 stud steel or aluminium wheels

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5 / 9 x 22.5

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

CLUTCH:

CLUTCH:

Model/Type

NA

Model/Type

NA

Diameter (mm)

NS

Diameter (mm)

NS

Control

NA

Control

NA

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busnews.com.au

1/10/2020 11:02:32 AM

WEB:

PHONE:

www.volvobuses.com.au

NSW: Qld & NT: Vic, SA & Tas: WA:

EMAIL:

info.bus.au@volvo.com ADDRESS:

Ray Andrich 0418 213 320 or Stuart Woodward 0406 465 301 Tony Browne 0418 215 743 Darren Cottle 0419 500 324 or Anthony Fisicaro 0418 365 356 Adrian Boevé 0488 902 205

41 Bivouac Wacol QLD 4076

MAKE: VOLVO MODEL: B8R EU6

MAKE: VOLVO MODEL: B8RLE EU6

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

12.5

Length (metres)

12.5

Wheelbase (mm)

5000-7400

Wheelbase (mm)

5000-7400

Front Overhang (mm)

2330-2500

Front Overhang (mm)

2500

Rear Overhang (mm)

3190

Rear Overhang (mm)

3190

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Pending Body Configuration

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Pending Body Configuration

ENGINE:

ENGINE:

Make/Model

Volvo/D8K

Make/Model

Volvo/D8K

Configuration

Vertical 8L

Configuration

Vertical 8L

Power (hp/kW)

350/258 320/235

Power (hp/kW)

320/235

Torque (Nm)

1200 / 1400

Torque (Nm)

1200 / 1400

Oil Capacity (litres)

30

Oil Capacity (litres)

30

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

480L

TRANSMISSION: Manual Model / Type

Auto Model / Type

Volvo/I-shift AT2412F/12 speed manual gearbox with an automatic gear changing system that optimises gearshift constantly under all operating conditions.

ZF/ZF Ecolife 6AP1200C/ZF: 6 speed fully automatic transmission with lock up function and integrated retarder.

Voith: 4 speed fully automatic transmission with integrated retarder & electronic control system.

AXLES: Type – Front

Volvo/NA/Rigid I Beam

Type – Rear

Volvo/RS1228C/Single reduction axle with alternative ratios available. Designed to be lightweight, quiet in operation & provide maximum ground clearance. Steerable tag axle avail.

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Rear

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes (with Electronic stability control)

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2x 150A

Starter

Volvo

Batteries

Main Batteries 2 x 12V 105Ah AGM. Starter Btteries 2 x 12V 35Ah AGM

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud steel or aluminium wheels

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5 / 9 x 22.5

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

280L

TRANSMISSION: Manual Model / Type

NA

Auto Model / Type

ZF or Voith/ZF Ecolife 6AP1400C, Voith DIWA 854.6/ZF: 6 speed fully automatic transmission with lock up function and integrated retarder. Voith: 4 speed fully automatic transmission with integrated retarder & electronic control system.

AXLES: Type – Front

Volvo/NA/Rigid I Beam

Type – Rear

Volvo/RS1228C/Single reduction axle with alternative ratios available. Designed to be lightweight, quiet in operation & provide maximum ground clearance. Steerable tag axle avail.

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Rear

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes (with Electronic stability control)

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2x 150A

Starter

Volvo

Batteries

Main Batteries 2 x 12V 170Ah. Starter Batteries 2 x 12V 35Ah AGM

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud steel or aluminium wheels

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

CLUTCH:

CLUTCH: Volvo/Volvo

Model/Type

NA

Diameter (mm)

NS

Diameter (mm)

NS

Control

Fully Automatic

Control

NA

Model/Type

busnews.com.au

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CHASSIS

VOLVO

WEB:

PHONE:

www.volvobuses.com.au

NSW: Qld & NT: Vic, SA & Tas: WA:

EMAIL:

info.bus.au@volvo.com ADDRESS:

Ray Andrich 0418 213 320 or Stuart Woodward 0406 465 301 Tony Browne 0418 215 743 Darren Cottle 0419 500 324 or Anthony Fisicaro 0418 365 356 Adrian Boevé 0488 902 205

41 Bivouac Wacol QLD 4076

MAKE: VOLVO MODEL: B8L DD EU6

MAKE: VOLVO MODEL: B5L S-CHARGE (HYBRID) EU6

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

12

Length (metres)

12.5

Wheelbase (mm)

5590

Wheelbase (mm)

5900-6200

Front Overhang (mm)

2213

Front Overhang (mm)

2500

Rear Overhang (mm)

2488

Rear Overhang (mm)

3490

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Pending Body Configuration

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Pending Body Configuration

ENGINE:

ENGINE: Make/Model

Volvo/D8K

Configuration

Vertical 8L

Power (hp/kW)

350/258

Torque (Nm)

1400

Oil Capacity (litres)

30

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Make/Model

Volvo/D5K Euro 6 - Volvo/ Fully intergrated Parallel Hybrid: Diesel : D5F/ Electric: Volvo ISAM

Configuration

Vertical 5L (Diesel) & Electric Motor

Power (hp/kW)

240/179

Torque (Nm)

918 (Diesel), 800 (Electric) (Electric kW: 120, HP: 161)

Oil Capacity (litres)

30

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Type

Diesel

Type

Diesel-Electric Hybrid

Capacity (litres)

350lt

Capacity (litres)

220lt

TRANSMISSION:

TRANSMISSION:

Manual Model / Type

NA

Manual Model / Type

NS/NS/NS

Auto Model / Type

ZF/ZF Ecolife 6AP1400C/ZF: 6 speed fully automatic transmission with lock up function and integrated retarder.

Auto Model / Type

Volvo/AT2412F I-Shift/Automatic gearbox, 12 forward gears, 4 reverse, electronic control system. Electric motor with Integrated retarder. 3-buttons dash panel gear selector.

AXLES: Type – Front

Volvo/NA/Rigid I Beam

Type – Rear

ZF single reduction portal axle. The casing designed for high ground clearance, low weight and quiet operation.

AXLES: Type – Front

Volvo/NS/Rigid I Beam

Type – Rear

ZF/ZF AV132/ZF single reduction portal axle The casing designed for high ground clearance, low weight and quiet operation.

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

SUSPENSION:

Type – Rear

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Front

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Rear

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes (with Electronic stability control)

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2 x 150A

Starter

Volvo

Batteries

Main Batteries 2 x 12V 170Ah. Starter Batteries 2 x 12V 35Ah AGM

WHEELS & TYRES:

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes (with Electronic stability control)

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

Solid State 312A DC/DC Convertor. No moving parts

Starter

Volvo

Batteries

Main Batteries 2 x 12V 170Ah. Starter Batteries 2 x 12V 35Ah AGM

WHEELS & TYRES:

Type

10 stud steel or aluminium wheels

Type

10 stud steel or aluminium wheels

Rim Size

7.5 x 22.5 / 8.25 x 22.5

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

CLUTCH:

CLUTCH:

Model/Type

NA

Model/Type

Volvo/Volvo

Diameter (mm)

NS

Diameter (mm)

NS

Control

NA

Control

Fully Automatic

36

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WEB:

PHONE:

www.volvobuses.com.au

NSW: Qld & NT: Vic, SA & Tas: WA:

EMAIL:

info.bus.au@volvo.com ADDRESS:

Ray Andrich 0418 213 320 or Stuart Woodward 0406 465 301 Tony Browne 0418 215 743 Darren Cottle 0419 500 324 or Anthony Fisicaro 0418 365 356 Adrian Boevé 0488 902 205

41 Bivouac Wacol QLD 4076

MAKE: VOLVO MODEL: B11R EU5

MAKE: VOLVO MODEL: B11R EU6

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

12.5 - 14.5

Length (metres)

12.5 - 14.5

Wheelbase (mm)

5000-7400

Wheelbase (mm)

5000-7400

Front Overhang (mm)

2049-2399

Front Overhang (mm)

2050-2630

Rear Overhang (mm)

2670

Rear Overhang (mm)

2760 (3 axle) 3340 (2axle)

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Pending Body Configuration

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Pending Body Configuration

ENGINE:

ENGINE: Volvo/D11C

Make/Model

Volvo/D11K

Configuration

Vertical 11L

Configuration

Vertical 11L

Power (hp/kW)

370/272 410/302 450/302

Power (hp/kW)

380/279 430/316 460/339

Torque (Nm)

1750 / 1950 / 2150

Torque (Nm)

1800 / 2050 / 2200

Oil Capacity (litres)

36

Oil Capacity (litres)

36

Make/Model

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Type

Diesel

Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

Bodybuilder fitment, up to 1000L

Capacity (litres)

Bodybuilder fitment, up to 1000L

TRANSMISSION:

TRANSMISSION: Manual Model / Type

Volvo/I-shift AT2412E/12 speed manual gearbox with an automatic gear changing system that optimises gearshift constantly under all operating conditions.

Manual Model / Type

Volvo/I-shift AT2412F/12 speed manual gearbox with an automatic gear changing system that optimises gearshift constantly under all operating conditions.

Auto Model / Type

ZF/6AP2000C (Ecolife)/ZF: 6 speed fully automatic transmission with integrated retarder and electronic control system (370hp engine only)

Auto Model / Type

ZF (380hp only)/6AP2000C (Ecolife)/6 speed fully automatic transmission with integrated retarder and electronic control system (380hp engine only)

AXLES:

AXLES: Type – Front

Volvo/NA/Independent or Rigid I-Beam

Type – Front

Volvo/NA/Independent or Rigid I-Beam

Type – Rear

Volvo/RS1228C/Single reduction axle with alternative ratios available. Designed to be lightweight, quiet in operation & provide maximum ground clearance. Steerable tag axle available.

Type – Rear

Volvo/RS1228C/Single reduction axle with alternative ratios available. Designed to be lightweight, quiet in operation & provide maximum ground clearance. Steerable tag axle avail.

SUSPENSION:

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Front

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Rear

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

Type – Rear

Electronically controlled air suspension with anti-roll bar

BRAKES:

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Disc

Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes (with Electronic stability control)

EBS

Yes (with Electronic stability control)

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

Alternator

2x 150A, 3 x 150A

Alternator

2x 150A, 3 x 150A

Starter

Volvo

Starter

Volvo

Batteries

Batteries

2x225Ah

Main Batteries 2 x 12V 105Ah AGM. Starter Batteries 2 x 12V 35Ah AGM

WHEELS & TYRES:

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud steel or aluminium wheels

Type

10 stud steel or aluminium wheels

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5 / 9 x 22.5

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5 / 9 x 22.5

CLUTCH:

CLUTCH:

Model/Type

Volvo

Model/Type

Volvo

Diameter (mm)

NS

Diameter (mm)

NS

Control

NA

Control

NA

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BODIES

COACHWORKS

The restoration was funded by an AUD$19,000 Queensland Government Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant.

BRISBANE HERITAGE ‘BUS 80’ LANDS AT MUSEUM Following its long-awaited refurbishment, iconic heritage ‘Bus 80’ is now on display under cover for the first time in its 72-year life.

I

n July, 2020, Bus 80 was relocated by the Queensland Omnibus & Coach Society (QOCS) members to the Queensland Transport Museum, where it will remain until July, 2021.

“Having one of our heritage bus fleet on public display for the first time is an important milestone for our organisation, as we are actively working to establish our own museum in Brisbane, which will be known as the Brisbane Transport Museum,” said QOCS president Nick Wilson.

“We currently have our eye on a World War II aircraft hangar at Eagle Farm, known as Hangar 7, which is owned by the Brisbane City Council and currently undergoing refurbishment for use as a museum.

“We believe this is the ideal location to establish a transport museum, as it is a large undercover area with vast historical significance to Brisbane,” he said.

Aside from the Brisbane Tramway Museum at Ferny Grove, there is currently no dedicated transport museum in Brisbane to celebrate and recognise the Brisbane City Council’s (BCC) 95-year involvement with the 38

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city’s transportation needs, Wilson explains.

QOCS is seeking to fill this void and is hoping that Council’s Hangar 7 premises will eventually be home to the Brisbane Transport Museum, he adds.

LONG JOURNEY As one of Brisbane City Council’s first purpose-built buses – a 72-year-old diesel-powered British AEC Regal III – it recently debuted to the public in action with a ‘sentimental spin around the city’ last July 10, as ABC reported earlier.

According to sources at the time, the restoration was funded by an AUD$19,000 Queensland Government Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant.

Bus 80 – with a Commonwealth Engineering body built in Sydney – was one of 12 diesel-powered buses brought into service in 1948, QOCS explains.

“Between October 1947 and April 1948, the Brisbane City Council began consolidating the bus system in Brisbane by compulsorily acquiring 20 private operators,” Wilson said.

The bus began operating from the

BCC’s Light Street depot in Fortitude Valley in June 1948, and remained in service until September 1971.

SOUND SUPPORT Queensland State Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey MP unveiled the restoration alongside BCC chair of the public and active transport committee Cr Murphy, in July.

Wilson says QOCS was grateful the Queensland government funding allowed Bus 80 to have another lease of life.

Acacia Ridge-based firm Coachworks conducted the restoration, which began in May. Coachworks general manager Scott Isaacs says it was an enjoyable project to work on as the coronavirus lockdown created uncertainty in the transport industry.

A not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving Brisbane’s bus history, QOCS’s plan is to one day feature Bus 80 and its fleet of 16 other vintage buses in a proposed Brisbane Transport Museum at Council’s Hangar 7 facility at Eagle Farm, it states. busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 12:01:30 PM

A Queensland based, Australian owned and operated business with over 30 years of experience in developing industry leading expertise in accident repairs, refinishing, refurbishment or retrofitting. Experience you can rely on to deliver what you need, when you need it.

Since 1989, we have enjoyed the confidence of over 250 bus and coach companies across Australia and New Zealand. With a clear understanding of what is required to make buses and coaches stay on the road, Coachworks continues to grow and learn to ensure that we are at the forefront of new technologies, so our clients are driving smarter, safer and longer than anyone else.

Professional Refinishing

Accident Repair

Fleet Refurbishments

Coach Retrofitting

Mini Bus Conversions

COMMUNICATION P: (07) 3344 4544 F: (07) 3344 4085 E: info@coachworks.com.au ADDRESS A: 163 Ingram Rd, Acacia Ridge QLD 4110 M: PO Box 43, Acacia Ridge QLD 4110 W: www.coachworks.com.au

ABC BD 2020.als - Base Edition 39

5/10/20 9:17 am

BODIES

VOLGREN

ELECTRIC SUNRISE The bus industry is certainly changing thanks to new greener and environmentally friendly technologies. Huge advancements in viability and trials by companies such as Transdev Australasia of the VolgrenBYD e-bus help ensure we are on the right e-mobility path, reports Paul Aldridge.

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T

oday’s test drive of the electric Volgren Optimus on Chinese BYD DR9A 860 (K9) chassis is a first for Victoria’s public transport network – and it’s only fitting that the bus was built and put together in Melbourne.

Transdev Australasia is the proud owner of this first Volgren-BYD electric bus (it’s based at Transdev’s North Fitzroy depot where a charging station has been installed) and it has partnered with the Victorian government to conduct these important trials.

It began carrying passengers on Route 246 services between Elsternwick and Clifton Hill via St Kilda in December 2019. The trial will continue

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until January 2021, and will be reviewed to determine the potential to roll out fully electric buses across Victoria, the state government confirms.

You can’t get more local than a bus built at the Volgren factory in Dandenong. Here, both the body construction and fitout has been completed under the Victorian Government’s Local Jobs First initiative, which is great for ensuring backing the local automotive industry to continue to develop new capabilities and innovation.

RELATIONSHIP TRUST The head of engineering for Transdev Australasia, Marc Cleave, has a wealth of knowledge and experience both here and overseas with bus manufacturing,

design engineering and now driving the development of electric buses for the company. Cleave’s knowledge combined with Transdev’s overseas success as the first zero-emission operator in Europe, as it says, is a combination sure to help get our industry moving along the path to electric viability with the trial results.

“The chassis is BYD and obviously Optimus is the body. We’ve just bought 50 Volgren Optimuses for the fleet here in diesel because they’re standard and an integrated body that basically goes onto it.

The platform for the batteries and the vent over the roof – they’ve put it all together for us,” Cleave said.

“So, it’s integrated really well and they’ve treated the electric chassis like a standard Volvo, Scania or Mercedes [base for the] body,” he said – with such huge purchases highlighting a good relationship and trust in the product existing between Transdev and Volgren.

VICTORIAN MADE “This Optimus Electric is the first one actually produced. I saw this in manufacture in June of last year and I just had to get my hands on it,” Cleave explained.

“We were ready after all the testing was completed and its service started on 28 November, so this is the very first Victorian built e-bus.”

A bus like this will not only help to reduce carbon emissions, but also improve air quality and deliver a quieter and smoother ride for passengers, as the government expects it to, no doubt.

It features a low floor, intelligent early detection collision avoidance systems, USB charging ports and will be among the cleanest commercial vehicles on Australian roads, the state government says – so these trials will have many people eagerly waiting the findings.

Its route will cover just over 172km per day, so we asked Cleave if this route was specifically designed for the trial, but he says Transdev are treating the vehicle as ‘apples for apples’ for a true trial [diesel] comparison.

“To date I’ve seen fair range prospective and it’s not giving us any issues and it’s doing 172km a day and we can definitely push that,” Cleave said.

“It’s on a busy run traffic-wise so, we’ve probably started with one of the worstcase scenarios; I mean you still have other opportunities on other parts of the network we’d like to try, but that is part of the project in working with the Department of Transport.” busnews.com.au

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With the Optimus Electric trials to continue until January 2021, Transdev has commenced it with standard service work, so it’s on this route for six months then Transdev will test it through other terrains.

That is, basically different environments within the Transdev Melbourne network so the team can get a true feel for its performance.

Its early days in the trial and we hoped Cleave might give some inside information as to how it’s going so far in cost comparisons against its diesel counterparts, but he laughed and explained that he couldn’t disclose any figures as yet, but that they are “encouraging”.

LOWER MAINTENANCE With electric buses there are also benefits with servicing, which is a massive bonus for operators, and Cleave explained what differences he had seen.

“The theory behind electric servicing is that there are fewer moving parts; therefore, your maintenance is obviously less and so far it’s been really encouraging.

It’s only been in service just over 10,000km and 52 days out,” he said.

“Like the diesel product sitting next to us that’s about the same age, it too will have low maintenance on it as well at this stage, but we have to look at the average over a period of time. So, you can’t get too excited too quickly, but it’s encouraging so far.

“Certainly it appears to have lower maintenance compared to your regular diesel buses, but you have to be patient, you can’t just assume at this stage,” Cleave continued, reminding us why trials like this are so important to the learning and development process.

BATTERY LIFE So what about the all-important battery life and what’s the expectation?

“The battery life should outlast the life of the bus really, but the performance of the battery obviously is still something everybody is a bit wary of,” Cleave said.

“Like your phone that you put in your hand you check your battery life, and then depending on how long you’ve had it the performance went down from 100 per cent to maybe 92 per cent.

“Batteries in these are no different; you have to treat them with respect and charge them properly and take care of your asset – and then you can prolong the life,” he said.

Thus, as with all vehicle longevity, the lesson is correct operation, maintenance and care will play a part.

Cleave continued: “It’s no different than an engine. You take care of your engine ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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BODIES

VOLGREN

“You can’t get more local than a bus built at the Volgren factory in Dandenong.”

Top: The dash includes right and left blind spot monitors and a warning system if doors are closed on a passenger waiting to board.

Above: The stippled stainless wall lining is perfect for ease of cleaning and longevity.

Right: The trial is currently underway and will last until January 2021.

42

and you’ll get longer than what the OEM tells you.

It’s new technology and the people who have designed the batteries have designed the system in theory that can provide it for the life of the bus.

“I can tell you I’ve taken this vehicle on and when this vehicle comes out of service I’ll be retiring. When you think of it that way, well, she’ll still be going when I’m 65,” he said.

Other than the obvious anticipated reduced lifetime costs, what most impressed Cleave about the Optimus Electric and makes it a no-brainer for operators?

“If nothing else just the emissions,” he replied.

“The emissions so far in this trial when we are comparing them to the Euro5 and Euro6 diesel, the emission savings are surprising how much even a Euro6 vehicle actually still produces. It’s obviously less than a Euro5 and it is encouraging when we have just one vehicle, but you can imagine having a whole fleet where you don’t put any emissions out.

“How good would that be to be saying to the communities who live close to this vehicle, and just for our environment in general? So that for me is a big thing,” he explained.

TOO IMPRESSIVE? With an electric bus there’s a lot of smart

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technology behind them just doing what they do, of course, but electrics aside what other components had impressed Cleave with the Optimus Electric?

“The air-conditioner! Electric air-cons are really impressive,” Cleave said.

“The pull-off in the vehicle, the electric axle itself is impressive.

“Obviously if you are able to get into traffic – drivers will tell you ‘sneak into’ traffic – you get instantaneous torque compared to Euro6 diesel buses [taking off]. Which again, [electric buses] are actually down-rated because they have to be and your actual pull-away is different.

“We’ve done a drive test against the Euro6 and we’ve actually pulled the power back a little bit because it’s a bit too impressive,” Cleave explained.

Now, although we are all certainly more informed and accepting of the technologies behind electric buses, with Cleave’s experience, when does he think operators and communities will be ready to make the switch?

“I think everybody is ready. I think next year is the big year and it’s all going to start to collate between solar and battery technology.

“People have started to invest heavy money in it and they are going to want to see a return,

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so I think we’re going to see more cities and countries in the next five to 10 years turnaround and say ‘That’s it! No more emissions!’ and you’re going to have to deal with it pretty quick.”

INTERSTATE USE It’s Cleave’s role as chief engineer to head Transdev’s E-mobility fleet and promote it in all major cities, not just Melbourne. We hear we should start to see that happen over the next two or three years.

So what changes would be needed to meet the requirements for other states?

Cleave said: “Between colours and a couple of other little things we’d be very close to meeting the Transport for NSW bus spec – there’s a only a couple of things that you’d have to change.”

THE DRIVE A real bonus for driver health is the lower internal cabin noise. When you combine standard bus mechanics and a full load of passengers or school children the noise levels experienced on a day-to-day basis can be quiet extreme. With a 61-passenger capacity (39 sitting, 22 standees) fully loaded that’s a whole lot of cabin noise for a driver.

Lower noise levels will have to mean a less stressful driving week for a route driver, we’d say.

Driver comfort is always at the top of the list for many operators as any reduction in job stress is paramount to maintaining healthy drivers, driver longevity and, in turn, this has to mean higher levels of passenger safety.

Something you notice straight away is the smooth, quick acceleration. Normally with a diesel you get the initial turbo lag, but that doesn’t exist with an electric bus.

The braking is a different feel in comparison to standard diesel due to the ‘regen’ (energy regeneration) of the hub motors on the drive wheels. In theory brake pad servicing should be infrequent as normal heavy braking is greatly reduced.

VOLGREN STRATEGY “TO DOUBLE CAPACITY”

A FOCUS on ‘lean manufacturing’ and eliminating disturbances from the bus production line will allow Volgren to “double capacity” at its Dandenong, Victoria, manufacturing headquarters, the company confirms.

Part of a company-wide transformation aimed at improving competitiveness and delivering more value for customers, the re-design has included a radical rethink of its production line, leading to development of a single, ‘continuous flow’ line.

Volgren CEO Thiago Deiro says the new arrangement can work for both diesel and electric vehicles and was designed according to lean concepts.

“The previous assembly line was limited to one vehicle per day and was set up with stationary bays. The new chassis area is a continuous line on rails with preassembled parts just beside each work station. As soon as this new chassis layout is completed, together with new tools and jigs, the capacity will double and set-up times will be cut by half,” he said.

“The additional capacity will allow us to cope with growing demand, which is expected for the second half of this year and for years to come,” he added.

TEAM EFFORT Deiro says 12 Volgren team members from departments including safety, manufacturing engineering, product engineering, maintenance, production, logistics, quality and purchasing were involved in the re-design.

The new layout has been well-received by staff on the factory floor, which is important for Deiro, who wants to make certain that everyone at the company is part of major decisions.

“The best ideas for improving a process always come from the people who are actually doing the work,” he said.

“We have to train our people to see the waste in any process and then remove it. The Kaizen approach of having a dedicated team working on a problem gives everyone a voice.

“In the end it will all come to a better and safer place to work for everybody and adding value to our customers.”

DOUBLING CAPACITY The doubling of capacity is one of a number of efficiency measures that Deiro has put in place since taking over as CEO in April 2019, according to Volgren.

Earlier this year, he made the decision to bring Volgren’s Victorian distribution centre ‘in-house’, relocating it from an off-site location to a new warehouse within the Dandenong facility, it says.

The previous site was only a 2.25-kilometre trip from Volgren’s headquarters; however, those responsible for logistics were making, on average, 11 trips per day.

The change brought about savings of about $108,000 per year in transport alone, confirms Volgren.

“Relocation brought us big savings in rental, transportation, packing, material stock and unnecessary movements of people,” Deiro said.

Above: The new ‘continuous flow line’ can work for both diesel and electric vehicles, according to Volgren.

Right: “The best ideas for improving a process always come from the people who are actually doing the work,” said CEO Thiago Deiro [right].

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BODIES

VOLGREN

Specs MAKE Volgren MODEL Optimus electric CHASSIS BYD K9 electric bus with 16x BYD lithium ion phosphate (LFP) batteries, 2x BYD AC synchronous in-hub motors; Power - 324kW (2x 165kW), Torque – 1,100Nm (2x 550Nm), Top Speed – 90km/h AXLES ZF front, BYD rear MISC. BYD battery coolers, regenerative braking system, electric power steering, electric air compressor, BYD A/C charging standard - 80kW (380V/400V, AC, 3 Phase) BODY ANCILLIARIES Air-con – Thermo King E-1200 full electric heat-cool air conditioning; Seats – New City Light passenger seats from NB Trimming; Doors – electric saloon doors from Ventura Door Systems; rapid-sliding plug door to rear; TS155 compliant safety system; Safety – 2x Kline Fire fire-suppression system, SensaTyre tyre pressure and temperature monitoring system from Tyre Checkers, Fleet Safe Mobileye lane departure and accident avoidance system; Communications – Netcom NTC400 Wi-Fi system; Mobitec Consat passenger information system

Above: The BYD K9 electric bus chassis with 16x BYD lithium ion phosphate (LFP) batteries puts out a top speed of 90km/h.

Below: Zero emissions will be a huge benefit to communities living along bus routes.

“Batteries in these are no different; you have to treat them with respect and charge them properly and take care of your asset.”

What’s really cool about the driver display is the LED where you can see exactly much power you are drawing as you drive. We’ve just taken off and are getting up to the 50km limit, drawing 44-47kW. Backing off a bit and it’s starting to regenerate, putting 18kW back into the system.

It’s pretty amazing technology that lets you know at any given time how much power you are using and how much you have left.

TAILOR MADE The driver’s cabin is a standard Optimus layout with a few added extras that Transdev incorporated.

There are left and right blind spot monitors on the dash, plus there’s a warning system mounted on the side of the bus with an illuminated passenger symbol on the dash to warn the driver if they have closed the doors while there’s still a passenger waiting to board.

We trialled this and it would be a great safety feature that should be on all route buses, ideally.

Approaching a stop sign you can see again you are putting back into the system. It would be really interesting to spend a bit of time learning as a driver how your driving affects the system, seeing how you can maximise your drive time and the power usage.

The 324kWh lithium phosphate batteries give a range of around 300km in general driving conditions. This could certainly be extended with driver training or continual usage of the system to understand its capabilities.

PASSENGER VIEW Spending time as a passenger on our test, the only thing you will notice due to the quietness of 44

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an electric bus is the noise from any componentry moving around; handrail [grips] movement all becomes magnified because usually you wouldn’t hear a thing internally with a louder standard diesel engine.

In the Volgren buses we really like the stippled stainless wall lining, perfect for ease of cleaning and longevity – robust and durable but smart looking.

The disabled passenger area was roomy and the seats were easy to fold with very simple operation.

KEEN INTEREST During our photoshoot at a nondescript Melbourne factory area, as soon as we had the bus and our camera gear out people wanted to talk about it and asked what we were doing. This was one clear time there was genuine interest from ‘the general public’ about what the bus can do and why it was so special.

Perhaps the tables have really turned for the public’s interest in all things ‘green’, and this change means this ‘standard route bus’ is certainly getting deserved attention.

Volgren spent five years in development with this bus and Transdev was certainly keen to have the Optimus Electric bus in its fleet. This vehicle’s performance is being watched closely, for sure – Australia wide. Our industry benefits from the work of companies like Volgren and Transdev, which continue the push forward to a greener bus future.

There’ll be a lot of operators looking forward to the trial results, with the combined experience of both Transdev, led by Cleave, and Volgren giving a truer picture of the Volgren Optimus Electric’s capabilities. busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 12:07:46 PM

MAKE: VOLGREN

ADDRESS:

WEB:

221-243 Hammond Road Dandenong VIC 3175 Phone: 03 9791 4255 Email: info@volgren.com.au

www.volgren.com.au

MODEL: OPTIMUS

MAKE: VOLGREN

MODEL: OPTIMUS

SERIES: ELECTRIC – ZERO EMISSION

SERIES: HYBRID

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE BUS

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE BUS

VARIATIONS: – 12.2m, 12.5m

VARIATIONS: – 11.9m, 12.5m

BODY SPECIFICATIONS:

BODY SPECIFICATIONS:

Frame Material

Bolted extruded aluminium system

Frame Material

Bolted extruded aluminium system

Body Material

Fibreglass front and rear panels

Body Material

Fibreglass front and rear panels

Seating Capacity (provide range if applicable)

39

Seating Capacity (provide range if applicable)

39-44

Passenger Capacity (provide range if applicable)

61

Passenger Capacity (provide range if applicable)

67-77

No. of Doors (provide range if applicable)

1-2

No. of Doors (provide range if applicable)

1-2

SEATING OPTIONS:

SEATING OPTIONS:

Seating Type

Individual or bench type

Seating Type

Individual or bench type

Seating Make/s

Customer choice

Seating Make/s

Customer choice

Seating Model/s

Customer choice

Seating Model/s

Customer choice

Seatbelts (Yes / No)

Optional

Seatbelts (Yes / No)

Optional

BODY DIMENSIONS:

BODY DIMENSIONS: Body Length - metres (provide range if applicable)

12.2m, 12.5m

Body Length - metres (provide range if applicable)

11.9m to 12.5m

Body Width - metres (provide range if applicable)

2.5m

Body Width - metres (provide range if applicable)

2.5m

Body Height -metres (provide range if applicable)

3.2m

Body Height - metres (provide range if applicable)

3.4m

Body Floor Height - mm (provide range if applicable)

N/A

Body Floor Height - mm (provide range if applicable)

NA

STORAGE:

STORAGE: Side bins

No

Side bins

No

Thru bins

No

Thru bins

No

Internal luggage racks

No

Internal luggage racks

No

AIR-CONDITIONING:

AIR-CONDITIONING: Air-Conditioning Standard (Yes / No)

Yes

Air-Conditioning Standard (Yes / No)

Yes

Air-Conditioning Make/s

Customer choice

Air-Conditioning Make/s

Customer choice

Air-Conditioning Model/s

Customer choice

Air-Conditioning Model/s

Customer choice

BODY OPTIONS:

BODY OPTIONS: Wheelchair lift/access

Yes (Manual or electric)

Wheelchair lift access

Yes (Manual or electric)

CD/PA/Radio

Optional

CD/PA/Radio

Optional

DVD/TV

Optional

DVD/TV

Optional

Toilet

No

Toilet

No

Individual reading lights

No

Individual reading lights

No

Individual AC vents

No

Individual AC vents

No

Reverse camera

Optional

Reverse camera

Other (please specify)

busnews.com.au

Volgren Bodies 2020.indd 45

Driver interface screen, Wireless bell pushes, Bonded Double Dark tinted side windows, 4-8 Camera CCTV system, Electric windscreen blinds, Electric heated external mirrors, Driver’s security screen, TS155 compliance Safety System (Suitable), Illuminated Step Edges, Electric Ventura Doors, Consat passenger Information system from Mobitec, WiFi system NTC400 from Netcom, USB Charge Ports, 300 km Range, 324 KWH Battery Capacity, 4 Hour Recharge time, 13,000kg Tare Weight

Other (please specify)

Optional Driver interface screen, Independent LED driving lights, Bonded Double Dark tinted side windows, 4-8 Camera CCTV system, Electric windscreen blinds, Electric heated external mirrors, Wireless bell pushes, Driver’s security screen, TS155 compliance Safety System

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BODIES

MAKE: VOLGREN

VOLGREN

ADDRESS:

WEB:

221-243 Hammond Road Dandenong VIC 3175 Phone: 03 9791 4255 Email: info@volgren.com.au

www.volgren.com.au

MODEL: OPTIMUS SERIES: RIGID & ARTICULATED DIESEL

MAKE: VOLGREN

MODEL: OPTIMUS SERIES: DOUBLE DECKER DIESEL

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE BUS

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE BUS

VARIATIONS: – 10.9m to 14.5m, 18m Articulated

VARIATIONS: – 12.2m

BODY SPECIFICATIONS:

BODY SPECIFICATIONS:

Frame Material

Bolted extruded aluminium system

Frame Material

Bolted extruded aluminium system

Body Material

Fibreglass front and rear panels

Body Material

Fibreglass front and rear panels

Seating Capacity (provide range if applicable)

41-49

Seating Capacity (provide range if applicable)

55 Upper Saloon, 33 Lower Saloon

Passenger Capacity (provide range if applicable)

80

Passenger Capacity (provide range if applicable)

111

No. of Doors (provide range if applicable)

1 or 2

No. of Doors (provide range if applicable)

1-2

SEATING OPTIONS:

SEATING OPTIONS:

Seating Type

Individual or bench type

Seating Type

Individual or bench type

Seating Make/s

Customer choice

Seating Make/s

Customer choice

Seating Model/s

Customer choice

Seating Model/s

Customer choice

Seatbelts (Yes / No)

Optional

Seatbelts (Yes / No)

Optional

BODY DIMENSIONS:

BODY DIMENSIONS: 10.9m, 11.9m, 12.5m, 14.5m & 18m Articulated

Body Length - metres (provide range if applicable)

12.2m

Body Width - metres (provide range if applicable)

Body Width - metres (provide range if applicable)

2.5m

2.5m

Body Height -metres (provide range if applicable)

Body Height - metres (provide range if applicable)

4.3m

3.2m

Body Floor Height - mm (provide range if applicable)

Body Floor Height - mm (provide range if applicable)

NA

N/A

Body Length - metres (provide range if applicable)

STORAGE: Side bins

No

Thru bins

No

Internal luggage racks

No

AIR-CONDITIONING:

STORAGE: Side bins

No

Thru bins

No

Internal luggage racks

No

AIR-CONDITIONING:

Air-Conditioning Standard (Yes / No)

Air-Conditioning Standard (Yes / No)

Yes

Yes

Air-Conditioning Make/s

Air-Conditioning Make/s

Customer choice

Customer choice

Air-Conditioning Model/s

Air-Conditioning Model/s

Customer choice

Customer choice

BODY OPTIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

Wheelchair lift/access

Wheelchair lift access

Yes (Manual or electric)

Yes (Manual or electric)

CD/PA/Radio

CD/PA/Radio

Optional

Optional

DVD/TV

DVD/TV

Optional

Optional

Toilet

Toilet

No

No

Individual reading lights

Individual reading lights

No

No

Individual AC vents

Individual AC vents

No

No

Reverse camera

Reverse camera

Optional

Other (please specify)

Other (please specify)

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Driver interface screen, Wireless bell pushes, Bonded Double Dark tinted side windows, 4-8 Camera CCTV system, Electric windscreen blinds, Electric heated external mirrors, Driver’s security screen, TS155 compliance Safety System

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Optional Driver interface screen, Bonded Double Dark tinted side windows, 4-8 Camera CCTV system, Electric windscreen blinds, Electric heated external mirrors, Wireless bell pushes, Driver’s security screen, TS155 compliance Safety System

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MAKE: VOLGREN

MODEL: ENDURA

ADDRESS:

WEB:

221-243 Hammond Road Dandenong VIC 3175 Phone: 03 9791 4255 Email: info@volgren.com.au

www.volgren.com.au

SERIES: ENDURA

MAKE: MARCOPOLO MODEL: AUDACE

SERIES: AUDACE 1050

APPLICATION: SCHOOL BUS/CHARTER

APPLICATION: SCHOOL BUS/CHARTER/TOURISM

VARIATIONS: – 12.3 to 12.5m

VARIATIONS: – 12.3m

BODY SPECIFICATIONS:

BODY SPECIFICATIONS:

Frame Material

Bolted extruded aluminium system

Frame Material

Galvanised steel

Body Material

Fibreglass front and rear panels

Body Material

Seating Capacity (provide range if applicable)

57-61

Fibreglass front and rear panels and aluminium side panels

Passenger Capacity (provide range if applicable)

57-75

Seating Capacity (provide range if applicable)

57 non reclining seats, 53 with reclining seats

No. of Doors (provide range if applicable)

1

Passenger Capacity (provide range if applicable)

57 non reclining seats, 53 with reclining seats

No. of Doors (provide range if applicable)

1

SEATING OPTIONS: Seating Type

Customer choice

Seating Make/s

Customer choice

Seating Model/s

Customer choice

Seatbelts (Yes / No)

Optional

BODY DIMENSIONS:

SEATING OPTIONS: Seating Type

Seat belted coach type seat on non reclining seats and reclining seats

Seating Make/s

Marcopolo (std) or Sege 403X (on reclining seats)

Seating Model/s

Marcopolo (std) or Sege 403X (on reclining seats)

Seatbelts (Yes / No)

Yes

Body Length - metres (provide range if applicable)

12.3m & 12.5m

Body Width - metres (provide range if applicable)

2.5m

Body Height -metres (provide range if applicable)

3.5m

BODY DIMENSIONS:

Body Floor Height - mm (provide range if applicable)

1350mm

Body Length - metres (provide range if applicable)

12.3m

Body Width - metres (provide range if applicable)

2.5m

Body Height - metres (provide range if applicable)

3.7m

Body Floor Height - mm (provide range if applicable)

1050mm

STORAGE: Side bins

Yes

Thru bins

Optional

Internal luggage racks

Optional

AIR-CONDITIONING:

STORAGE: Side bins

Yes

Air-Conditioning Standard (Yes / No)

Yes

Thru bins

Yes

Air-Conditioning Make/s

Customer choice

Internal luggage racks

Yes

Air-Conditioning Model/s

Customer choice

BODY OPTIONS:

AIR-CONDITIONING: Air-Conditioning Standard (Yes / No)

Yes

Wheelchair lift/access

Optional

Air-Conditioning Make/s

Spheros

CD/PA/Radio

Optional

Air-Conditioning Model/s

CC 355

DVD/TV

Optional

Toilet

Optional

Individual reading lights

Optional

Individual AC vents

Optional

Reverse camera

Optional

Other (please specify)

Mine specification, Bullbar, Stoneguard, Bonded Double Dark tinted side windows, 4-8 Camera CCTV system, Electric windscreen blinds, Electric heated external mirrors, TS155 compliance safety system (Suitable), TS150 Warning signs and lights for school buses, (Suitable)

BODY OPTIONS: Wheelchair lift access

Optional

CD/PA/Radio

Yes

DVD/TV

Yes

Toilet

Optional

Individual reading lights

Yes

Individual AC vents

Yes

Reverse camera Other (please specify)

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Yes Marine plywood flooring with heavy duty non-slip floor covering material, Bonded type tinted side windows, Remote control coach door, Electric heated external mirrors, 5 camera CCTV system (including reverse), 16 speaker sound system, Electric windscreen blinds, Saloon window curtains, 53 with reclining seats, Grab handle, Magazine net behind the seats, USB Plugs on the seats

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29/09/2020 10:32:05 AM

CHASSIS & BODIES

CHALLENGER BUS & COACH

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED Building from the point of view of a driver and business owner, Challenger Bus and Coach is now offering a new range of high-quality vehicles designed specifically for Australia’s demanding conditions.

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uilt from the point of view of a driver and business owner, Challenger Bus and Coach offers a new range of high-quality vehicles designed specifically for Australia’s demanding conditions.

Challenger Bus and Coach evolved three years ago from a concept derived by a frustrated North Queensland bus operator.

Inferior quality parts led to vehicles aging poorly, and the after-sales support received did not live up to expectations. Put simply; 48

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these buses were not holding up to Australia’s harsh conditions.

Greg Sloan is a second-generation bus operator, has driven buses all over Australia, owned several regional bus operations in different states and has spent a lifetime working on all types of bus models. With his wealth of expertise, the opportunity arose to be involved in the creation of a bus specifically designed and built for Australian conditions.

Hence, the Challenger Bus concept

was born, with vehicle design, build and specifications having Sloan’s input, supported by skilled engineers. The first three buses built were Challenger V12s, manufactured by a bus manufacturing facility in Pinxzhang, China, and jointly branded iWarrior. Challenger further evolved, moving its manufacturing base to a modern, privately owned plant in Zhuhai, China. The new plant, owned

by Guangdong vehicle manufacturer ‘GT’, further improved production of the busnews.com.au

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“[The vehicles] must be reliable, cost effective, long lasting and easy to maintain.”

Challenger V12, before beginning manufacture of the Challenger V10. To date, Challenger has built a mix of V12 and V10 models, with a total of 20 vehicles completed.

“Challenger Bus and Coach is a standalone Australian-owned company designing and building buses and coaches to meet the challenging conditions Australia throws at bus and coach operations,” said Sloan. “[The vehicles] must be reliable, cost-effective, long-lasting, and easy to maintain, and sales support must be responsive and emphatic.”

“Ultimately, at Challenger, we seek to be flexible, enabling us to accommodate our customers’ particular bus requirements.”

KEY INFO Sloan explains the key materials and componentry that make up a Challenger Bus, the chassis and body frame, consist of Stalatube ferritic stainless steel, providing a lighter tare weight to carbon steel, while still maintaining its high strength.

“If scratched or gouged, the steel forms a brown film, which is a sealing reaction, so the penetration goes no further for the life of the vehicle,” he added.

The body panels are fibreglass and alloy, used to create a low weight, corrosion-resistant vehicle.

Through luggage bins are stainless steel panels to minimise corrosion.

The passenger floor is formed of compressed PVC panels, ensuring no swelling, or rotting, Above: To date, Challenger has 20 vehicles built from a

mix of the V12 and V10 models.

Left: Fibreglass body panels mean the buses are lowweight and corrosion-resistant.

Below: Both the V10 and V12 models can be modified to suit seating arrangements.

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CHASSIS & BODIES

CHALLENGER BUS & COACH

“We have been improving and adding new feature to our vehicles.”

Above, Top: The Funtoro Telematics Unit.

Above, Middle: The driver’s seat is a Grammer

air ride seat with lanedeparture warning system.

Opposite, Top: Buses can be built with capacities from 39

to 84 seats.

Opposite, Bottom: Cummins engines are used.

50

and the windows are flat panel glass, making replacement cost-effective and straightforward.

Inside the vehicle, fittings are constructed of a sandwiched alloy panel and powder coated, and all plastic mouldings are UV stabilised materials.

On the mechanical side, UK-built Cummins engines are coupled with transmissions from Allison, with ZF and Meritor diffs. Vehicle suspension is controlled with Wabco’s electronically controlled air suspension and braking system. The electrical control system is CAN bus, and the mirrors are remote controlled and heated.

“Our engineers, in conjunction with myself, have designed the dash to be ergonomic and easy to operate, with all features at arm’s reach from the driver’s position, with a clear, easy view of the dash,” said Sloan.

“We have consistently been improving and adding new features to our vehicles while listening to our customers’ requirements and feedback – ensuring our vehicles are more operator and driver-friendly.

Our first few V12s offered 53–57 passenger seats, and we have since added the 10.5 metre V10 to our list of offerings. The V10 will become the leading, mid-sized bus in the market.”

“The V12 and V10 models can be varied for whatever practical seating capacity and arrangement is required. For example, we have had one V12 fitted with a 2/3 seating arrangement, providing an 83-seat capacity. The V10s also have various seating configurations available from 30 to 45 seats.”

“Additionally, the V12 and V10 can be toilet equipped for coach specs. These flexible options, plus using well known, high-quality components and materials, provides excellent support for our product.”

To date, Challenger has supplied eight buses to operators, with two stock models currently on hand, and a further 10 vehicles arriving in the next few months. Available across all states, Challenger says it can also supply New Zealand.

“So far, our vehicles have operated with few

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minor issues, all promptly fixed at no cost to operators and with minimal downtime,” explained Sloan.

“Our main site depot and administration are in Spotswood, Melbourne, close to the city and providing easy access from the airport for visitors and customers. We also have an operation in Mossman, Queensland, and enjoy arrangements with repairers close to customers for their support.

“Parts stock to support our vehicles is vital to maintaining an ongoing relationship with our customers. Our depots in Spotswood and Mossman have most componentry parts on hand, and if not, can access them quickly and promptly.”

“We have direct factory support from GT whereby we can access required parts by Air Express. The warranties on major componentry are supplied by OEM Cummins, Allison, ZF, Meritor and Thermo King, which support our Challenger product.”

Sloan says the latest models include new features to help meet the operational and compliance requirements rapidly becoming part of the day-to-day running of the modern bus fleet.

The 2020/2021 Challenger V12 and V10 models will therefore include standard specification features: • Funtoro Telematics Unit to assist operators with vehicle tracking, driver monitoring, live engine information and diagnostics from bus to base in real-time messaging. The system also has additions including passenger tracking and seat monitoring (when seats are occupied it displays on the dash) assisting to reduce the risk of children being left on locked buses at the end of a shift. As the distributor of Funtoro, Challenger will pay the customer’s monthly connection fee for the first 12 months, then offer service at a reasonable monthly cost. The platform can also be retrofit to existing buses in a customer’s fleet.

• Axle weights are displayed on the dash in real-time and fitted through the Wabco ECAS system to help prevent overloading of vehicles.

• Mobileye, collision warning system has 360-degree cameras with side blind-spot monitoring, all recorded to a hard drive.

• Driver’s seat is a Grammer air ride seat with a lane-departure warning system to help with fatigue management.

• Driver’s windscreen sun blinds are wider to combat the glare effect on drivers.

• Driver’s air conditioning has ducting on the side pillar beside the driver with vents in the busnews.com.au

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duct and on the dash to direct boosted airconditioned air to the driver. Elevating driver comfort and reducing fatigue from heat stress, Challenger says this is possibly a first for the industry.

• Luggage racks are new alloy moulded racks with a wide opening to make it easier to load luggage.

• Adjustable air vent system to accommodate changes to seating capacity.

In addition to these standard features, the new models also include a Stalatube

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stainless steel chassis and body frame, Alcoa alloy wheels, alloy bullbar, stainless steel stone guard, air jack three-quarter impact gun air line with fittings for ease of tyre changing, and tool kit triangles.

“Challenger also offer a fixed price parts supply to customers to keep cost of life to a minimum, which in turn supports the operators bottom line,” said Sloan.

“We can fit seats to customer requirements from 39 to 84 seats, and all brands. Our toilet feature can be supplied with a leather and wood grain interior or

can be plain with minimal features.”

THE CHALLENGER FAMILY “Another point of difference is we come from an operator, driver and repairer point of view, while delivering a smart-looking, modern, functional bus or coach at a fair and reasonable price,” explained Sloan.

“When you purchase a Challenger vehicle, you are not just a customer; in our view you are part of the Challenger family and future, and you should expect us to support our product and what we offer. The challenge is accepted!

“Excitingly, we are also developing further models, due to roll out in late 2021, including the V8 and V6, which will offer alternative vehicles to other small size bus models in the market. Furthermore, we are also working on an electric motor as evolving technologies gather momentum.”

Keen to highlight Challenger is not merely a distributor for a Chinese bus manufacturer, Sloan emphasises the heavy involvement Challenger has in the design of the buses and the importance it places on the high standards required by the Australian market. Challenger also offers parts for other bus brands built in Asia and Australia.

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CHASSIS & BODIES

MAKE: CHALLENGER

CHALLENGER

ADDRESS:

WEB:

176 Hall Street, Spotswood 3015 Victoria Contact Greg Sloan Phone 0418 314 642

www.challengerbusandcoach.com.au EMAIL:

greg@challengerbusandcoach.com.au

MODEL: V10

APPLICATION: SCHOOL/CHARTER/DAY TOUR CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY DIMENSIONS:

SEATING:

Chassis Length (metres)

NA

Body Length (metres)

10.5

Seating Capacity

Up to 62

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

5200

Body Width (metres)

2.5

Passenger Capacity

Up to 45

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

2200

Fixed Coach

Fixed Coach

Chassis Rear Overhang (mm)

3100

Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

19

ENGINE:

Body Height (metres)

3.6

Body Floor Height (mm) 335

SEATING OPTIONS:

Body Weight (kg)

Seating Make

Fainsa / Styleride

Seating Model

Various

Seatbelts

Yes

Seat layout

as per customer request

15,500 (Gross)

BODY OPTIONS:

Make / Model

Cummins ISB6.7e5 300

Configuration

Wheelchair Lift Access

Yes

6.7L

Power (HP / kW)

300/NA

CD/PA/Radio

Yes

Torque (Nm)

1045Nm/2000 RPM

DVD/TV

Yes

AXLES:

Bore and Stroke

107/124

Toilet

Yes

17.3:1

Yes

Fuel Capacity (litres)

400

Individual Reading Lights

Front Make / Model / Desc.

JB independent

Compression Ratio Oil Capacity (litres)

27

Yes

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

Meritor

Individual AC Vents

Emissions

Euro 5

Reverse Camera

Yes

STORAGE:

Additional options

On request

All types

Through Bin

Pressurised bins

Yes

TRANSMISSION: Auto Trans Make/ Model/ Description

Allison T350R 6 Speed

Manual Trans Make/ Model/ Description

N/A

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Two independent air suspension

Type – Rear

Four air spring controlled electronic

AIR-CONDITIONING: AC Std

Yes

AC Make

Thermo King

AC Model CS1000

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes

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ADDRESS:

WEB:

176 Hall Street, Spotswood 3015 Victoria Contact Greg Sloan Phone 0418 314 642

www.challengerbusandcoach.com.au EMAIL:

greg@challengerbusandcoach.com.au

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK STUDENT VERSION

MAKE: CHALLENGER

MODEL: V12

APPLICATION: SCHOOL/CHARTER/DAY TOUR CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY DIMENSIONS:

SEATING:

Chassis Length (metres)

NA

Body Length (metres)

12.36

Seating Capacity

Up to 83

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

6550

Body Width (metres)

2.5

Passenger Capacity

Up to 57

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

3395

Fixed Coach

Fixed Coach

Chassis Rear Overhang (mm)

2415

Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

22

ENGINE:

Body Height (metres)

3.6

Body Floor Height (mm) 335

SEATING OPTIONS:

Body Weight (kg)

Seating Make

Fainsa / Styleride

Seating Model

Various

Seatbelts

Yes

Seat layout

as per customer request

18,000 (Gross)

BODY OPTIONS:

Make / Model

Cummins ISL360

Configuration

Wheelchair Lift Access

Yes

8.9L

Power (HP / kW)

360/NA

CD/PA/Radio

Yes

Torque (Nm)

1550Nm/1100-1500 RPM

DVD/TV

Yes

AXLES:

Bore and Stroke

114/145

Toilet

Yes

16.6:1

Yes

Fuel Capacity (litres)

400L

Individual Reading Lights

Front Make / Model / Desc.

ZF RL 75E

Compression Ratio Oil Capacity (litres)

27 litres

Yes

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

ZF A132

Individual AC Vents

Emissions

Euro 5

Reverse Camera

Yes

STORAGE:

Additional options

On request

All types

Through Bin

Pressurised bins

Yes

TRANSMISSION: Auto Trans Make/ Model/ Description

Allison T390R 6 Speed

Manual Trans Make/ Model/ Description

N/A

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Two independent air suspension

Type – Rear

Four air spring controlled electronic

AIR-CONDITIONING: AC Std

Yes

AC Make

Thermo King

AC Model CS1100

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Yes

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CHASSIS & BODIES

DAIMLER

IN THE STARS

For nearly two decades Frank Oliveri has been running Southern Cross Transit, a part of the G&C Oliveri Group of companies. With an aim to further improve its safety and efficiency standards, the school bus and charter services operator has recently added two new Mercedes-Benz O500 RS Irizar buses to its fleet. Anjali Behl reports.

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us operations run in this family.

The Oliveris are well-known in the Australian bus transit sector.

The business was set up by Giovanni Oliveri and his brothers in the early 1950s. As the business expanded and families grew, they branched out in different directions within the transport sector. In 1992, Giovanni and his wife Caterina Oliveri’s five children separated from the other Oliveris to set their own businesses under the G&C Oliveri Group.

Today, the five siblings – Joe Oliveri, Frank Oliveri, Carmel Faruggia, Domenica Sprock and Frances Oliveri – make up the board of directors of

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Southern Cross Transit, as well as Sydney-based Interline Bus Service.

The sole shareholder is their mother, Caterina. Frank is the managing director of Southern Cross Transit, while big brother Joe is the managing director of Interline. Carmel is the finance and admin director, while Domenica and Frances share administrative duties.

HOW IT STARTED “My career in transport started in 1978 when my dad passed away and I stepped into his shoes,” Frank Oliveri said.

“I worked across a range of positions

within the Oliveri family group of companies before moving on to Murrays Coaches for over a year and then joining the rest of the family in Interline Bus Services in 1992.

“We purchased Southern Cross Transit in August 2002 from the previous owner, Wally Horwood. It came about during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where I met someone who directed me to Southern Cross Transit. So I came to Queensland to meet Mr Horwood and, 12 months later, we had purchased the business.”

Now the next generation of the Oliveris has entered the family business,

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CHASSIS & BODIES

DAIMLER

“Our aim is to be safest and most efficient and that’s why we’ve purchased these ’Benz-Irizar models and invested in these extra safety features.”

Services in rail replacement works.

“Since acquiring the business nearly two decades ago we have specialised our operations and our fleet to concentrate on government school contracts and school transport – these constitute up to 95 per cent of our core business,” Oliveri said. with his son, John, who is the general manager of Southern Cross Transit.

WHAT SCT DOES The company specialises in school transport services, with a mix of government contracts and private school transport, operating in the western suburbs of Brisbane and the northern suburbs of Ipswich.

The Queensland government contracts are operated under the Student Transport Assistance Scheme (STAS), which is administered by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR).

Southern Cross Transit has just over 2,000 registered students and averages 1,700– 1,800 students per school day. Additionally, it operates a number of private school transport services on a charter-hire basis, such as sports, excursions and shuttle services. It also works closely with Kangaroo Bus Lines and Thompsons Bus 56

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THE PEOPLE Talking with Oliveri it is hard not to be impressed by his immense pride in his family, the legacy of his father, the unparalleled guidance of his mother, and his current team at Southern Cross Transit.

“Our parents made sacrifices so we have all these opportunities today. They instilled family values and morals in us, which we all hold above almost any commercial reality,” he said.

“Our operations manager Brianna Jordan, charter and tours manager Debbie Moore, fleet supervisor Rhys Barclay and my son, John, make an amazing team that I’m very proud of.

“We value our staff and they are certainly not numbers for us. We know every employee by name, we see them every day and we endeavour to help them where we can.

“We have an excellent driving team.

We have a bank of 35 drivers – from semiretired professionals to full-time drivers.

“We have extensive training programmes, which is a huge aspect of our business. We speak to them closely to find out ways in which we can improve their work environments, so that we can deliver a standard of service that is unequalled.”

THE FLEET “We currently have 31 vehicles and operate 28 services. The average life of our fleet is six years, which is down from 21 years from when we bought the business in 2002, so we’re very proud of that.

The fleet comprises a mix of Volvo and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. The reason we focus on these two brands is that they are synonymous with safety and efficiency. Our latest addition is of two new ’Benz O500RS Irizar i6 school and charter buses, as they present the highest level of both of these features,” Oliveri explained.

“Our research had indicated that we would be making significant fuel savings with these two new vehicles. We have moved from fully automatic specifications to automated manual transmission, which is the ’Benz eight-speed powershift busnews.com.au

7/10/2020 1:13:25 PM

transmission. The reason was fuel economy.

Honestly, it is left-field to what the rest of our fleet is, so this is going to be a test to see how they perform.

“In the past we had purchased O500R chassis and our experience of those was excellent and, given that the new O500RS chassis offered some extra safety and efficiency features, we decided to invest in these. We were equally impressed with the fantastic after-sales support of the Mercedes-Benz and Irizar teams and we hope to have a fleet of Irizars in the future,” he said.

STAND-OUT SERVICE The state government’s STAS contract is fare-based, meaning operators like Southern Cross Transit holding these contracts are paid per student as opposed to a kilometrebased contract where the operator is paid per kilometre travelled.

As a result, the company is allowed to legally carry as many as 91 students in a standard 57-bench-seat bus. However, while there is no commercial incentive to have seat-belted buses, as it limits the capacity of students they can carry, Southern Cross Transit aims to operate the safest and most comfortable vehicles and, therefore, all its fleet is fully air-conditioned and seat belted.

“That is our mandate – to provide our community with the safest and most efficient busnews.com.au

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school buses. There is a financial penalty to us in doing so, but ... it gives us a good standing in the market of private school charter and school transport,” Oliveri said.

One of the biggest challenges for the business is competitive pricing in the market, he says. School transport, as well as adult charter business, is extremely competitive due to the smaller players that do not have overhead costs, such as those of operating a depot and workshop, as in the case of Southern Cross Transit.

However, said Oliveri: “We don’t want to be the cheapest service provider. Our aim is to be safest and most efficient and that’s why we’ve

Above: Two new Mercedes-Benz O500 RS Irizar buses have recently been added to the SCT fleet.

Below: With a strong family focus, Southern Cross Transit values its workforce and continuously looks for ways to improve the work environment.

Opposite, Top: The new buses are air conditioned and seatbelted for passenger safety and comfort.

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CHASSIS AND BUS DAIMLER CHASSIS BODIES DAIMLER CHASSIS&&DAIMLER BODIES TRUCK DAIMLER

PHONE (HEAD OFFICE): PHONE (HEAD OFFICE):1800 1800033 033557 557 ADDRESS: 4444Lexia Mulgrave VICVIC3170 ADDRESS: LexiaPlace, Place, Mulgrave 3170 WEB: www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/en_AU/home WEB: www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/en_AU/home EMAIL: EMAIL:mbbus@daimler.com mbbus@daimler.com

NEW NEWO500 O500RS RS IRIZARS IRIZARS

“Mercedes-Benz is is excited that Southern Cross “Mercedes-Benz excited that Southern Cross Transit has taken delivery ofof the O500 RS Irizar Transit has taken delivery the O500 RS Irizar i6i6 3,700 school/charter bus, equipped with our 3,700 school/charter bus, equipped with our proven OM457 Euro5 engine and GO240 eightproven OM457 Euro5 engine and GO240 eightspeed automated manual transmission, after speed automated manual transmission, after being the first company toto place.an order for this being the first company place.an order for this new model inin Australia,” said Mercedes-Benz new model Australia,” said Mercedes-Benz Buses (Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific Buses (Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific Pty Ltd) senior manager Mehmet Karal.

Pty Ltd) senior manager Mehmet Karal.

“We know they will benefit the comfort “We know they will benefifrom t from the comfort and the economy ofof this fantastic product. and the economy this fantastic product.

Importantly, this vehicle also features the most Importantly, this vehicle also features the most advanced safety systems such asas lane departure advanced safety systems such lane departure assistance, active emergency braking system, assistance, active emergency braking system, and electronic stability program (ESP) among and electronic stability program (ESP) among others toto make sure everyone gets home safely. others make sure everyone gets home safely.

“The O500 RS chassis is is our best-selling coach “The O500 RS chassis our best-selling coach chassis inin the traditional bus markets, where chassis the traditional bus markets, where Mercedes-Benz has been the undisputed market Mercedes-Benz has been the undisputed market leader for decades.

We are proud toto introduce leader for decades.

We are proud introduce this vehicle finally toto Australian bus and coach this vehicle finally Australian bus and coach operators,” Karal explained. operators,” Karal explained.

Above: Above: MercedesMercedesBenz Australia/ Benz Australia/ Pacific Ltd PacifiPty c Pty Ltd regional sales regional sales manager (QLD, manager (QLD, NT, Northern NT, Northern NSW) Dion NSW) Dion Keating [right] Keating [right] handing over the handing over the keys (via a ‘Covid keys (via a ‘Covid handshake’) ofof aa handshake’) new Irizar i6i6 toto new Irizar Frank Oliveri.

Frank Oliveri.

purchased these ’Benz-Irizar models purchased these ’Benz-Irizar models and invested inin these extra safety and invested these extra safety features.” features.”

Being primarily aa school charter, Being primarily school charter, the shutdown period asas aa result ofof the the shutdown period result the Covid-19 pandemic hithit the business Covid-19 pandemic the business hard, asas it it lost 3030 per cent ofof itsits revenue. hard, lost per cent revenue.

AA further 1515 per cent ofof itsits revenue that further per cent revenue that normally comes from cash fares from normally comes from cash fares from students who are not eligible forfor state students who are not eligible state funding also dried up.

Despite that, funding also dried up. Despite that, Oliveri remains optimistic forfor the future.

Oliveri remains optimistic the future.

“Now that full services have resumed, “Now that full services have resumed, the challenge forfor usus is is toto retain our the challenge retain our market share ofof the school charter market share the school charter business, which we believe should get business, which we believe should get back toto normal byby Term Four ofof this back normal Term Four this year,” hehe said. year,” said.

“Our future plan is is toto grow our “Our future plan grow our operations, particularly inin the adult operations, particularly the adult tour and charter market.

However, we tour and charter market.

However, we dodo not wish toto grow atat the expense ofof not wish grow the expense safety standards.

That is is something we safety standards.

That something we will never compromise on.” will never compromise on.”

585858ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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MAKE: MAKE:MERCEDES-BENZ MERCEDES-BENZ

MODEL: MODEL:OCOC500LE 500LE

APPLICATION: APPLICATION:CITY CITY- ROUTE - ROUTE DIMENSIONS: DIMENSIONS: Length (metres) Length (metres)

12.5 12.5

Wheelbase (mm) Wheelbase (mm)

3000 (buggy format) 3000 (buggy format)

Front Overhang (mm) Front Overhang (mm)

2570 2570

Rear Overhang (mm) Rear Overhang (mm)

3200 3200 Turning Circle Diameter () (m) 23.4 (wall to wall at overall length of 12m) Turning Circle Diameter 23.4 (wall to wall at overall length of 12m)

ENGINE: ENGINE: Make/Model Make/Model

Mercedes Benz/OM936LA Mercedes Benz/OM936LA

Configuration Configuration

6 cylinders in line 6 cylinders in line

Power (hp/kW) Power (hp/kW)

300/220 300/220

Torque (Nm) Torque (Nm)

1200 1200

OilOil Capacity (litres) Capacity (litres)

2323

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type Type

Diesel Diesel

Capacity (litres) Capacity (litres)

280L FuelFuel & 45L Adblue tank 280L & 45L Adblue tank

TRANSMISSION: TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type Auto Model / Type

ZF ZF or Voith/Ecolife or DIWA 6/ZF: 6 speed withwith locklock up up torque or Voith/Ecolife or DIWA 6/ZF: 6 speed torque converter & retarder.

Voith: 4 speed withwith integrated retarder andand converter & retarder.

Voith: 4 speed integrated retarder electronic control electronic control

AXLES: AXLES: Type – Front Type – Front

Mercedes-Benz/V0 4/39 CL-7.5/Forged steel ‘I’ beam 7100kg Mercedes-Benz/V0 4/39 CL-7.5/Forged steel ‘I’ beam 7100kg

Type – Rear Type – Rear

Mercedes-Benz/RO 440/Rigid, single ratio hypoid axleaxle 12500kg Mercedes-Benz/RO 440/Rigid, single ratio hypoid 12500kg

SUSPENSION: SUSPENSION: Type – Front Type – Front

Rigid I-Beam.

Electronic air air suspension (ECAS) withwith Electronic Rigid I-Beam.

Electronic suspension (ECAS) Electronic Level Control (ENR), 2 air bellows , 2 ,telescopic double acting shock Level Control (ENR), 2 air bellows 2 telescopic double acting shock absorbers andand stabilizer barbar absorbers stabilizer

Type – Rear Type – Rear

LiveLive axle.

Electronic air air suspension (ECAS) withwith 4 air bellows, 4 4 axle.

Electronic suspension (ECAS) 4 air bellows, telescopic double acting shock absorbers andand stabilizer barbar telescopic double acting shock absorbers stabilizer

BRAKES: BRAKES: Service Brakes Service Brakes

Ventilated discdisc brakes, ABS, EBS, ASR, ESPESP Ventilated brakes, ABS, EBS, ASR,

Retarding Brake System Retarding Brake System

Engine/Trans Engine/Trans

EBS EBS

YesYes

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator Alternator

3x 3x 28V/150A 28V/150A

Starter Starter

24V/6.2kW 24V/6.2kW

Batteries Batteries

2x 2x 12V/225 AhAh 12V/225

WHEELS && TYRES: WHEELS TYRES: Type Type

1010 stud Steel or Alloy option stud Steel or Alloy option

Rim Size Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5 8.25 x 22.5

busnews.com.au busnews.com.au busnews.com.au

7/10/2020 1:14:11 PM

SALES INQUIRIES

PHONE (HEAD OFFICE): 1800 033 557

National: Grant Simmonds – 0408 172 157, Jon Tozer – 0407 048 097 NSW & ACT: Paul Weber – 0418 494 881, Iain Dorward – 0466 415 026 QLD & NT: Dion Keating – 0400 640 072 WA, VIC, SA & TAS: Paul Kennedy – 0412 352 761

ADDRESS: 44 Lexia Place, Mulgrave VIC 3170 WEB: www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/en_AU/home EMAIL: mbbus@daimler.com

MAKE: MERCEDES-BENZ

MODEL: OH 1626L (XBC)

MAKE: MERCEDES-BENZ

MODEL: O 500R

APPLICATION: CHARTER – SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CHARTER - LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

10.8m to 12.5m

Length (metres)

12.5

Wheelbase (mm)

3000 (buggy format)

Wheelbase (mm)

3000 (buggy format)

Front Overhang (mm)

2200

Front Overhang (mm)

2570

Rear Overhang (mm)

3350

Rear Overhang (mm)

3350

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

18.9 (wall to wall at overall length of 10.8m)

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

23.4 (wall to wall at overall length of 12.5m)

ENGINE:

ENGINE: Make/Model

Mercedes Benz/OM 926LA

Make/Model

Mercedes Benz/OM926LA

Configuration

6 cylinders in line

Configuration

6 cylinders in line

Power (hp/kW)

256/188

Power (hp/kW)

306/225

Torque (Nm)

900

Torque (Nm)

1200

Oil Capacity (litres)

28

Oil Capacity (litres)

28

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Type

Diesel

Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

300L Fuel & 25L Adblue tank

Capacity (litres)

300L Fuel & 25L Adblue tank

TRANSMISSION:

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

Allison/T280R/6 speed with torque converter & retarder

Auto Model / Type

ZF/Ecolife/6 speed with torque converter & retarder

AXLES:

AXLES: Type – Front

Mercedes-Benz/VL3/8 D-6.5/Forged steel ‘I’ beam 5500kg

Type – Front

Type – Rear

Mercedes-Benz/HH4/08 DL-10.5/Rigid, single ratio hypoid axle 10500kg

Mercedes-Benz/V0 4/40 DCL-7.1/Forged steel ‘I’ beam 7100kg

Type – Rear

Mercedes-Benz/RO 440/ Rigid, single ratio hypoid axle.

12,500kg capacity

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Air suspension with 2 air bellows, 2 telescopic double acting shock absorbers

Type – Rear

Live axle. Air suspension with 4 air bellows, 2 telescopic double acting shock absorbers

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Drum brakes, full air, ABS, ASR

Retarding Brake System

Engine/Trans

EBS

NS

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2x 28V/80Ah

Starter

24V/4kW

Batteries

2x 12V/170Ah

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud steel or alloy option

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Electronic air suspension (ECAS) with 2 air bellows, 4 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stbilizer bar

Type – Rear

Live axle. Electronic air suspension with 4 air bellows, 4 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Ventilated disc brakes, ABS, EBS, ASR, ESP

Retarding Brake System

Engine/Trans

EBS

Yes

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2x 28V/80A

Starter

24V/4kW

Batteries

2x 12V/170Ah

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud steel or Alloy option

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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CHASSIS

DAIMLER

SALES INQUIRIES

PHONE (HEAD OFFICE): 1800 033 557

National: Grant Simmonds – 0408 172 157, Jon Tozer – 0407 048 097 NSW & ACT: Paul Weber – 0418 494 881, Iain Dorward – 0466 415 026 QLD & NT: Dion Keating – 0400 640 072 WA, VIC, SA & TAS: Paul Kennedy – 0412 352 761

ADDRESS: 44 Lexia Place, Mulgrave VIC 3170 WEB: www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/en_AU/home EMAIL: mbbus@daimler.com

MAKE: MERCEDES-BENZ

MODEL: OC 500RF

MAKE: MERCEDES-BENZ

MODEL: OC 500RF EURO 6

APPLICATION: CHARTER - LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

12.5

Length (metres)

12.5

Wheelbase (mm)

3000 (buggy format)

Wheelbase (mm)

3000 (buggy format)

Front Overhang (mm)

2570 (2100 Opt)

Front Overhang (mm)

2570 (2100 Opt)

Rear Overhang (mm)

3300

Rear Overhang (mm)

3300

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

21.6 (wall to wall at overall length of 12.5m)

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

21.6 (wall to wall at overall length of 12.5m)

ENGINE:

ENGINE:

Make/Model

Mercedes Benz/OM457LA

Make/Model

Mercedes Benz/OM936LA (OM470LA Opt)

Configuration

6 cylinders in line

Configuration

6 cylinders in line

Power (hp/kW)

354/260

Power (hp/kW)

354/260 (Opt: 300hp & 390hp)

Torque (Nm)

1600

Torque (Nm)

1400

Oil Capacity (litres)

28

Oil Capacity (litres)

28

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Type

Diesel

Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

415L Fuel & 45L Adblue tank

Capacity (litres)

415L Fuel & 45L Adblue tank

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

TRANSMISSION: ZF/Ecolife/6 speed with torque converter & retarder

AXLES:

Auto Model / Type

ZF/Ecolife/6 speed with torque converter & retarder

AXLES:

Type – Front

ZF/RL75E/Upper & lower suspension arms, 7500kg capacity

Type – Front

ZF/RL75E/Upper & lower suspension arms, 7500kg capacity

Type – Rear

Mercedes-Benz/RO 440/Rigid, single ratio hypoid axle. 12500 kg capacity

Type – Rear

Mercedes-Benz/RO 440/Rigid, single ratio hypoid axle. 12500 kg capacity

SUSPENSION:

SUSPENSION:

Type – Front

Independent electronic air suspension (ECAS) with Electronic Level Control (ENR), 2 air bellows, 2 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

Type – Front

Independent electronic air suspension (ECAS) with Electronic Level Control (ENR), 2 air bellows, 2 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

Type – Rear

Live axle. Electronic air suspension (ECAS) with Electronic Level Control (ENR), 4 air bellows, 4 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

Type – Rear

Live axle. Electronic air suspension (ECAS) with Electronic Level Control (ENR), 4 air bellows, 4 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

BRAKES:

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Ventilated disc brakes, ABS, EBS, ASR, ESP

Service Brakes

Ventilated disc brakes, ABS, EBS, ASR, ESP

Retarding Brake System

Engine/Trans

Retarding Brake System

Engine/Trans

EBS

Yes

EBS

Yes

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

Alternator

3x 28V/150A

Alternator

3x 28V/150A

Starter

24V/6.2kW

Starter

24V/6.2kW

Batteries

2x 12V/225 Ah

Batteries

2x 12V/225 Ah

WHEELS & TYRES:

WHEELS & TYRES:

Type

10 stud Alloy

Type

10 stud Alloy

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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7/10/2020 1:00:31 PM

SALES INQUIRIES

PHONE (HEAD OFFICE): 1800 033 557

National: Grant Simmonds – 0408 172 157, Jon Tozer – 0407 048 097 NSW & ACT: Paul Weber – 0418 494 881, Iain Dorward – 0466 415 026 QLD & NT: Dion Keating – 0400 640 072 WA, VIC, SA & TAS: Paul Kennedy – 0412 352 761

ADDRESS: 44 Lexia Place, Mulgrave VIC 3170 WEB: www.mercedes-benz-bus.com/en_AU/home EMAIL: mbbus@daimler.com

MAKE: MERCEDES-BENZ

MODEL: OC 500RF 3 AXLE

MAKE: MERCEDES-BENZ

MODEL: O 500RS

APPLICATION: CHARTER - LONG DISTANCE

APPLICATION: CHARTER - LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

12.5m to 14.5m

Length (metres)

12.5

Wheelbase (mm)

3000 (buggy format)

Wheelbase (mm)

3000 (buggy format)

Front Overhang (mm)

2100 (2570 opt)

Front Overhang (mm)

2570

Rear Overhang (mm)

2775

Rear Overhang (mm)

3280

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

23.9 (wall to wall at overall length of 14.5m)

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

20.6 (wall to wall at overall length of 12.5m)

ENGINE:

ENGINE:

Make/Model

Mercedes Benz/OM457LA (OM470LA Euro6 Opt)

Make/Model

Mercedes Benz/OM457LA

Configuration

6 cylinders in line

Configuration

6 cylinders in line

Power (hp/kW)

428/315

Power (hp/kW)

354/260

Torque (Nm)

2100

Torque (Nm)

1600

Oil Capacity (litres)

28

Oil Capacity (litres)

28

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Type

Diesel

Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

415L Fuel & 45L Adblue tank

Capacity (litres)

Various fuel & 45l Adblue tank

TRANSMISSION:

TRANSMISSION:

Auto Model / Type

OM457: Mercedes-Benz GO240 automated manual OM470: Mercedes-Benz GO250-8 speed automated manual

AXLES: Type – Front

ZF/RL75E/Upper & lower suspension arms, 7500kg capacity

Type – Rear

Mercedes-Benz/RO 440/Rigid, single ratio hypoid axle. 12500 kg capacity.

Tag axle: Actively steered, maximum design capacity 6000kg

Auto Model / Type

ZF Ecolife or Mercedes-Benz GO240 automated manual ZF: 6 speed with torque converter and retarder MB: 8-speed with Voith retarder

AXLES: Type – Front

Mercedes-Benz/V0 4/40 DCL-7.1/Forged steel ‘I’ beam 7100kg

Type – Rear

Mercedes-Benz/RO 440/Rigid, single ratio hypoid axle.

12,500kg capacity

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Independent electronic air suspension (ECAS) with Electronic Level Control (ENR), 2 air bellows, 2 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

Type – Rear

Live axle. Electronic air suspension (ECAS) with Electronic Level Control (ENR), 4 air bellows, 4 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stabilizer bar. Tag axle Suspension: Air suspension with 2 air bellows, 2 double acting shock absorbers

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Ventilated disc brakes, ABS, EBS, ASR, ESP

Retarding Brake System

Engine/Trans

EBS

Yes

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

3x 28V/150A

Starter

24V/7 kW

Batteries

2x 12V/225 Ah

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud Alloy

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Rigid I-Beam. Electronic Air Suspension (ECAS) with Electronic Level Control (ENR), 2 air bellows , 4 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

Type – Rear

Live axle. Electronic Air Suspension (ECAS) with Electronic Level Control (ENR), 4 air bellows, 4 telescopic double acting shock absorbers and stabilizer bar

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Ventilated disc brakes, ABS, EBS, ASR, ESP

Retarding Brake System

Engine/Trans

EBS

Yes

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

2x 28V/140A

Starter

24V/6.2kW

Batteries

2x 12V/200 Ah

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

10 stud alloy

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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CHASSIS

MAKE: FUSO

DAIMLER

MODEL: 22-SEAT

CONTACT:

WEB:

Phone: 1300 429 134

rosabus.com.au

SERIES: ME OMNIBUS

MAKE: FUSO

MODEL: 25-SEAT

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

6990

Length (metres)

7730

Wheelbase (mm)

3995

Wheelbase (mm)

4550

Front Overhang (mm)

940

Front Overhang (mm)

940

Rear Overhang (mm)

2055

Rear Overhang (mm)

2240

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

12.6

Turning Circle Diameter (m)

14.2

ENGINE:

SERIES: ME OMNIBUS

ENGINE:

Make/Model

Fuso/4P10T6 Euro VI

Make/Model

Fuso/4P10T6 Euro VI

Configuration

4 cylinders in line

Configuration

4 cylinders in line

Power (hp/kW)

NS/129

Power (hp/kW)

NS/129

Torque (Nm)

430

Torque (Nm)

430

Oil Capacity (litres)

6

Oil Capacity (litres)

6

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Type

Diesel

Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

100L Fuel & 12L Adblue Tank

Capacity (litres)

100L Fuel & 12L Adblue Tank

TRANSMISSION: Transmission Make/Model/ Description

TRANSMISSION: Fuso/M038S6 Duonic AMT/Dual Clutch AMT or Fuso/M038S5/5 speed manual

AXLES:

Transmission Make/Model/ Description

Fuso/M038S6 Duonic AMT/Dual Clutch AMT or Fuso/M038S5/5 speed manual

AXLES:

Type – Front

Fuso Independent

Type – Front

Fuso Independent

Type – Rear

Fuso D033H Full floating hypoid

Type – Rear

Fuso D033H Full floating hypoid

SUSPENSION:

SUSPENSION:

Type – Front

Independent coil suspension with transverse spring

Type – Front

Independent coil suspension with transverse spring

Type – Rear

Long tapered leaf springs

Type – Rear

Long tapered leaf springs

BRAKES:

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Ventilated disc brakes, ABS, ASR, ESP

Service Brakes

Ventilated disc brakes, ABS, ASR, ESP

Retarding Brake System

Exhaust Brake

Retarding Brake System

Exhaust Brake

EBS

NS

EBS

NS

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

Alternator

1 x Bosch 24v/90A

Alternator

1 x Bosch 24v/90A

Starter

Mitsubishi Electric 12V/2kW

Starter

Mitsubishi Electric 12V/2kW

Batteries

2x 12V/70 Ah w Battery Equalizer

Batteries

2x 12V/70 Ah w Battery Equalizer

WHEELS & TYRES:

WHEELS & TYRES:

Type

5 stud alloy

Type

5 stud alloy

Rim Size

5.5 x 16

Rim Size

5.5 x 16

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busnews.com.au

7/10/2020 1:01:01 PM

THE ALL-NEW FUSO ROSA. THE BEST JUST GOT BETTER.

With a longstanding history of being Australia’s favourite light-duty bus, the next generation of Fuso Rosa continues to raise the bar in safety, reliability and overall driving experience. With the only 5year/200,000km warranty and 15,000km service interval in its class, you really can’t go past a Fuso Rosa.

TO SEE HOW THE ALL-NEW ROSA STACKS UP, VISIT FUSOROSA.COM.AU

• • • • •

Advanced Emergency Braking System Pedestrian Detection Lane Departure Warning Systems Electronic Stability Programme Dual Airbags

• • • • •

LED Headlights 22 or 25 seater configuration 129kw/430Nm Euro 6 engine 6-speed AMT or 5-speed Manual Flat Floor

FUS00000_ROSA Bus_Bus Directory_FPC_297x210mm_1809_V4.indd 1

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5/10/20 9:30 am

CHASSIS & BODIES

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FUSO

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SAFETY FIRST

The new Fuso Rosa protects precious cargo with class-leading safety features - the most advanced to ever appear in the Australian light-duty bus class.

E

very new generation Rosa will be protected by a comprehensive range of safety features, including advanced emergency braking, which can perform full emergency braking in the event of a potential collision. This advanced radarbased system can even detect – and begin braking for – pedestrians, Daimler’s Fuso Australia explains.

A lane departure warning system is also standard, as is an electronic stability program, driver and passenger airbags, height-adjustable LED headlights, hill start assist and a reversing camera, it confirms.

There are also three-point lap sash seatbelts and

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four exits. The new generation Rosa also features a transom window on the passenger side to further enhance its excellent visibility, Fuso adds.

First seen by a global audience at the Tokyo Motor Show late 2019 in Japan, Fuso has made a range of significant changes inside and outside the next-gen Rosa, which is available with 22 or 25 seats, further improving the most popular bus of the past decade in Australia, the company confirms.

AHEAD OF THE GAME Daimler Truck and Bus Australia president and CEO Daniel Whitehead says the safety features of the

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CHASSIS & BODIES

FUSO

“These buses carry our most precious cargo, whether it be on school runs or nursing home day trips.”

Above: The next-gen Fuso Rosa features a range of significant changes inside and out.

Below: The 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbodiesel common-rail engine puts out 129kW. Opposite, Top: Changes to the driving area include the transmission shift lever being moved from the floor to the dash.

Opposite, Centre: In the passenger area, the flat floor makes it easier for customers, as well as benefitting from LED passenger lamps.

Opposite, Bottom: The Rosa is the only lightduty bus in Australia with AEB and lane departure warning, says Fuso.

66

new Rosa are at the heart of its appeal.

“These buses carry our most precious cargo, whether it be on school runs or nursing home day trips, so it is imperative fleet operators consider their safety features or lack thereof,” Whitehead said.

“There is only one light-duty bus in Australia with advanced emergency braking, only one with lane departure warning, and only one with electronic stability – and that is the new Fuso Rosa.

“There are many other benefits introduced by the upgraded model, but nothing as important as the features that will help protect the ones we love along with those we will never meet,” he added.

SAME BUT DIFFERENT One thing that has not changed with the new Rosa is its generous five-year/200,000km warranty, giving owners real peace of mind, the company points out.

Fuso has managed to further improve uptime and help reduce running costs by increasing Rosa’s service intervals to 15,000km, the company confirms.

New for Rosa is an efficient 3.0-litre fourcylinder turbodiesel common-rail engine with the most power and torque in its class: 129kW and 430Nm. This advanced unit, which features a variable geometry turbocharger, is

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smaller and lighter than the engine it replaces, but is also more powerful, the company says. It also meets stringent Euro 6 emission standards, well ahead of Australian regulated standards, which ensures dramatic reductions of nitrogen oxide and particulate emissions, it explains.

Fuso is also introducing its advanced Duonic automated manual transmission to the Rosa range, which features six gears. This advanced transmission delivers fuel efficiency improvements, as well as fast and smooth shifts, the company states. It also features a handy creep function for easy low-speed manoeuvring, while customers also have the option of selecting a five-speed manual transmission.

PROTECTING, PLEASING PEOPLE Fuso has significantly upgraded the interior of the new Rosa with a new-look dashboard that is both practical and stylish, it appears. It now incorporates the passenger side airbag, as well as a new climate control display and new switches for key controls that are within easy reach of the driver.

A new high-resolution 7-inch (17.8cm) touchscreen display with internet and digital radio has been introduced, along with a new electronic instrument cluster that presents a range of bus data for the driver including fuel busnews.com.au

7/10/2020 12:45:36 PM

efficiency information, maintenance status, current date and outside temperature.

There is also a re-positioned handbrake lever, which now sits to the left of the driver’s seat. Fuso has also taken the opportunity to move the transmission shift lever from the floor and on to the dashboard for easier control, which drivers would really appreciate.

The Rosa also benefits from new bright LED passenger lamps and high-backed cloth seats, while the rear air-conditioning system with integrated roof vents has been retained, it confirms.

A new flat floor design not only makes it easier for passengers to get in and out of their seats, but also allows for simpler aftermarket wheelchair lift installations, further aiding Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliance measures.

ONE THE ROAD The Rosa continues to feature independent front suspension for optimum comfort and handling, as well as rack and pinion steering for precise feel, plus a class-leading turning circle of 4.6 metres, Fuso confirms.

It also now features disc brakes at all four corners and rear suspension stabilisers, the company states.

Overall, Fuso has freshened the exterior design of the Rosa, giving it a stylish and modern appearance, it must be said.

Finally, it is available in Standard and Deluxe trim levels, Fuso says, to help give customers the ability to choose the Rosa that is right for them.

The new-generation Fuso Rosa goes on sale from 1 November, Daimler confirms.

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HINO

SMALL FEET, BIG HEART When launched a few years ago here in Australia, the Hino Poncho was a ‘cute little bus’ giving potential buyers something to think about. Years later with ‘on demand’ now in vogue, those thoughts are even more pertinent still, reports Paul Aldridge.

I

t’s one that’s been a long time coming, this test drive of the Hino Poncho.

For the past few years our paths have crossed, but nothing’s aligned at the right time.

This drive is literally hot off the floor from the 2019 BusVic Expo and Maintenance Conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre – straight out the door 68

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of the venue to the busy city streets.

Speaking with Hino national sales manager Kevin Fielding, we asked about the Poncho’s first foray into Australia.

“In Japan the Poncho has been around since 2002. We pushed for a demonstration model to gauge the reactions to it and, from the start, it has always been really good, so the next push was to bring

them [here] in 2013,” Fielding said.

“We brought the Poncho in thinking community transport, but then ‘on demand’ came into action and it’s the perfect on-demand bus.

“I was talking to someone about ondemand the other day and they said every time they see the Poncho it’s full; it’s having great success for this service,” he said. busnews.com.au

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TURNS ON A SIXPENCE “It’s great in tight areas, turns on a sixpence,” he said.

“What I like about it is that it’s a really comfortable vehicle to drive. It’s a vehicle you can feel at ease driving.

“The Poncho has an impressive turning circle of less than 8 metres!

“I’ve driven in some places that you’d normally get nervous driving in, but not in the Poncho,” Fielding explained.

“I took one from Goondiwindi, Queensland, to Inverell, NSW, and when I arrived all the bus operators asked where I’d driven from; they couldn’t believe the Poncho did the roads I did.

“It’s just easy to drive and coped incredibly well with the tricky roads,” he continued.

Fielding says all Ponchos are already Australian DDA compliant (Disability Discrimination Act), so when the mandatory changes come in effect in 2022 no vehicle alterations will be required.

“The designated wheelchair area also comes with fold-down passenger seats and can also be used for prams, so there is no decrease in passenger capacity when this feature is not in use,” Fielding said.

“It has an 18-passenger capacity plus driver, wheelchair provision, plus standing passengers.

“We are looking at a community transport bus over in WA at the moment, where we may go to three to four wheelchair spaces [as an option] – it’s just about customer requirements.”

HOW LOW CAN YOU GO? One of the first things you really notice when hopping on board is how low the Poncho is; we couldn’t envisage many passengers having an issue with accessibility.

The Poncho comes with a flip-down ramp for disability and mobility access – a ramp that’s actually an Australian innovation.

In Japan the Poncho has a manual ramp that the driver has to leave the vehicle to set up and manually push passengers on board. The Japanese drivers, to be professional, believe this is a better system, apparently.

Fielding explained further: “With our ramp on a curb we can achieve a four-degree rise and on a non-curb it’s 14 degrees; I believe 17 is about the industry standard, so we are well under.

“Four degrees allows passengers the ability to ‘wheel on’ by themselves, with 14 they need assistance. Our doorway is also wider than the Japanese models.”

Our doorway is 850 to be DDA compliant, so why the difference? Fielding said: “So our passengers have the ability to get on board themselves. In Japan it’s all manually done by the driver.”

Interesting – this was the first time we’d come across features and changes to a vehicle to meet a country’s drivers service standard. Hmm... busnews.com.au

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BIG HEART Speaking with Fielding one soon realises, yes, he’s passionate about the Poncho, but he really has an interest and cares for the passenger market this vehicle is aimed at.

He says they are focused on the community transport market and that they are working hard to ensure it’s comfortable for the people that use it.

“We aren’t community transport, we aren’t drivers, it’s not our passengers and their carers, but I find myself really needing to listen to their needs and feedback,” Fielding stated.

“Rather than ask ‘why do they need that?’, I like to listen and come up with changes that will ensure the Poncho suits its market and the people that actually use the service.”

ABC magazine asked Fielding about what modifications, if any, are made when it gets to Australia. He says the seats used are Australian because this gives the ability to be flexible with customers’ different requirements.

Another fun fact? The roof hatches are also from Australia; previously they hadn’t used them in Japan and when Hino Japan saw them on our local models they now use them over there too.

THE TEST DRIVE As stated, this bus was hot off the Expo floor and straight to the busy Melbourne streets with only 227km on the clock.

“Every time they see the Poncho it’s full; it’s having great success for this service.”

Above: The Poncho is really easy to use and ‘turns on a sixpence’, it seems.

Opposite: A stand-out feature is the sensitive edge door that prevents the bus from moving if there’s an obstruction.

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CHASSIS & BODIES

Top: The driver’s seat access is around the gear selector, which could be a very slight negative.

Above: This bus was hot off the Expo floor and straight to the busy Melbourne streets with only 227km on the clock; The interior has 18 seats plus driver with provision for a wheelchair and standees.

Opposite, Above: The Poncho is described as being “the perfect on-demand bus”.

Opposite, Below: Output is 180hp/132kW@2,500rpm.

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HINO

Driving around the city you get the feel straight away this is one zippy little bus and a really easy drive.

With a 5.1-litre turbodiesel engine making 530Nm torque and 13kW, one thing you notice in the traffic is the Poncho just keeps up, no lagging behind. Plenty of starts and stops and it just keeps up with the cars.

The driver’s seat access is around the gear selector, which could be a very slight negative.

If you are tall there’s certainly heaps of room for long legs, no complaints.

Another thing you notice pretty quickly is that the brakes are well up to the task, though pretty touchy. For added safety there’s ABS and electronic brake-force distribution (EBD). This helps to control the brake bias between the front and rear, left and right wheels.

Visuals are great; the mirrors on the model we tested that day are standard. We really liked the blind spot mirror up the front. Being such a low vehicle and because of the passengers’ needs

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it’s great to see ‘top to bottom’ outside the bus, especially to look out for children.

At one point, stopped in traffic, I had to look around the side pillar, but it was a sharp angled turn. In normal cornering, the visuals are totally unobstructed.

There are four cameras inside the bus and one outside (CCTV optional). The reversing camera has been lowered, so it can also be used as a multimedia station. On a standard-size bus you have the height over the road to increase your visuals, but being a low bus the mirror and camera vision are extra important for safety – both are really effective, though.

Still on visibility, as Melbourne has huge turning lanes that seem to curve forever, when merging through lanes the mirrors work a treat. We are loving the blind spot mirror; it’s a great size and really effective.

NICE AND TIGHT At one point we had to do a U-turn and, just busnews.com.au

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“I’ve driven in some places that you’d normally get nervous driving in, but not in the Poncho.” as Fielding stated earlier, it does “turn on a sixpence”.

We checked on the stats and the Poncho has an impressive turning circle of less than 8m.

This ability would be useful with on-demand services with the changing nature of passenger requirements and pick-up locations.

Also a feature we really liked is the ‘sensitive edge’ door. It has added technology that ensures under no circumstances will the door shut if there’s an obstruction. The driver has a warning signal and lights that let you know immediately if there’s an issue. The throttle won’t operate and the bus can’t be put back into gear until the door is fully closed. Nice one!

Considering the safety of the market this bus is aimed at, this feature means not only passenger safety, but also driver peace of mind.

Fielding says the closing power of the door had been reduced, so that even a slight closure on a passenger would mean they would be more likely to laugh than cry.

Seriously, though, when you are doing community work and your passengers have disabilities it is extra important to have the capacity – as a driver – to be aware of your passengers and their safety – the Poncho would certainly give a driver that.

HOLDS ITS OWN Melbourne is one confusing city to drive around.

There’s heaps of traffic and unfamiliar lane

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changes, but the easy-driving Poncho made the job simple.

Externally, it’s a really ‘cute’ bus, and this particular vehicle’s bright orange-red paint work and advertising meant we had people honking at us and waving hello – we even had our photo taken.

Ultimately, Hino has put a great deal of thought into who its market is, but has taken it further than that by asking the question: ‘What do they need for their comfort and safety?’

With excellent visuals, plenty of zip and features that ensure we can take care of our passengers with added needs, the Poncho is one friendly little bus.

Specs MAKE Hino MODEL Poncho ENGINE J05E-TS four-cylinder, common-rail, 5.1-litre, directinjection, turbocharged and intercooled; emission control system EGR and DPR meeting ADR 80/03 using Euro 5 standard; Hino stop-start System (HSSS); Power – (max output) 180hp/132kW@2,500rpm, Torque – (max torque) 530Nm/54.0kgf/m@ 1,500rpm, Engine speed (max) 2,900rpm. Fuel tank – Construction: All steel and rectangular; Capacity 100L TRANSMISSION Five-speed full automatic transmission SUSPENSION Combination air and leaf (front and rear), Wabco ECAS – including easy-access kneeling BRAKES Anti-lock braking system (ABS) WHEELS/TYRES 6 x 205/80R x 17.5 (120/118 LT) BODY Australian DDA compliant, ultra-low floor, wheelchair access, emergency exits RHS, hatch and break glass window; Weight – GVM 7,710kg INTERIOR 18 seats plus driver with provision for a wheelchair and standees

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CHASSIS

MAKE: HINO

HINO

MODEL: RK8J

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Hino Motor Sales Australia, 6-10 Parraweena Rd, Caringbah NSW 2229 Phone: 1300 014 466

www.hino.com.au EMAIL:

bus@hino.com.au

SERIES: EURO 5

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL DIMENSIONS:

SUSPENSION:

Length (metres)

11.46

Type – Front

Tapered leaf springs with 2 shock absorbers & stabiliser bar

Wheelbase (mm)

6000

Type – Rear

Front Overhang (mm)

2200

Tapered leaf springs with double acting shock absorbers & stabiliser

Rear Overhang (mm)

3225

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

19

ENGINE: Make / Model

Hino/J08E VD

Configuration

6 cylinder overhead cam

Power (HP / kW)

285/210

Torque (Nm)

843

Oil Capacity (litres)

13.5

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

250

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Full air, dual circuit, ‘S’ cam type, ABS

Retarding Brake System

TM retarder

EBS

N/S

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

24V90/110amp

Starter

24V-4.5kW

Batteries

12Vx2 series connected

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

1O stud disc

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

ZF/6 speed ECOLITE/6 forward & 1 reverse speed with integrated retarder

AXLES: Type – Front

Hino/MF68/reverse Elliot ‘I’ section

Type – Rear

Hino/SH16/Full floating hypoid gears

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MAKE: HINO

MODEL: RN8J

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Hino Motor Sales Australia, 6-10 Parraweena Rd, Caringbah NSW 2229 Phone: 1300 014 466

www.hino.com.au EMAIL:

bus@hino.com.au

SERIES: EURO 5

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL DIMENSIONS:

SUSPENSION:

Length (metres)

11.46

Type – Front

2 airbag with double acting shock absorbers & stabiliser bar

Wheelbase (mm)

6000

Type – Rear

4 air bag with double acting shock absorbers & stabiliser

Front Overhang (mm)

2200

Rear Overhang (mm)

3225

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

19

ENGINE: Make / Model

Hino/J08E VD

Configuration

6 cylinder overhead cam

Power (HP / kW)

285/210

Torque (Nm)

843

Oil Capacity (litres)

13.5

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Full air, dual circuit, ‘S’ cam type, ABS

Retarding Brake System

TM retarder

EBS

N/S

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

24V90/110amp

Starter

24V-4.5kW

Batteries

12Vx2 series connected

WHEELS & TYRES: FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

250

Type

1O stud disc

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

ZF/6 speed ECOLITE/6 forward & 1 reverse speed with integrated retarder

AXLES: Type – Front

Hino/MF68/reverse Elliot ‘I’ section

Type – Rear

Hino/SH16/Full floating hypoid gears

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CHASSIS

HINO

Bus Bus

A Toyota Group Company A TOYOTA GROUP COMPANY

FD 240 FD 230

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Hino Motor Sales Australia, 6-10 Parraweena Rd, Caringbah NSW 2229 Phone: 1300 014 466

www.hino.com.au EMAIL:

bus@hino.com.au

4 x 2 cab chassis

MAKE: HINO

MODEL: FD BUS

ADR 80/03 Model

SERIES: EURO 5

4 x 2 Bus chassis

APPLICATION: TOUR, SCHOOL DIMENSIONS: Length (metres) Wheelbase (mm) Front Overhang (mm) Rear Overhang (mm)

key FeATUReS key FeATUReS Cruise Control

Type – Front

Semi-elliptic tapered leaf, 2 shock absorbers and stabiliser bar

4850

Type – Rear

2 airbag with shock absorbers

ABS Brakes Cruise Control

1185

BRAKES: GVM Torque

Air Suspension on rear axle Easy Start – Take-off Assist

Service Brakes Transmission

Seating Spring 35-43Air Suspension on Rear Axle Optional

Wheelbase Transmissions Retarding Brake System

Seating 35-43

EBS

2420 17

Make / Model

Hino/J07E-TP

Configuration

5 cylinder overhead cam

Power (HP / kW)

240/180

Torque (Nm)

725

Oil Capacity (litres)

Torque Power

EasyBrakes Start – Take-off Assist ABS

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

ENGINE:

key SPeciFicATionS key SPeciFicATionS Power 168kW @ 2500rpm

SUSPENSION:

9.145

www.hino.com.au 11.7 www.hino.com.au

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY: Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

200

GVM

Wheelbase

686Nmat@2400rpm 1500rpm 176kW

10,400kg 716Nm at 1500rpm Hydraulic system with 2 shoes for front & rear & ABS & easy Six-speed synchromesh 10,300kg start

5500mm Exhaust brake Six-speed synchromesh

5500mm

N/S

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM: Alternator

24V90

Starter

24V-4.5kW

Batteries

12Vx2 series connected

Bus Bus

WHEELS & TYRES: Type

6 stud disc wheel

Rim Size

6.75 x 17.5

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

Pro-shift (AMT)/LX06S overdrive/6 speed automatic manual T/M (ATM)

AXLES: Type – Front

Hino/LF366/Reverse Elliot ‘I’ section

Type – Rear

Hino/SH 13/Full floating hypoid gears

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CHASSIS & BODIES

HINO

MAKE: HINO

MODEL: PONCHO

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Hino Motor Sales Australia, 6-10 Parraweena Rd, Caringbah NSW 2229 Phone: 1300 014 466

www.hino.com.au EMAIL:

bus@hino.com.au

SERIES: EURO 5

APPLICATION: CITY BUS, ON DEMAND, COMMUNITY TRANSPORT, DDA COMPLIANT CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

TRANSMISSION:

BODY OPTIONS:

SEATING OPTIONS:

Chassis Length (metres)

6.99

Automatic Trans Make/ Aisin/A500/5 Speed Full Model/ Description Automatic

Wheelchair Lift Access

Yes

Seating Make

Styleride / McConnells

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

4825

Manual Trans Make/ Model/ Description

CD/PA/Radio

Seating Model

Metro

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

775

DAB+AM/ FM Radio with CD & Bluetooth

Seatbelts

Optional

Chassis Rear Overhang 1360 (mm) Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

15.6

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Type – Rear

ENGINE: Make / Model

Hino Poncho

Configuration

5.123L

Power (HP / kW)

180Hp/132kW

NA

Air bag & leaf spring with shock absorbers and stabiliser with raise / lower function Air bag & leaf spring with shock absorbers and stabiliser with raise / lower function

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Air Over Hydraulic (Drum)

Retarding Brake System

Exhaust Brake

EBS

Yes

Torque (Nm)

530

Bore and Stroke

112 x 130

Compression Ratio

NA

Fuel Capacity (litres)

100

Body Floor Height (mm) 350

Oil Capacity (litres)

12

Body Weight (kg)

Emissions

Euro 5

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BODY DIMENSIONS: Body Length (metres)

6990

Body Width (metres)

2080

Body Height (metres)

3100

AXLES:

DVD/TV

Optional

Toilet

No

Front Make / Model / Desc.

Hino / Reverse Elliot I-Beam

Individual Reading Lights

No

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

Hino / SH12 / Single Speed Hypoid

Individual AC Vents

No

Reverse Camera

Yes

Other (please specify)

3 year 100,000km warranty / 4 year or 100,000km powertrain warranty / 3 year cab corrosion perforation warranty

SEATING: Seating Capacity

18 seated 8 standees (metro seats)

Passenger Capacity

26

Fixed Coach

18

5620

STORAGE: All types

AIR-CONDITIONING: Air-Cond Standard Yes Air-Cond Make

Denso

Air-Cond Model

Saloon & Dedicated Driver Air Conditioning With Heater

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CHASSIS & BODIES

IRIZAR

FIRST 33 VOLVO-IRIZAR MINE BUSES DELIVERED

O

nly two months after a supply agreement was signed, the first of 33 Volvo chassis, Irizar-bodied coaches have been delivered to West Australian operator Go West Tours for its BHP Pilbara mining contract, it’s reported.

The partnership between global bus and coach manufacturer Irizar and Volvo Bus Australia secured a contract to supply the 33 coaches for a major seven-year contract with BHP, to provide transport services for its Pilbara mining operations.

The contract was signed by Go West Tours director David Houst and Irizar managing director, Asia Pacific region, Daniel Castro in Perth on November 22, 2019.

The first batch of special-built vehicles made their way to Perth on January 15, only two months after the contract being signed, Irizar confirms.

It is a quite remarkable lead time given the chassis were built in Sweden and the bodies were built in Brazil at Irizar’s factory, they state.

The Irizar i6 3700 Mining-spec body equipped with Volvo B8R chassis combination was also recently supplied to mining sites in South Australia and Queensland and are designed for remote mining conditions, Irizar confirms.

It will be the first time that Irizar has 76

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delivered a complete fleet with the i-Service system integrated and fully maintained by the Irizar Group, it says.

ON PAPER The Volvo B8R power train includes the latest 8L Volvo engine, producing 330hp (246kW) matched to an automatic gearbox to reduce driver fatigue.

The vehicles are equipped with special safety items including: passenger seat belt monitoring system; ABS, EBS, ESC, ECAS; in-vehicle monitoring and telematics; park brake alarm with antirollaway system; driver duress system; fire-suppression system; driver fatigue monitoring system, back-to-base tyre pressure monitoring system, and CCTV with remote access.

ON-GOING PARTNERSHIP Castro says the contract was the start of an ongoing partnership with Go West Tours.

“Securing this contract with Go West Tours is a reflection of 130 years of history in transport across 90 countries and the expertise we have developed over this time to design first-class vehicles for remote locations” he said.

“Delivering in such quick lead-time was a remarkable achievement for Irizar and Volvo that keeps a strategic batch of busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 3:49:51 PM

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CHASSIS & BODIES

“Volvo have proudly offered industryleading service and support across Australia for almost 50 years.”

IRIZAR

at least 40 vehicles as rolling stock and more chassis to be built to the specification of the customer,” Castro explained.

David Haoust says he looks forward to taking delivery of the state-of-the-art coaches.

“We are delighted to partner with renowned and respected European manufacturers Irizar and Volvo to purchase the latest technology coaches, which will ensure a high level and reliable service to BHP,” Haoust said.

STAFF INDUCTION The training sessions for Go West drivers and workshop staff have begun, confirms Irizar, which are conducted by the Irizar and Volvo technical teams in the Pilbara region.

“The team at Volvo and our long-term

dealer partner Truck Centre WA in the west are extremely excited about the opportunity to supply Go West with our latest Volvo B8R product,” said Lauren Downs, then general manager of Volvo Bus Australia.

“Volvo have proudly offered industry-leading service and support across Australia for almost 50 years. This continues even in the depths of the Pilbara with service trucks and vans visiting all of the Pilbara mine sites on a regular basis with highly trained technicians and parts supply for the coaches and Volvo trucks on site.

“The new coaches will also be connected to Volvo Connected Services (telematics) meaning our specialised technical team can monitor the vehicles remotely – no matter how far or how remote,” Downs explained.

Above: The contract was signed

by Go West Tours director David Houst and Irizar managing director, Asia Pacific region, Daniel Castro.

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MAKE: IRIZAR

MODEL: i6S

ADDRESS:

WEB:

2 Austral Place, Hallam, VIC 3803 Phone: 03 9708 6688

www.irizar.com.au

SERIES: COACH

MAKE: IRIZAR

EMAIL:

enquires@irizar.com.au

MODEL: i6

SERIES: SCHOOL/CHARTER

APPLICATION: LONG DISTANCE/TOURING

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL, MINING

BODY SPECIFICATIONS:

BODY SPECIFICATIONS:

Frame Material

HIGH TENSILE ST 52, 44 & 37, AXALTA after-welding treatment (stainless steel option)

Frame Material

HIGH TENSILE ST 52, 44 & 37, AXALTA after-welding treatment (stainless steel option)

Body Material

Two piece, hot stretched aluminium roof & side panels. Fibreglass front & rear.

Complete thermal & acoustic insulation.

Body Material

Two piece, hot stretched aluminium roof & side panels. Fibreglass front & rear.

Complete thermal & acoustic insulation.

Seating Capacity (provide range if applicable)

48-71

Seating Capacity (provide range if applicable)

48-71

Passenger Capacity (provide range if applicable)

48-71

Passenger Capacity (provide range if applicable)

48-71

No. of Doors (provide range if applicable)

1-2

No. of Doors (provide range if applicable)

1 or 2

SEATING OPTIONS: SEATING OPTIONS: Seating Type

Recliners

Seating Make/s

Mcconells, Styleride and SEGE

Seating Model/s

Various

Seatbelts (Yes / No)

Yes

BODY DIMENSIONS: Body Length - metres (provide range if applicable)

12.5-14.5

Body Width - metres (provide range if applicable)

2.5

Body Height - metres (provide range if applicable)

3.9

Body Floor Height - mm (provide range if applicable)

1700

STORAGE:

Seating Type

FIxed or recliners

Seating Make/s

Mcconells, Styleride and SEGE

Seating Model/s

Various

Seatbelts (Yes / No)

Yes

BODY DIMENSIONS: Body Length - metres (provide range if applicable)

10.8-14.5

Body Width - metres (provide range if applicable)

2.5

Body Height - metres (provide range if applicable)

3.5, 3.7 or 3.9

Body Floor Height - mm (provide range if applicable) 1500-1700

STORAGE: Side bins

Yes

Thru bins

Yes Yes

Side bins

Yes

Thru bins

Yes

Internal luggage bins

Internal luggage bins

Yes

AIR-CONDITIONING:

AIR-CONDITIONING: Air-Conditioning Standard (Yes / No)

Yes

Air-Conditioning Make/s

Hispacold

Air-Conditioning Model/s

i6S Climate

BODY OPTIONS: Wheelchair lift access

Optional

CD/PA/Radio

Yes

DVD/TV

Yes

Toilet

Optional

Individual reading lights

Yes

Individual AC vents

Yes

Reverse camera

Yes

Other (please specify)

NA

busnews.com.au

Irizar Bodies 2020.indd 79

Air-Conditioning Standard (Yes / No)

Yes

Air-Conditioning Make/s

Hispacold

Air-Conditioning Model/s

i6 Climate

BODY OPTIONS: Wheelchair lift access

Optional

CD/PA/Radio

Yes

DVD/TV

Yes

Toilet

Optional

Individual reading lights

Optional

Individual AC vents

Yes

Reverse camera

Yes

Other (please specify)

N/A

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IVECO

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G

ranted it was under controlled conditions, but an Iveco-brand electric bus has travelled a massive 527km on one full charge, the company has announced.

The Heuliez GX 337 Elec performed its record run on the Iveco Magirus test track in Ulm, Germany. The 527 kilometres result was achieved by the full electric bus on a single charge – almost twice the best autonomy performances in the industry, the company states – and was certified

by TÜV Südwest, the leading European technical certification centre, Heuliez confirms.

On the test track, the GX 337 Elec, “…delivered a performance

RECORD RUN FOR IVECO busnews.com.au

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Above: The fully electric

GX 337 Elec.

82

IVECO

without equal, demonstrating the exceptional efficiency and autonomy of the range with 527km driven over 12 hours on a single charge,” the company states.

Rémy Foyer, directeur général délégué of the brand, said: “The record run of our fully electric GX 337 Elec is a further demonstration of the exceptional efficiency of this vehicle.”

“This performance was achieved in controlled conditions, but it is backed up by the real-life experience of our customers in their operations.

“For example, at the end of August a customer’s bus achieved 416km on a full charge, operating regularly on their line in Hafenlohr, in Germany.

“This is a ground-breaking vehicle that

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offers customers all the benefits of zeroemissions transport together with high quality standards, outstanding reliability and excellent performance,” Foyer said.

THE RUN The optimised test was performed by a production unit of the 12-metre model in overnight charging version equipped with a 350kWh battery pack, Heuliez explains. The fully charged bus, fitted with summer tyres, drove at an average speed of 46.6km/h with no heating or air conditioning, it confirms.

The test took place on October 10, 2019, starting at 10:00am and was completed at 09:41pm in light rain and windy conditions, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 15°C. The test concluded with the vehicle having busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 3:57:48 PM

“This is a ground-breaking vehicle that offers customers all the benefits of zero-emissions transport with high quality standards.” clocked 527km on a single charge, with 4 per cent electric power left in its battery, it’s reported.

THE BUS The GX 337 Elec is “the most complete range on the market”, offering a solution to match the specific needs of every customer with a wide choice of lengths (9.5-, 12- and 18-metre) and charging modes (slow overnight charging, or fast charging with a pantograph).

It also offers transport operators the advantages of flexibility and modularity busnews.com.au

BusSearch_2020_080-85_Chassis&Body_ Iveco FC.indd 83

to match their specific operating requirements with a minimum of constraints, and a supremely comfortable experience for drivers and passengers with a smooth ride and acceleration, and a spacious, well designed interior, the company states.

This range incorporates more than 20 years’ development and manufacturing expertise acquired by Heuliez in electric mobility, it adds.

ABOUT HEULIEZ Heuliez Bus was created in June 1980

in Rorthais, France, but its history can be traced to the beginning of the 20th century when Louis Heuliez, a cartwright in Cerizay, manufactured the first Heuliez coach in 1932, it states.

It first produced coaches, but then then during the 1970s the company focused its production on urban buses and it works with the main European bus and coach manufacturers. Heuliez Bus is now a brand of CNH Industrial.

CNH Industrial has 12 brands that make vehicles, three of which are Iveco, Iveco Bus and Heuliez Bus. ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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DAIMLER’S MAY TAKES IVECO REINS IN CNH SHAKE-UP Michael May now leads Iveco Trucks Australia and New Zealand as managing director after a leadership shift by parent company CNH Industrial.

He joins Iveco after a 20-year career with Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific, where he was most recently MercedesBenz Truck and Bus director.

May succeed Bruce Healy, who held the position since 2018 and will now become brand leader of CNH’s farm machinery firm, New Holland Agriculture.

“With a background in engineering and after-sales and having been dealer principal of two Melbourne-based Daimler truck dealerships, Mr May brings extensive leadership and industry expertise to Iveco,” the company notes.

Healy was also previously a brand leader with Iveco sister brand Case IH and the move will take him back towards the farm machinery industry.

“The last two years, working closely with Iveco staff and the dealer network, have been tremendously satisfying,” Healy said.

“I believe we’ve laid the foundation for an exciting future and whilst I’m disappointed that

I won’t be around to further contribute to our performance, I’m excited by the challenge and responsibility of leading New Holland into the future.”

Iveco notes May joins “at an exciting time” with the recent introduction of the heavy-duty Stralis X-Way truck range and the on-going success of the Daily van light-duty models, with “further key product actions planned for 2020”.

The appointments of Healy and May took effect, on a transitional basis, from early 2020.

ROLE POSITIONING In terms of role positioning, industry sources indicate a successor to May at Daimler on the truck side of the business is unclear at this early stage. The bus department will remain as is, though, with senior manager Mercedes-Benz Buses Mehmet Karal reporting directly to CEO Daniel Whitehead until further notice.

Below: Michael May has been announced as the new managing director of Iveco Trucks Australia and New Zealand.

“May brings extensive leadership and industry experience to Iveco.”

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CHASSIS

MAKE: IVECO

IVECO BUS

ADDRESS:

WEB:

IVECO Bus, 1-27 Princes Highway, Dandenong, Vic, 3175 Victoria: 03 9238 2200 Fax: 03 9238 2764 Toll Free: 1800 602 287

www.iveco.com.au Email: ivecobusenquiries@cnhind.com

MODEL: DELTA GRADUATE

MAKE: IVECO

MODEL: METRO LE CITY

APPLICATION: CHARTER – SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CITY – ROUTE

DIMENSIONS:

DIMENSIONS:

Length (metres)

11.0 - 12.5

Length (metres)

11.0 - 12.5

Wheelbase (mm)

5100 - 6500

Wheelbase (mm)

5100 - 6500

Front Overhang (mm)

2460

Front Overhang (mm)

2400

Rear Overhang (mm)

3075 - 3300

Rear Overhang (mm)

3075 - 3300

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Dependent on Body

Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Dependent on Body

ENGINE:

ENGINE:

Make/Model

Cummins/ISLe5

Make/Model

Cummins/ISLe5

Configuration

8.9ltr turbo-charged 6 cylinder diesel

Configuration

8.9ltr turbo-charged, 6 cylinder diesel

Power (hp/kW)

280/209 Option 320hp

Power (hp/kW)

280/209 Option 320hp

Torque (Nm)

1056

Torque (Nm)

1056

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

FUEL SOURCE / CAPACITY:

Type

Diesel

Type

Diesel

Capacity (litres)

300

Capacity (litres)

300

TRANSMISSION: Auto Model / Type

TRANSMISSION: Allison/T375R/Fully Automatic 6 Speed with integrated hydraulic retarder

AXLES:

Auto Model / Type

Allison/T375R/Fully automatic 6 speed with integrated hydraulic retarder

AXLES:

Type – Front

IVECO/5876/Forged steel ‘I’ beam

Type – Front

IVECO/5876/Forged steel ‘I’ beam

Type – Rear

Meritor/MC11-165/Single reduction 5.38:1

Type – Rear

Meritor/MC11-165/Single reduction 5.38:1

SUSPENSION:

SUSPENSION:

Type – Front

Hendrickson HAS60 Five link system with two airbags & heavyduty shock absorbers

Type – Front

Hendrickson HAS60 Five link system with two airbags & heavyduty shock absorbers

Type – Rear

IVECO Four airbag suspension with heavy-duty shock absorbers & ECAS height control

Type – Rear

IVECO Four airbag suspension with heavy-duty shock absorbers & ECAS height control

BRAKES:

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Disc brakes to all four wheels, EBS

Service Brakes

Disc brakes to all four wheels, EBS

Retarding Brake System

Integrated hydraulic transmission retarder

Retarding Brake System

Integrated hydraulic transmission retarder

EBS

EBS

EBS

EBS

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

ELECTRONIC SYSTEM:

Alternator

150 amp

Alternator

150 amp

Starter

24 V / 37 MT

Starter

24 V / 37 MT

Batteries

2x N150

Batteries

2x N150

WHEELS & TYRES:

WHEELS & TYRES:

Type

Steel (aluminium optional)

Type

Steel (aluminium optional)

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

Rim Size

8.25 x 22.5

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CHASSIS & BODIES

IVECO BUS

MAKE: IVECO

ADDRESS:

WEB:

IVECO Bus, 1-27 Princes Highway, Dandenong, Vic, 3175 Victoria: 03 9238 2200 Fax: 03 9238 2764 Toll Free: 1800 602 287

www.iveco.com.au Email: ivecobusenquiries@cnhind.com

MAKE: IVECO

MODEL: DAILY MINI BUS 12 SEAT

MODEL: DAILY MINI BUS 17 & 23 SEAT

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CHARTER, SCHOOL CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

Chassis Length (metres)

5.95-7.515

Wheelchair Lift Access

Optional

Chassis Length (metres)

5.95-7.515

Wheelchair Lift Access

Optional

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

3520-4100

CD/Radio

Standard

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

3520-4100

CD/Radio

Standard

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

1008

DVD/TV

Optional

1008

DVD/TV

Optional

Toilet

No

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

Toilet

No

Individual Reading Lights

No

Individual Reading Lights

Optional Exe

Individual AC Vents

No

Individual AC Vents

Optional Exe

Reverse Camera

Standard

Chassis Rear Overhang 1422-2407 (mm) Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

12744-14758

ENGINE:

Reverse Camera

3L Turbo with VGT

Power (HP / kW)

170/125

12

Torque (Nm)

400

Seating Capacity

17 & 23

Passenger Capacity

11

Bore / Stroke

95.8mm / 104mm

Passenger Capacity

16-22

Fixed Coach

Fixed Coach

Compression Ratio

N/A

Fixed Coach

Fixed Coach

Recliners

No

Fuel Capacity (litres)

90L with 25L Adblue

Recliners

No

Metro

No

Oil Capacity (litres)

6.6

Metro

No

Emissions

Euro 6

SEATING OPTIONS:

3L Turbo with VGT

Power (HP / kW)

170/125

Torque (Nm)

400

Seating Capacity

Bore / Stroke

95.8mm / 104mm

Compression Ratio

N/A

Fuel Capacity (litres)

90L with 25L Adblue

Oil Capacity (litres)

6.6

Emissions

Euro 6

SEATING:

SEATING OPTIONS:

Seating Model Seatbelts

Independent with Torsion Bar

Type – Rear

Pneumatic Air Suspension with ECAS

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc Brakes to all four wheels, ESP & ABS

Retarding Brake System

NO

EBS

ABS/EPS/AEBS

McConnell & APM Travelsafe Standard

AXLES: Front Make / Model / Desc.

IVECO/ Independent

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

IVECO/Rigid Twin Wheel

STORAGE:

TRANSMISSION:

Seating Make

Automatic Trans Make/ ZF/8V470A/8 Speed Model/ Description Automatic

McConnell & APM

Seating Model

Travelsafe

SUSPENSION:

Seatbelts

Standard

Type – Front

Independent with Torsion Bar

Type – Rear

Pneumatic Air Suspension with ECAS

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc Brakes to all four wheels, ESP & ABS NO ABS/EPS

Side Bins

No

Retarding Brake System

Thru Bins

No

EBS

AXLES: Front Make / Model / Desc.

IVECO/ Independent

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

IVECO/Rigid Twin Wheel

STORAGE: Side Bins

No

Thru Bins

No

Internal Luggage Bins Model specific

Body Length (mm)

7515

2052

AIR-CONDITIONING:

Body Width (mm)

2174

AIR-CONDITIONING:

2784

Air-Conditioning Standard

Standard

Body Height (mm)

2905

Air-Conditioning Standard

Standard

Air-Conditioning Make

IVECO

Air-Conditioning Make

IVECO

5950

Body Width (mm) Body Height (mm)

Body Floor Height (mm) 1820 N/A

Air-Conditioning Model IVECO

Iveco Chassis 2020.indd 87

SEATING:

BODY DIMENSIONS:

Body Length (mm)

busnews.com.au

Other (please specify) N/A

Internal Luggage Bins Model specific

BODY DIMENSIONS:

Body Weight (kg)

Other (please specify) N/A

Seating Make

Type – Front

ENGINE: Configuration

Configuration

SUSPENSION:

12744-14758

IVECO/F1C

IVECO/F1C

Automatic Trans Make/ ZF/8V470A/8 Speed Model/ Description Automatic

Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Make / Model

Make / Model

TRANSMISSION:

Standard

Chassis Rear Overhang 1422-2407 (mm)

Body Floor Height (mm) 1820 Body Weight (kg)

N/A

Air-Conditioning Model IVECO

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CHASSIS & BODIES

IVECO BUS

ADDRESS:

WEB:

IVECO Bus, 1-27 Princes Highway, Dandenong, Vic, 3175 Victoria: 03 9238 2200 Fax: 03 9238 2764 Toll Free: 1800 602 287

www.iveco.com.au Email: ivecobusenquiries@cnhind.com

MAKE: IVECO MODEL: DAILY MINING MINIBUS 4X4 14-17-20 SEAT

MAKE: IVECO

MODEL: EUROMIDI CC150-160

APPLICATION: CHARTER

APPLICATION: CHARTER, CHARTER - LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

Chassis Length (metres)

Dependent on Body

Wheelchair Lift Access

Optional

Chassis Length (metres)

3915/4150

Wheelchair Lift Access

Optional

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

3400-4175

CD/PA/Radio

Standard

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

10000-12500

CD/PA/Radio

Standard

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

Dependent on Body

DVD/TV

Optional

1362

DVD/TV

Optional

Toilet

No

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

Toilet

No

Individual Reading Lights

Optional

Individual Reading Lights

Optional

Individual AC Vents

No

Individual AC Vents

Optional

Reverse Camera

Standard

Chassis Rear Overhang Dependent on Body (mm) Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Dependent on Body

ENGINE:

Chassis Rear Overhang Variable (mm) Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Dependent on body

ENGINE:

CC150:

Make / Model

IVECO/Tector

Other (please specify) N/A

Configuration

6L Turbo-charged 6 cylinder diesel

Other (please specify) N/A

SEATING:

Reverse Camera

Standard

Make / Model

IVECO/F1C

Configuration

VGT High Performance

Power (HP / kW)

180/132

Torque (Nm)

430

SEATING:

Power (HP / kW)

250

Bore and Stroke

N/A

Seating Capacity

Torque (Nm)

950

Compression Ratio

N/A

Passenger Capacity

13-16-19

Bore and Stroke

N/A

Fuel Capacity (litres)

90L with 25L Adblue

Compression Ratio

N/A

Oil Capacity (litres)

N/A

Fixed Coach

Fixed Coach

Fuel Capacity (litres)

Emissions

Euro 6

Recliners

Optional

14-17-20

CC160:

280

Seating Capacity

43-57

Passenger Capacity

43-57

115L

Fixed Coach

Fixed Coach

Oil Capacity (litres)

N/A

Recliners

Optional

Emissions

N/A

Metro

Optional

TRANSMISSION:

SEATING OPTIONS:

Automatic Trans Make/ IVECO/8 Speed Automatic Model/ Description (Optional)/N/A

Seating Make

Various

TRANSMISSION:

Seating Model

Various

Seatbelts

Standard

Automatic Trans Make/ Allison/S3000/Fully automatic Model/ Description 5 speed with integrated hydraulic retarder

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

Type – Rear

Parabolic 3 Leaf springs with Hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers and reinforced 24mm stabiliser bar Parabolic 4 Leaf springs, rubber rebound bump stops, hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers and reinforced 28mm stabiliser bar

AXLES: Front Make / Model / Desc.

IVECO/HS6.07/ Independent

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

IVECO/HS80.9/ Single reduction

STORAGE:

BRAKES: Disc brakes front and drum brakes rear, ABS, EBD, ASR and Hill Hold

Side and Rear Bins

Standard

Thru Bins

No

Retarding Brake System

N/A

Internal Luggage Bins Yes

EBS

ABS, EBD, ASR, ESP9

AIR-CONDITIONING:

Service Brakes

BODY DIMENSIONS:

Air-Conditioning Standard

Yes

Body Length (mm)

Air-Conditioning Make

N/A

Body Width (mm) Body Height (mm) Body Floor Height (mm)

Dependent on configuration

Air-Conditioning Model N/A

Body Weight (kg)

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SUSP:

CC150:

CC160:

Type – Front

Pneumatic

Parabolic Spring

Type – Rear

IVECO Four airbag suspension with heavy duty shock absorbers & ECAS height control

BRAKES:

SEATING OPTIONS: Seating Make

Various

Seating Model

Various

Seatbelts

Standard

AXLES: Front Make / Model / Desc.

IVECO//5860/ Forged Steel “i” beam

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

Meritor/MS10164/Single Reduction

Service Brakes

Disc brakes to all four wheels, EBS

Retarding Brake System

Integrated hydraulic transmission retarder

STORAGE:

EBS

ABS, ASR

Side and Rear Bins

Standard

Thru Bins

No

BODY DIMENSIONS: CC150:

CC160:

Body Length (mm) Body Width (mm) Body Height (mm)

AIR-CONDITIONING: Dependent on body

Body Floor Height (mm) Body Weight (kg)

Internal Luggage Bins No

15,000kg

16,000kg

Air-Conditioning Standard

Standard

Air-Conditioning Make

Thermo King

Air-Conditioning Model KRS

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MAKE: IVECO

ADDRESS:

WEB:

IVECO Bus, 1-27 Princes Highway, Dandenong, Vic, 3175 Victoria: 03 9238 2200 Fax: 03 9238 2764 Toll Free: 1800 602 287

www.iveco.com.au Email: ivecobusenquiries@cnhind.com

MODEL: MELLOR MAXIMA

APPLICATION: CHARTER CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY DIMENSIONS:

Chassis Length (mm)

8518

Body Length (mm)

8518

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

4750

Body Width (mm)

2320

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

1008

Body Height (metres)

2.84

Chassis Rear Overhang (mm)

2801

Body Floor Height (mm)

N/A

Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

17.2

Body Weight (kg)

N/A

ENGINE:

BODY OPTIONS:

Make / Model

IVECO/4 Cylinder Diesel

Wheelchair Lift Access

Optional

Configuration

Daily 70C 4x2

CD/PA/Radio

Standard

Power (HP / kW)

205hp

DVD/TV

Optional

Torque (Nm)

470

Toilet

No

Bore and Stroke

4

Individual Reading Lights

No

Compression Ratio

16.2%

Individual AC Vents

No

Fuel Capacity (litres)

100L

Reverse Camera

No

Emissions

Euro 6

SEATING:

TRANSMISSION:

Seating Capacity

31 Passengers or up to 8 Wheel Chairs with 2 Carer Seats

Automatic Trans Make/ Model/Description

Independent with steel torsion bar

Fixed Coach

Fixed Coach

Manual Trans Make/ Model/ Description

ECAS – Air suspension

SEATING OPTIONS:

SUSPENSION:

Seatbelts

Type – Front

Torsion Bar

Type – Rear

ECAS

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Disc Brakes

Retarding Brake System

NO

EBS

ESP9 + ABS + ASR _ EBD

AIR-CONDITIONING: Air-Conditioning Standard

Standard

Air-Conditioning Make

N/A

Air-Conditioning Model

N/A

busnews.com.au

Iveco Chassis 2020.indd 89

Optional

AXLES: Front Make / Model / Desc.

IVECO – 2.7T

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

IVECO – 5.35T

STORAGE: Side Bins

No

Thru Bins

No

Internal Luggage Bins

No

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SCANIA

P

urchased for use from Ventura’s outer-urban depots, four of the vehicles will be based at the hilly and picturesque village of Monbulk on the edge of Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges, Scania confirms.

The 57-seaters all feature powered wheelchair lifts above the rear wheels on the kerb-side, and a capacity for carrying two wheelchairs internally with the loss of four rows 90

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of seats on the left aisle, it explains.

The seats, though, have been designed to be easily removed and stored at the depot while a bespoke wheelchair-lashing system has been designed and the chairs’ occupants are secured with three-point seat belts for additional safety, Scania explains.

Although freshly commissioned, the Touring coaches have been welcomed quickly into Ventura’s Monbulk fleet, it adds.

LUGGAGE CAPACITY Long-serving driver Roy Beattie says the new Touring was very smooth to drive and the ZF automatic transmission provided a refined travelling experience for the passengers.

“It is more comfortable for drivers and passengers, and the braking system is very well calibrated, too. I recently did a school camp run and the luggage all fitted – and we had a lot of it,” he said of the Scania busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 4:09:31 PM

SLIDE-OUT WHEELCHAIR LIFT KEY Leading Victorian bus operator Ventura has added eight new Scania Touring school and charter coaches to its fleet, with a luggage-space-saving slide-out wheelchair lift a highlight, the company has announced.

Touring’s 9 cubic metre luggage capacity.

“The school kids were really happy to be driven around in a new bus and one that’s smart and quiet,” he said.

A benefit of the slide-out wheelchair lift design is that is does not eat into precious luggage space as previous lift mechanisms have, Scania explains.

LATEST TECH Further driver assistance technologies have busnews.com.au

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also made a positive impression on Beattie, he says.

“I was previously driving a 2000-model manual transmission Scania bus and the difference is significant. There’s so much more technology on these new vehicles, such as Lane Departure Warning and Adaptive Cruise Control, but also nice features such as a heated driver’s seat, which gets hot very quickly and no doubt will be very popular in the winter.

“We also have a dual-radio system so we can have the passengers and driver listening to different stations, although I have made a playlist for my school run and play that through the system,” Beattie explained.

“The new buses have plenty of power and, even when fully loaded, they are getting up the steep hills around here very easily. The bus also cruises at high speed very nicely. I took a charter to Philip ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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“For a driver over sixfoot-tall like me, the driver area is very accommodating.”

Top: Four of the vehicles will be based at Monbulk, near Melbourne’s Dandenong Ranges.

Above: Long-serving driver Roy Beattie says the new Touring was very smooth to drive and the ZF automatic transmission provided a refined travelling experience.

Below: A benefit of the slide-out wheelchair lift is not eat into the luggage space.

Island recently and the bus sits very securely at 85–90km/h.

“It’s a dream to drive. It’s like the bus becomes an extension of you; it’s very predictable,” Beattie said.

DRIVER COMFORT Shaun Staggard has been driving for Ventura for nine years and says the new bus has been well received by school kids on his runs.

“They’re impressed with it and happy to be on an upgraded bus – and for a driver over six-foot-tall like me, the driver area is very accommodating,” Staggard said.

“The switches are all in the right place, there’s plenty of space and the mirrors are good, so it’s easy to drive.”

NATURAL FIT Speaking exclusively to ABC magazine (www. busnews.com.au), Julian Gurney, director of sales for Scania Buses and Engines, said: “The Scania Touring has been quickly accepted into the school and charter bus market in Australia.

“We have gone to great lengths to specify the Touring with the highest output in terms of power and torque that the ZF six-speed auto could 92

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handle. For our 9.0-litre five-cylinder engine that is 360hp [268kW] and 1,700Nm. “We’re also offering our 13.0-litre six-cylinder engine at 360hp, but with additional torque, peaking at 1,850Nm, making these two combinations the clear winner when it comes to driveability, reduced fuel consumption and total cost of ownership (TCO),” Gurney explained.

“Scania has engineered the Touring to be reliable in service, extremely durable especially in arduous driving environments, and with the benefit of mass production, consistent quality of manufacture leads to greater in-service uptime, which is crucial to our customers.

“With a pipeline of product on stream from the factory, we’re able to offer reduced delivery times.

We also offer the additional advantage of fitting locally sourced seating to operator preference, bringing the best of both worlds.”

TAILORED DELIVERY Gurney adds that the Scania ‘from bumper-tobumper’ concept, plus its nationwide network company-owned branches and authorised dealers, delivers a single point of contact for operators throughout the extensive working life of these vehicles.

“Scania Touring has been a success in Australia from day one, and its inclusion as part of the Ventura fleet for school and charter work is a perfect example of how Scania tailors its products to meet its customers’ needs,” he stated.

ABOUT VENTURA Ventura Bus Lines is the largest provider of public bus transport services in Melbourne, it states.

Its fleet of 883 buses operates across 141 routes out of 12 depots and move, on average, 36 million people each year, it explains. busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 4:10:09 PM

MAKE: SCANIA

MODEL: K 310

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Scania Australia 212-216 Northbourne Road, Campbellfield, VIC, 3061 Phone: 03 9217 3300

www.scania.com.au

SERIES: IB 4X2 A30

MAKE: SCANIA

MODEL: K 360

SERIES: IB 4X2 TOURING

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL

APPLICATION: CHARTER – LONG DISTANCE, SCHOOL CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

Chassis Length (metres)

12.3

Wheelchair Lift Access

Optional

Chassis Length (metres)

12.3

Wheelchair Lift Access

Optional

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

5850

CD/PA/Radio

Yes

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

5850

CD/PA/Radio

Yes

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

2800

DVD/TV

Optional

2800

DVD/TV

Optional

Toilet

No

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

Toilet

Optional

Individual Reading Lights

Yes

Individual Reading Lights

Yes

Individual AC Vents

Yes

Individual AC Vents

Yes

Reverse Camera

Yes

Chassis Rear Overhang 3350 (mm) Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

25

ENGINE: Make / Model

Scania/DC9 110

Configuration

5 cylinder

Power (HP / kW)

310/228 (SCR only)

Reverse Camera

Yes

Chassis Rear Overhang 3350 (mm) Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

25

ENGINE: Make / Model

Scania/DC9 112

Other (please specify) Xenon headlights

Configuration

5 cylinder

SEATING:

Power (HP / kW)

360/265 (SCR only)

Torque (Nm)

1700 @ 1100-1350

Bore and Stroke

130 x 140

Compression Ratio

17.1

Seating Capacity

49-61

Torque (Nm)

1550 @ 1100-1350

Bore and Stroke

130 x 140

Compression Ratio

17.1

Fuel Capacity (litres)

310

Recliners

Fuel Capacity (litres)

465

Oil Capacity (litres)

31

Metro

Oil Capacity (litres)

31

Emissions

Euro 5

SEATING OPTIONS:

Emissions

Euro 6

Passenger Capacity Fixed Coach

Seating Make

TRANSMISSION:

Seating Model

Automatic Trans Make/ ZF/6AP 1700 B Automatic/6 Model/ Description speed

Seatbelts

Manual Trans Make/ Model/ Description

AXLES:

Scania/GR875R/8 Speed Fully Automated Manual Transmission with Retarder

SUSPENSION: Type – Front

2 x air bellow

Type – Rear

4 x air bellow

BRAKES:

49-61 Fixed Coach, Recliners, Metro

Air

Retarding Brake System

Scania retarder / ZF retarder

EBS

Yes

BODY DIMENSIONS:

Recliners

SEATING OPTIONS:

n/a

n/a

Optional

Automatic Trans Make/ ZF/6AP 1700 B Automatic/6 Model/ Description speed

Seatbelts

Optional

Manual Trans Make/ Model/ Description

AXLES:

Front Make / Model / Desc.

Scania/AMA 860/I-Beam

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

Scania/ADA/ R660

STORAGE: Thru Bins

No Yes

Internal Luggage Bins Yes

AIR-CONDITIONING:

2.5

Air-Conditioning Make

Body Height (metres)

3.5

Scania Chassis 2020.indd 93

Fixed Coach, Recliners, Metro

Customer choice

Body Width (metres)

busnews.com.au

49-61

Fixed Coach

Seating Model

12.3

NS

49-61

Passenger Capacity

Seating Make

Body Length (metres)

Body Weight (kg)

Seating Capacity

TRANSMISSION:

Air-Conditioning Standard

Body Floor Height (mm) 1217

SEATING:

Metro

Customer choice

Side Bins

Service Brakes

Other (please specify) NS

Yes Konvekta

Air-Conditioning Model KL85T

Scania/GR875R/8 Speed Fully Automated Manual Transmission with Retarder

SUSPENSION:

Front Make / Model / Desc.

Scania/AMA 860/I-Beam Scania/ADA/ R660

Type – Front

2 x air bellow

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

Type – Rear

4 x air bellow

STORAGE:

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Air

Retarding Brake System

Scania retarder / ZF retarder

EBS

Yes

Side Bins

No

Thru Bins

Yes

Internal Luggage Bins Yes

AIR-CONDITIONING:

BODY DIMENSIONS: Body Length (metres)

12.3

Body Width (metres)

2.5

Body Height (metres)

3.8

Air-Conditioning Standard

Yes

Air-Conditioning Make

Konvekta

Air-Conditioning Model KL85T

Body Floor Height (mm) 1517 Body Weight (kg)

NS ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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YUTONG

STREET SMART

Inspired by its current global e-bus spread, Australian width requirements seem the only inconsequential restriction to Yutong’s Euro-focussed, Busworld awardwinning electric U12 landing here, too – someday in future, at least. Are its bold ‘smart phone’ looks its only magic trick? It seems not.

B

us shows are wondrous things – for bus fans and punters in general alike, if you think about it. Not only do they allow the industry to get a glimpse into the future about what product is newly out or about to be, but also they let mainstream media ‘tease’ the public en masse with how buses are evolving in terms of look, sound and feel.

Traditionally (and let’s be honest) the only ‘bus teasing’ to be had was for true ‘bus nuts’ and the ‘automotively perverted’ 94

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amongst us – so it’s ok to raise your hands here right now and not be ashamed of such a fact, if you are one. Yet, for the glut of the public transport-travelling public?

Perhaps many just saw a bus as a bus as a bus…

That’s no bad thing there, really; it’s just the challenge the global bus industry has continually faced in presenting itself as fun and exciting to the masses, with far-reaching long-term implications for business if it fails to do so.

You can thank your relevant supreme spiritual being, or lack thereof, for more of the stylish bus designs we do love to see now coming our way, which is arguably being pushed along overall through the unstoppable transition to emissionsfree vehicles.

That is, if we ‘have to change how it moves’ we might as well ‘change how it looks while we are at it’ – for some bus manufacturers at least.

And it’s here aficionados can trace the busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 4:26:12 PM

“The Yutong U12 was awarded the Bus Design Label thanks to its European level of design.” subtle yet beautifully conceptualised evolution of modern bus design.

EYE CATCHING For those of us spying the latest wares in the flesh for the Australian bus market during last year’s BusVic 2019 show, often enough it was the snippets of product shown in muted video screen presentations that flickered away in the background on stands that somehow caught the eye. For some keen observers, one such unit splashed its way across a TV display silently at the Yutong bus stand.

“Whoah! What is that?!?” is a fair enough interjection for such observations, which … you know … is more mentally enjoyed or quietly murmured so as not to alert everyone else around you that you are indeed one of the aforementioned weird bus-design perverts.

What many at that show saw would soon be known as the new U12 electric bus, which Yutong stand representatives were more than happy to discuss excitedly with enquiring minds.

Available in Australia? No, not at that time, anyway. Yet, even if shown for mere ‘hero car’ status as a branding exercise, it made its point.

And it made its point clear.

What looked more like the latest ‘smart phone on wheels’ was worthy of greater attention, indeed. And, within a week, such a bus would go on to win the prestigious Design Label Award at the massive Busworld 2019 event in Belgium, set amongst amazing rival bus designs that truly gave it a run for its money.

“The Yutong U12 was awarded the Bus Design label thanks to its European level of design, as well as its high score with regard to the aesthetic balance of the interior and its overall appearance on the outside,” Busworld officially stated at the time.

“During this edition, the members of the jury observed some general trends. Yutong and, by extension, all Chinese manufacturers have made significant progress in general and already meet European standards in many areas,” it would also state.

Indeed, such a modern ‘techie’ appearance was always to be the case.

SHANGHAI SURPRISE As Mathias Lenz, head of design for Yutong Bus, explained the company’s current styling direction Left: The European-look dashboard features a logical button array. busnews.com.au

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YUTONG

in a video called Yutong Bus and Coach – Intelligent Connected New Energy Bus, he said: “When we started with the project we heard that we should make a city bus for Shanghai. So the first thing is we try to find out ‘what is the city of Shanghai?’”

“So we found out, okay it’s modern, it’s high-tech, it’s friendly, it’s an international city, but it’s also a green city.

“These were the inspirations to start thinking about the creation of a new styling language.

“So, as you can see, it looks like an icon.

It looks like an iphone. And also Shanghai city is like an iphone. It’s modern, it’s cool.

You have a frame body … on the side, so it’s really like an iphone – it’s Shanghai.”

YUTONG E-BUS TO JOIN CANBERRA FLEET Canberrans will soon have the opportunity to take a zero-emissions trip around the city with a new Yutong E12 electric bus joining the Transport Canberra fleet, the ACT Government has announced.

The Government says it is doing its bit to reduce emissions in the ACT. Investing in electric public buses is another practical step in the Government’s long-term vision to have a more sustainable and environmentally friendly city for future Canberrans, it states.

In 2020 the ACT will be the first jurisdiction outside of Europe to achieve 100 per cent renewable electricity, it claims. As the ‘climate change capital of Australia’ it says it can “do more and our next goal is to achieve zero net emissions for the ACT by 2045”.

As it invests in these new, sustainable technologies the Government is also committed to providing the right training and support to its workforce to enable it to transition its skills and expertise, it explains.

MAKING THE TRANSITION ACT Minister for Transport Chris Steel says transport – including private and public transport – makes up more than 60 per cent of the ACT’s emissions, and it needs to transition to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040.

“The Government is committed to transitioning our public transport fleet to zero emissions, reducing air pollution and providing a reliable and comfortable service for users,” Steel said.

“This electric bus will provide us with

Top to Bottom: The bus can be configured to meet TC’s operational requirements in terms of range, charging time and increased passenger capacity, the ACT Govt states; ACT transport minister Chris Steel and chief minister Andrew Barr inspecting the Yutong E12.

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valuable operation information to guide the preparation of a Transition Plan for [a] zero-emission bus fleet and prepare for the purchase of more electric buses at scale.

“This is a more modern electric bus than those previously trialled in 2017 and has already proved successful in other jurisdictions,” the Minister confirmed.

THE BUS The new Yutong electric E12 bus will be based at the Tuggeranong Depot for charging, but will operate all over Canberra, the Government says.

It is estimated that the bus will be able to travel up to 400km before requiring a recharge, it adds.

Currently, the bus can carry 57 people; however, it can be configured to meet Transport Canberra’s operational requirements in terms of range, charging time and increased passenger capacity, it states.

The Government has started work on a Zero-Emission Transition Plan, which will provide a roadmap to make the switch from diesel buses to a zeroemission fleet, it states.

“The Plan we are developing will ensure that we have the required infrastructure, investment and skills to scale up our zero-emissions bus fleet,” Steel said.

PURE AESTHETICS There’s intriguing devotion to toying with traditional interpretations of what a city bus should look like here, with the U12 using arguably its most striking feature – its headlights, which kind of look at first glance like tail-lights – to bamboozle the casual observer at first glance.

It should be noted from various imagery floating around online that the Chinese domestic market’s ‘new styling language’ phone look Lenz mentions is perhaps emphasised even more so in the Euromarket U12 design.

Indeed, the large, black surfaces are evocatively smart phone screen-like, with the ruse punctuated by the silver frame look along the edges to enhance such appeal. The arc at the top provides an unmistakable point of note to the front end, which stretches back along the lines of the roof to contour downwards to the decidedly flat, and mostly black, rear end.

GOOD MOOD SWING Particular attention has been paid to the driver’s own U12 experience, with Yutong pointing out its “enclosed noninterference cab” and “large space on the [above] driver’s head”. An electromagnetic enclosure door is to “make the driver more focused and driving safer”, it explains.

The air-cushion driver seat, pneumatic lifting function, dual armrests and aircushion backrest limit fatigue and enhance the driving experience, it adds. ‘Easing the workload’.

The continental [European] dashboard features a logical button array for an intuitive result, so “everything is instantly accessible by the driver”.

Passengers inside seemingly also get a spacious journey (depending on how many enter, of course), but the focus on standees more is evident. busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 4:26:41 PM

For those who do get to sit, ‘New City’ passenger seats offer ergonomic design and USB charging ports and there’s even some ‘mood lighting’ (?) courtesy of adjustable independent strip lights above along the ceiling.

Heck, why not?

A Yutong electric air conditioning system with a cooling capacity of 38,000 Kcal/h and heating capacity of 36,000 Kcal/h is matched to “forced fresh air ventilation [to] ensure a consistently comfortable passenger compartment”.

And while People-Vehicle Interconnection Smart Manager software aids the information connection between bus and the driver, or operator, via a simple smart phone, it’s unclear whether passengers can access such information like the temperature and bus performance while in journey, too. Maybe they should?

According to Yutong, “thanks to smart diagnosis, smart central control, energyconsumption statistics and other data processing, it provides smart, networked information for the driver and the company.”

LOCAL USE With the current E12 in quite widespread global use, those markets are justified in anticipating the U12 may land there in time, too.

As Busworld notes: “In five years, the number of electric buses in Europe has increased from around 200 to 2,200 vehicles.”

“The Chinese Yutong company delivers almost 25,000 new energy buses a year. That’s equivalent to 375 per day.

“In 2018, Yutong built 60,868 buses, including 24,748 ‘new energy’ buses. “[Of those] 7,216 electrically powered buses were built and 589 of these have been on the road in Europe ever since.

“Worldwide, more than 120,000 Yutong electric buses are operating in more than 380 cities, resulting in a global market share of 15 per cent for Yutong.

“For nine consecutive years, Yutong was the largest seller of new energy buses. With the U12

“In five years, the number of electric buses in Europe has increased from around 200 to 2,200.”

Top to Bottom: Currently, the U12 is 2.55m wide, but could a 2.5m-wide version be on the horizon for Australia?; ‘New City’ passenger seats offer ergonomic design and USB charging ports; Three-door entry/exit.

busnews.com.au

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Specs MAKE Yutong MODEL U12 e- bus DIMENSIONS Length – 11970mm, Width – 2550mm, Height – 3180mm DRIVETRAIN Axles - ZF AVE130 electric rear axle; Motors – 2x 60kW. Speed - Max. 70km/h BATTERIES 422kWh onboard battery storage BRAKES Dual-circuit air-brake system SUSPENSION F2R4 air suspension; SACHS hydraulic shock absorbers; ECAS system WHEELS/TYRES Michelin 305/70R22.5 BODY Lightweight composite materials INTERIOR Seating – 25 + driver; ergonomic ‘New City’ passenger seats with USB charging ports; cabin ceiling changeable ‘mood lighting’; Capacity - 94 MISC. Air conditioner – Yutong electric heating/cooling system (cooling capacity – 38,000Kcal/h; heating capacity – 36,000 Kcal/h); Safety – BusEYE Pro driving assistant system (for a range of active safety systems via Yutong’s ‘intelligentisation’ concept)

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YUTONG

“What looked more like the latest ‘smart phone on wheels’ was worthy of greater attention.” and the T13 [direct T12 coach replacement, no doubt], Yutong has designed buses specifically for the European market,” Busworld noted at the show.

E12 TRIALS In that context, with current trials of the Yutong E12 electric bus in the ACT – which operates out of the Transport Canberra and City Services’ bus depot in Tuggeranong – and the South Brisbane Logan Coaches-run service in Queensland, those results will no doubt have much influence on whether in some form the U12 ever gets here at all.

Coronavirus impact on passenger numbers locally on routes aside, the positive response via the earlier NSW Government-backed E12 trial by Nowra operator Premier Transport Group might be a better indication of truer results, though any overall e-bus plan – for any supplier – needs to factor in appropriate charging infrastructure capability anyway, industry insiders will attest.

Speaking of the current Canberra E12 trial, zero-emission charging and refuelling provider Electromotiv played an instrumental role in helping the ACT Government move from a challenging initial electric and hybrid bus trial to a fully electric trial, it says.

Managing director and co-founder Toby Roxburgh said: “The second trial, which started in November 2019, is a continuing project, but after six months the bus is performing exceptionally well; drivers really like driving it and Transport Canberra are encouraged by the results thus far.”

“The documented experience of having one of the only electric buses running on regular bus routes in Australia is unique. Electromotiv has been exposed to the real-world requirements of

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carrying passengers to and from work every day.”

Roxburgh says Electromotiv provided a turnkey solution for the trial from project setup and bus leasing right through to charger installation and training support using the existing ACT government maintenance staff.

A MATTER OF SIZE There are different dimensions and capacities between both E12 and U12, but in a changed bus world it will be interesting to see how the latter’s importance may change for an operator’s particular needs.

On paper, while the U12 measures 11,970mm x 2,550mm x 3,180mm with seating at 25+1, the E12 is 12,170mm x 2,550mm x 3,300mm with seating at 32+1 (in China).

The key figure for here, though, is the width. Confidential sources close to ABC magazine say there is definitely talk of a 2.5m version of the U12 hitting Australian shores one day – so we asked Yutong in China directly how credible such rumours might be. And while it couldn’t be confirmed, it couldn’t be denied, either.

A spokeslady said: “U12 is 2.55m wide; I confirmed with the related Yutong engineer.

[It] only has [a] 2.55m-width version, rather than 2.5m.”

She continued: “To avoid any misunderstanding, I mean that U12 has only 2.55 meter width version NOW, [But] maybe in the future it will have some other version.”

When ABC magazine asked Yutong Bus Australia GM Lou Riccardi if the likelihood of a U12 version making it here was true, he responded: “We look forward to the day that this product arrives here.” busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 4:27:15 PM

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Yutong Australia Head Office: 34 Mount Erin Road, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia, 2560

www.yutong.com.au Sales Enquires : Lou Riccardi Phone: (02) 8007 6310 Mobile: (0411) 426 148 Email: newsales@yutong.com.au

CAT/2

CAT/3 - (TfNSW Approved)

MAKE: YUTONG

MAKE: YUTONG

MODEL: D7i

MODEL: D9

APPLICATION: SCHOOL/CHARTER/COACH

APPLICATION: SCHOOL/CHARTER/COACH CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

Chassis Length (mm)

7730

Wheelchair Lift Access

Optional

Chassis Length (mm)

9400

Optional

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

4150

CD/PA/Radio

Standard

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

4600

Wheelchair Lift Access CD/PA/Radio

Standard

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

1210

DVD/TV

Standard

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

1935

DVD/TV

Standard

Toilet

N/A

Chassis Rear Overhang 2760 (mm)

Toilet

Optional

Individual Reading Lights

Standard

Individual AC Vents

Standard Standard

Chassis Rear Overhang 2315 (mm) Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Individual AC Vents

ENGINE: Make / Model

Individual Reading Lights Standard

≤ 18

Cummins (UK) ISB.5EV1D190

Configuration

Turbocharge, Intercool

Power (HP / kW)

190 / 140

Standard

Reverse Camera

Standard

MobilEYE, 7x Camera System, 360° Camera System

Standard

SEATING:

Torque (Nm)

700 @ 1200RPM

Seating Capacity

Bore and Stroke

107/124

Passenger Capacity

Compression Ratio

17.1 : 1

Fuel Capacity (litres)

140

Oil Capacity (litres)

21.6

Emissions

Euro VI

28 / 29 27 / 28

Fixed Coach

Standard Fixed ADR68

SEATING OPTIONS: Seating Make

Yutong

Seating Model

YTHO5

Seatbelts

Standard

TRANSMISSION:

AXLES:

Automatic Trans Make/ Allison - 2100 6 Speed Model/ Description

Front Make / Model / Desc.

Dongfeng 3T Disc Brake

Manual Trans Make/ Model/ Description

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

Dongfeng 6T Drum Brake

N/A

SUSPENSION:

STORAGE:

Type – Front

Leaf Spring Suspension

Type – Rear

Leaf Spring Suspension

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Front Disc / Rear Drums

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Standard

BODY DIMENSIONS: Body Length (mm)

7730

Body Width (mm) Body Height (mm)

Side Bins

No

Thru Bins

No

Internal Luggage Bins No

AIR-CONDITIONING:

Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

≤ 20

ENGINE: Make / Model

Cummins (UK) ISB6.7E5250

Reverse Camera

Configuration

Turbocharge, Intercool

Other (please specify) Standard

Power (HP / kW)

250 / 184

SEATING:

Torque (Nm)

950 @ 1200RPM

Seating Capacity

40 / 44

Passenger Capacity

39 / 43

Fixed Coach

Standard Fixed ADR68

Bore and Stroke

107/124

Compression Ratio

17.1 : 2

Fuel Capacity (litres)

200

Oil Capacity (litres)

20

Emissions

Euro V / Euro VI

YTHO5

Seatbelts

Standard

AXLES: Front Make / Model / Desc.

Yutong 4.5T Disc Brake

Manual Trans

N/A

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

Yutong 9.5T Drum Brake

Type – Front

Two spring electronically controlled air suspension

STORAGE:

Type – Rear

Four spring electronically controlled air suspension

SUSPENSION:

Side Bins

No

Thru Bins

Yes

Internal Luggage Bins No

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Front Disc / Rear Disc

AIR-CONDITIONING:

Yes

Air-Conditioning Standard

Heat/Cool

Standard

Air-Conditioning Make

Cling

Air-Cond Std

Heat/Cool

Retarding Brake System

Air-Cond Make

Cling

EBS

Air-Cond Model

PZD-II

BODY DIMENSIONS: 9400

2410

Body Width (mm)

2500

3170

Body Height (mm)

3440

Body Floor Height (mm) 900

Body Weight (kg)

Body Weight (kg)

Yutong C&B 2020.indd 99

Yutong

Seating Model

Automatic Trans Make/ Allison T350R Model/ Description

Body Length (mm)

N/A

Seating Make

TRANSMISSION:

Body Floor Height (mm) 710

busnews.com.au

SEATING OPTIONS:

Air-Conditioning Model LFDR-04

N/A

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CHASSIS & BODIES

YUTONG

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Yutong Australia Head Office: 34 Mount Erin Road, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia, 2560

www.yutong.com.au Sales Enquires : Lou Riccardi Phone: (02) 8007 6310 Mobile: (0411) 426 148 Email: newsales@yutong.com.au

CAT/4 - (TfNSW Approved)

MAKE: YUTONG

MAKE: YUTONG

MODEL: D12

MODEL: T12

APPLICATION: COACH/CHARTER & LONG DISTANCE

APPLICATION: SCHOOL/CHARTER/COACH CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

Chassis Length (mm)

12445

Optional

Chassis Length (mm)

12245

6500

CD/PA/Radio

Standard

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

6090

Wheelchair Lift Access

Optional

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

Wheelchair Lift Access

CD/PA/Radio

Standard

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

2620

DVD/TV

Standard

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

2620

DVD/TV

Standard

Toilet

Optional

Chassis Rear Overhang 3330 (mm)

Toilet

Optional

Individual Reading Lights

Standard

Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Individual Reading Lights

Standard

Individual AC Vents

Standard

Individual AC Vents

Standard Standard

Chassis Rear Overhang 3330 (mm) Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

≤ 22

ENGINE:

≤ 23

ENGINE:

Make / Model

Cummins (UK) ISL8.9E5360

Reverse Camera

Standard

Make / Model

Mercedes-Benz - OM457LA

Reverse Camera

Configuration

Turbocharge, Intercool

Other (please specify) Standard

Configuration

Turbocharge, Intercool

Other (please specify) Standard

Power (HP / kW)

360 / 265

SEATING:

Power (HP / kW)

350 / 260

SEATING:

Torque (Nm)

1600 @ 1200RPM

Seating Capacity

Torque (Nm)

1850 @ 1100RPM

Seating Capacity

54

Passenger Capacity

53

Fixed Coach

Standard Fixed ADR68

Bore and Stroke

114/144.5

Compression Ratio

16.6 : 1

Fuel Capacity (litres)

270

Oil Capacity (litres)

23

Emissions

Euro V / Euro VI

54 / 58

Passenger Capacity

53 / 57

Fixed Coach

Standard Fixed ADR68

SEATING OPTIONS: Seating Make

Yutong

Seating Model

YTHO5

Seatbelts

Standard

Bore and Stroke

128/155

Compression Ratio

18.5 : 1

Fuel Capacity (litres)

410

Oil Capacity (litres)

39

Emissions

Euro V

SEATING OPTIONS: Seating Make

Yutong

Seating Model

YTHO5

Seatbelts

Standard

TRANSMISSION:

AXLES:

TRANSMISSION:

AXLES:

Automatic Trans Make/ Allison T390R Model/ Description

Front Make / Model / Desc.

Meritor 13T Disc Brake

Automatic Trans Make/ ZF Ecolife Model/ Description

Front Make / Model / Desc.

ZF 7.5T Disc Brake

Manual Trans

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

Meritor 6.6T Disc Brake

Manual Trans

N/A

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

ZF 13T Disc Brake

Type – Front

Two spring electronically controlled air suspension

STORAGE:

Type – Rear

Four spring electronically controlled air suspension

N/A

SUSPENSION: Type – Front Type – Rear

Two spring electronically controlled air suspension Four spring electronically controlled air suspension

STORAGE: Side Bins

SUSPENSION:

No

Thru Bins

Yes

Side Bins

No

Thru Bins

Yes

Internal Luggage Bins No

Internal Luggage Bins No

BRAKES:

Service Brakes

Front Disc / Rear Disc

AIR-CONDITIONING:

Service Brakes

Front Disc / Rear Disc

AIR-CONDITIONING:

Retarding Brake System

Yes

Air-Cond Std

Heat/Cool

Retarding Brake System

Yes

Standard

Cling

Air-Conditioning Standard

Heat/Cool

Air-Cond Make

EBS

Standard

SDDR-06

BODY DIMENSIONS:

Air-Conditioning Make

Spheros

Air-Cond Model

Air-Conditioning Model

Not Available

BRAKES:

EBS

BODY DIMENSIONS: Body Length (mm)

12445

Body Length (mm)

12245

Body Width (mm)

2500

Body Width (mm)

2500

Body Height (mm)

3480

Body Height (mm)

3820

Body Floor Height (mm) 900

Body Floor Height (mm) 1500

Body Weight (kg)

Body Weight (kg)

100

N/A

ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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N/A

busnews.com.au

5/10/2020 6:48:08 AM

ADDRESS:

WEB:

Yutong Australia Head Office: 34 Mount Erin Road, Campbelltown, NSW, Australia, 2560

www.yutong.com.au Sales Enquires : Lou Riccardi Phone: (02) 8007 6310 Mobile: (0411) 426 148 Email: newsales@yutong.com.au

One & Two Door City Bus (TfNSW Approved)

MAKE: YUTONG

MODEL: D12 ULF

MAKE: YUTONG

APPLICATION: ULF – CITY BUS

MODEL: E12 FULL ELECTRIC

APPLICATION: ULF – CITY BUS

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

CHASSIS DIMENSIONS:

BODY OPTIONS:

Chassis Length (metres)

12490

Wheelchair Lift Access

Yes

Chassis Length (mm)

12470

Standard

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

6490

CD/PA/Radio

Standard

Chassis Wheelbase (mm)

6300

Wheelchair Lift Access CD/PA/Radio

Standard

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

2700

DVD/TV

Optional

Chassis Front Overhang (mm)

2740

DVD/TV

Standard

Toilet

No

Chassis Rear Overhang 3430 (mm)

Toilet

N/A

Individual Reading Lights

No

Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

Individual Reading Lights

N/A

Individual AC Vents

No

Individual AC Vents

N/A

Reverse Camera

Standard

Standard

Chassis Rear Overhang 3300 (mm) Chassis Turning Circle Diameter (metres)

NS

ENGINE: Make / Model

Cummins/ISL8.9E5320B

Configuration

Turbocharged

Power (HP / kW)

315/235

Torque (Nm)

1350 @ 1000-1600

Bore and Stroke

NS

Compression Ratio

NS

Fuel Capacity (litres)

300

Oil Capacity (litres) Emissions

NS Euro 5

Automatic Trans Make/ ZF/6AP1400B/6 speed Model/ Description Manual Trans Make/ Model/ Description

N/A

ENGINE: Make / Model

Yutong - YTM280-CV9-H

Reverse Camera

Other (please specify) NS

Configuration

Full Electric

Other (please specify) Standard

SEATING:

Power (HP / kW)

350 / 469

SEATING:

Torque (Nm)

3200

Seating Capacity

45 / 45

Passenger Capacity

60 / 65

Fixed Coach

Metro

Seating Capacity

44+1

Passenger Capacity

65

Fixed Coach

Metro

SEATING OPTIONS: Seating Make

Yutong

Seating Model

NS

Seatbelts

No

Bore and Stroke

Front Make / Model / Desc.

ZF/NS/Disc brake

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

ZF/NS/Disc brake, differential rate 5.13

Nil

Fuel Capacity (litres)

422kwh / 350kwh

Seating Make

Yutong

Oil Capacity (litres)

Nil

Seating Model

8ma / Protean

ZERO

Seatbelts

Non-Seat Belted

Type – Front

Air bag with kneeling function

Side Bins

No

Type – Rear

Air bag with kneeling function

Thru Bins

No

BRAKES:

Internal Luggage Bins No

Automatic Trans

N/A

Manual Trans

N/A

SUSPENSION:

Four spring electronically controlled air suspension

Side Bins

No

Thru Bins

No

Internal Luggage Bins No

BRAKES: Service Brakes

Front Disc / Rear Disc

Retarding Brake System

Yes

EBS

Standard

AIR-CONDITIONING: Yes

EBS

NS

Air-Conditioning Standard Air-Conditioning Make

CAN system controlled Kelin cool&hot roof mounted

BODY DIMENSIONS:

NS

2500

Body Height (metres)

3150

Body Floor Height (mm) NS Body Weight (kg)

busnews.com.au

Yutong C&B 2020.indd 101

11400

Air-Conditioning Model

ZF/ZFAV132T/NS Disc Brake

Type – Rear

WABCO ABS

Body Width (metres)

Rear Make / Model / Desc.

STORAGE:

Retarding Brake System

12490

ZF/ZFRL85A/NS Disc Brake

Two spring electronically controlled air suspension

Disc

Body Length (metres)

Front Make / Model / Desc.

Type – Front

Service Brakes

BODY DIMENSIONS:

SEATING OPTIONS:

AXLES:

TRANSMISSION:

STORAGE:

SUSPENSION:

Nil

Compression Ratio

Emissions

AXLES:

TRANSMISSION:

≤ 23

Body Length (mm)

12470

Body Width (mm)

2500

Body Height (mm)

3445

AIR-CONDITIONING: Air-Conditioning Standard

Heat/Cool

Air-Conditioning Make

Cling

Air-Conditioning Model Not Available

Body Floor Height (mm) 310 Body Weight (kg)

N/A

ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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5/10/2020 6:48:18 AM

DELIVERIES

2020

Huge yearly deliveries growth despite looming pandemic Only Covid-19 could put the brakes on expanding bus and coach delivery numbers, exclusive ABC data shows.

B

us and coach deliveries data shows huge year-onyear growth for the past financial year ending June 30, 2020, despite the latter months being impacted by the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The period ends with 1,520 deliveries (an average of about 127 per month), much higher than FY19’s 1,288, which was already more than 100 more than the year before.

For the chassis sector, market leaders Volvo and Scania both increased their yearly tallies by around 100 each on the previous year. Positively, there were also triple-figure tallies for Mercedes-Benz, BCI and Yutong, while Australian Bus Corporation’s (ABC’s) Bustech brand more than doubled its year-on-year count.

The body building market was busy due to recent consolidation in the sector. Volgren recorded near identical deliveries figures to last year, plus some more from partner firm Supportrans, but a serious challenger emerged in the form of ABC, which now comprises the Bustech, Precision 102

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Buses and Elphinstone brands. Those three would have combined for more than 250 deliveries in the past financial year. There were also strong triple-figure showings from Custom Bus, BCI, Irizar and Yutong.

The air-conditioning sector followed the trends of recent years with Thermo King still reigning supreme and increasing its tally to nearly 700. Usual place-getters Spheros and Hispacold also increased their yearly tallies.

It should be noted this sector had more than 60 deliveries unaccounted for by our sources.

Data shows Victoria leapfrogged NSW last year as the state most heavily invested in the bus market, rising from 26 to 28 per cent. NSW dropped from 36 to 26 per cent. WA also swapped places with Queensland to third, rising from 14 to 18 per cent, while the latter dropped a percentage point to 17 per cent. The remaining 11 per cent was split amongst the rest of the country.

Please note all data is as supplied from manufacturers, with their involvement at their discretion. busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 1:26:41 PM

Volgren 443 Bustech 177 Custom Bus 139 BCI 136 Irizar 120 Yutong 104 Precision Buses 58 Gemilang 53 Express Coaches 48 Scania Higer 47 Coach Design 34 Bonluck 32 Elphinstone 25

SALES BY BODY

Coach Concepts 20 JBUS 18

The body building market was busy due to recent consolidation in the sector. Volgren recorded near identical deliveries figures to last year, plus some more from partner firm Supportrans, but a serious challenger emerged in the form of ABC, which now comprises the Bustech, Precision Buses and Elphinstone brands. Those three would have combined for more than 250 deliveries in the past financial year. There were also strong triple-figure showings from Custom Bus, BCI, Irizar and Yutong.

Supportrans 18 P&D Coachworks 17 Marcopolo 11 N/A 7 Omnibus/TOST 6 Challenger 4 King Long 3

% 3% 3 ACT

4% TAS

1% NT

SA

28% VIC

17% QLD

Percentage by

REGION

18% WA

26%

%

SALES BY AIR-CONDITIONER

The air-conditioning sector followed the trends of recent years with Thermo King still reigning supreme and increasing its tally to nearly 700. Usual place-getters Spheros and Hispacold also increased their yearly tallies.

It should be noted this sector had more than 60 deliveries unaccounted for by our sources.

Themo King Spheros Hispacold Yutong/Cling Coachair MCC N/A Konvekta

688 231 155 93 81 68 67 46

Denso Valeo Cooltek Kingtec Eberspacher Klein Lou Air

41 21 10 6 5 5 3

NSW

VOLVO 535 SCANIA 466 MERCEDES-BENZ 125 BCI 106 YUTONG 104 ABC (BUSTECH) 83 HINO 36 BONLUCK 28

Sales by Chassis

MAN 22

For the chassis sector, market leaders Volvo and Scania both increased their yearly tallies by around 100 each on the previous year. Positively, there were also triple-figure tallies for Mercedes-Benz, BCI and Yutong, while Australian Bus Corporation’s (ABC’s) Bustech brand more than doubled its year-on-year count. busnews.com.au

BusSearch_2020_102-103_DEL FC.indd 103

IVECO 6 I-BUS 5 CHALLENGER 4

ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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6/10/2020 1:26:58 PM

SUPPLIERS

SEATING, AIRCON + PARTS & ACCESSORIES

HIGH QUALITY BUS & COACH AIR BAG SUSPENSION

A

irbags Australia Pty Ltd is an Australian manufacturer and distributor of quality, internationally recognised air bags used in the suspension of buses, trucks and other applications.

Located in Adelaide, Airbags Australia’s products are well recognised in the aftermarket air bags/suspension parts industry, it states. The company says it is committed to its products, competitive prices and reliable and responsive client service, and as a result it is the preferred supplier of air bags to the majority of the public transport authorities in Australia.

Airbags Australia’s wide range of clients extends from large transport authorities to smaller fleet operators, it confirms.

A System ISO 9001 endorsed company, it says that its air bags can reduce maintenance costs and come with a two-year warranty.

The company was established in Adelaide in 1994 when its owners relocated to South Australia after operating a successful business of designing, producing and distributing air suspension products in Europe for more than 11 years.

Airbags Australia now plays an importing role in the Australian aftermarket industry, designing and manufacturing automotive air bags, bellows and rubber components that are sold both directly and through dealers, it states.

Also, the company is a proud member of the Australian Made Campaign.

FOR BUSES Airbags Australia produces a range of BUSCAT air bags to be used as replacement parts in buses and trucks.

BUSCAT air bags are produced to the highest standards and are made of the best quality rubber and rubber substitutes to ensure long life under arduous bus and coach travel conditions. BUSCAT air bags significantly reduce ongoing maintenance costs of bus fleets, says Airbags Australia.

The BUSCAT range of air bags is suitable for many bus models such as MercedesBenz, Volvo, Renault, MAN and Scania, to name but a few.

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ABC-QV-5164982-TS-20

PROUDLY AUSTRALIAN

SINCE 1994

OUR PERFORMANCE IS YOUR CONFIDENCE Proven reduced maintenance costs, competitive prices, reliable and responsive client service.

P: +61 8 8384 6433 F: +61 8 8326 6433 E: info@airbagsaustralia.com.au

www.airbagsaustralia.com.au

busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 1:36:35 PM

Australia’s No 1 Bus Parts Supplier Whites Diesels has been reborn as the new Tranzmile Whites Diesels, with new owners and new branches. Our commitment to servicing bus owners around Australia hasn’t changed though. Our new team is committed to being the No 1 supplier of parts for buses in Australia.

Now that Whites Diesels is a part of the Tranzmile Group, our customers will gain access to more stock, more branch locations and a better level of service, all combined with the 25 years of experience and stock holdings of the old Whites Diesels you used to know.

MAN

VOLVO

MERCEDES BUS

SCANIA

DAEWOO

ALL MAKES

www.whitesdiesels.com.au Sydney 19 Memorial Ave, Ingleburn NSW

Townsville 1/585 Ingham Rd, Mount St John QLD

| www.tranzmile.com.au

Yatala 4 Computer Rd, Yatala Qld

Delivery Australia Wide CallAustralia 1300 657Wide 645 Delivery

Wacol 1262 Boundary Rd, Wacol Qld

Burnett 4 Barron Park Dr, Kingaroy Qld

Call 1300 657 645

ABC BD 2020 105-114.indd 105

5/10/20 9:26 am

SUPPLIERS

SEATING, AIRCON + PARTS & ACCESSORIES

FRY’S SPARES – EXPANDED OFFERING

F

ry’s Spares has had a few changes over the past few years, from broadening its product lines to sharpening up prices. Throughout, it has managed to give the same service with quality products and affordable parts for the past 44 years.

“We have a new line of wiper blades that will fit every type of bus and vehicle that takes a 1,000mm wiper blade, at an amazing price, and further discounts for quantities is available,” said MD Mark Fry. Fry’s has had more quality suppliers coming on board, including Febi Bilstein, Borg and Beck (firstline), Bosch, Valeo and many more.

It has had challenges like every family run business out there due to the current climate, but it remains steadfast in its commitment to

service both the automotive and heavy vehicle industries, with the same dedication it has always had.

For more information, contact Fry’s Spares at its New South Wales Crow’s Nest store on (02) 9438 4588, or Queensland Acacia Ridge store on (07) 3373 8099.

“Fry’s remains steadfast in its commitment to service both the automotive and heavy vehicle industries.”

All you need and the rest...

• Wiper Systems & Components • Rocker Switches • Column Switches • Mirrors • Filters • Drivers blinds • Bosch • Hella National Enquires: 1800 379 777 106

ABC 2020 BUS SEARCH BUYERS’ GUIDE

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BPG-HH-5164976-TS-016-XCC

NATIONWIDE DISTRIBUTORS OF

Suppliers of Leading European brands SWF • Trico • Zimmerman • Mann Filter • BEHR Thermatic NSW (02) 9438 4588 QLD (07) 3373 8099

sales@frysspares.com www.frysspares.com busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 1:42:28 PM

● Windsceen Wiper & Washer Systems ● Mirrors ● Interior Lighting

● Rocker Switches ● Column Stalks ● Relays ● Hardware ● Ventilation

KIRG Importers has been supplying quality components to the bus and coach industry in Australasia for over 20 years. Our experienced staff will provide the best solution for your parts requirements!

ABC BD 2020.als - Base Edition 107

NBS-FP-5164938-CS-018

● Grab Handles ●Toilets and Components ● Pumps

7/10/20 9:38 am

SUPPLIERS

SEATING, AIRCON + PARTS & ACCESSORIES

ELECTRIFICATION INNOVATION

Valeo has a comprehensive range of solutions for all bus and coach models – whether electric or hybrid – across all geographies and climates.

T

he demands placed on HVAC systems are more complex and differentiated than ever, and present a new challenge to manufacturers. Valeo places emphasis on the integration and interplay of innovative air conditioning components, including newly developed control software, especially for the strongly growing market for electronic drives.

Valeo markets a full range of e-bus solutions in the HVAC sector for all climate zones, any bus size and market requirement, it states.

REVO-E GLOBAL The REVO-E Global product family of electric roof units plays a leading role in electric- and hybrid-bus HVAC systems.

Their modular design makes them adaptable to the full spectrum of customer needs, says Valeo. Special emphasis has been placed on keeping the weight of the structure light, extending the output range and simplifying installation, it explains.

A heat-pump option and/or heating components make it possible to boost the vehicle’s range. Thanks to the fully automatic defrosting feature, the heat pump works even when the outside temperature falls precipitously, Valeo says.

The REVO-E Global electric roof unit is affordable to run and with its hermetically sealed refrigeration circuit, REVO-E Global requires virtually zero maintenance and is leak proof, Valeo adds.

SPUMP S120 Valeo has supplemented its latest generation of SPump circulation pumps with a 120W version that is particularly suitable for smaller water circuits. It provides the high performance required for e-bus applications with a flow rate of 4,000L/hour @ 0.35 bar. The 120W model has 40 per cent fewer individual parts, making it the lightest weight and most compact circulation pump of its kind within the product family, Valeo states.

Versions with pulse-width modulation (PWM) and CAN (interface) offer decisive

advantages for the customer: both have variable speed control, enabling optimum coordination with the main vehicle system and reducing energy consumption while increasing the vehicle’s range. In addition, an intelligent diagnostic function in the pump sends early warning signals by automatic error detection and transmits key operating data.

Due to the extended ambient temperature range of up to 95°C and a lifetime of min 30,000 hours, Valeo’s SPump is the best solution for water pumps worldwide, it says.

E-COOLER BTM Valeo offers a full range of battery thermal management systems covering versions with either 5, 8 or 10kW. E-Cooler cools the battery during the charging or discharging process and during the journey at higher ambient temperatures. Depending on the outside temperature, it cools in two different ways.

At about 15°C or less, the system uses the low ambient temperature for an energysaving cooling mode (passive cooling). At higher outside temperatures the E-Cooler automatically switches to an active cooling circuit (active cooling).

The standalone solution with a complete coolant circuit including electric heating and water pump is modular and can be regulated according to the energy demand, Valeo explains.

UV PURIFIER Valeo’s UV purifier system eliminates, in a single airflow cycle, more than 95 per cent of viruses, including Covid-19, as well as any bacteria or mould present in the air circulating in the cabin, the company says.

The Valeo devices are available as a standalone solution box or they can be directly integrated into the vehicle’s air conditioning systems, it adds.

Valeo has created a unique solution integrating a UV light and a ‘light labyrinth’, which blocks the UV rays from spreading outside of the metal box, ensuring that passengers are never exposed to them.

Only the air circulating in the ventilation box is purified by the light., Valeo says.

EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE Valeo Thermal Bus Service network offers best access to attractive and high-quality services and products. Qualified training sessions and extensive technical literature is available to inform customers in a fast and reliable way, it says.

As a global supplier to the bus industry, Valeo Thermal Bus operates a network of its own development, production and sales facilities on five continents.

For more information, contact: Valeo Thermal Commercial Vehicles Australia Pty Ltd on +61 3 97 06 00 84, or by email: ths.mel1-reception.mailbox@valeo.com.

Visit: www.valeo-thermalbus.com

“Valeo places emphasis on the integration and interplay of innovative air conditioning components.”

Right: Valeo markets a full range of e-bus solutions in the HVAC sector.

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busnews.com.au

6/10/2020 1:45:45 PM

SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR SMARTER MOBILITY

BEST BUS CLIMATE SYSTEMS German Engineered Loved in Australia & New Zealand We stand for customised total solutions for air conditioners as well as heating systems and roof hatches. Our expertise from over 60 years of experience has enabled us to become one of the leading development and system partners in the bus industry worldwide.

UV PURIFIER – Anti Virus System • Virus inactivation rate more than 95% • Highest safety standard • Fully autonomous system flexibly applicable to all bus types

SPump S120 • 100% Valeo in-house development • CAN/PWM features • Full diagnosis • Longlife operation

Visit us, wherever you are

ABC BD 2020 105-114.indd 109

REVO®-E Global

E-Cooler • Full range of Battery Thermal Manage-

• Size Dimensions 3,100 x 1,900 x 295 mm • Weight 230 - 250 kg

ment System 5/10kW • Active/passive cooling and heating

• Cooling capacity R 134a/R 407c: 23/30 kW • Heat pump capacity R 134a/R 407c: 13/19 kW

+61 3 97 06 00 84 WWW.VALEO-THERMALBUS.COM

5/10/20 9:26 am

THE CCTV & SPARE PART SPECIALISTS ARE YOUR BIGGEST ASSETS PROTECTED? DIRECTION (AUS)

NTS

1 OF 1

KUB4X2-7-C -2-1

 Protect your fleet  Protect your staff

EXAMPLE OF AN 8 CAMERA SYSTEM

CCTV footage doesn’t lie.

Talk to us about making your biggest assets secure

FEATURES

 Flexible options for every bus  Drivers panic buttons  Full installation  Remote live view & hosting  Real time & historical playback  Mobile app  Driver Fatigue Monitoring

03 9872 6673

parts@partssupply.com.au www.partssupply.com.au PARTS SUPPLY SOLUTIONS IS A FULLY LICENSED SECURITY COMPANY

ABC BD 2020 105-114.indd 110

5/10/20 9:26 am

NEW! NEXT GENERATION DESTINATION DISPLAYS FROM HANOVER Slimmer and lighter than our previous range of LED signs. Hanover’s G4 destination displays again set the global standard by offering an efficient, reliable and cost effective solution.

POWER SUPPLY Hanover G4 LED displays use our most efficient and lowest profile power supplies to date.

SURFACE MOUNT LEDs G4 displays use the very latest generation of Surface Mount LEDs, providing the best efficiency available and allowing for a slimmer case design.

PROCESSOR Our G4 display processor supports all previous generation display features and now includes IP connectivity as an standard option.

HANOVERDISPLAYS.COM +613 9872 6673 parts@partssupply.com.au

ABC BD 2020 105-114.indd 111

ULTRA THIN DESIGN Our new ultra thin, lightweight design enables easier installation and supports savings on fuel consumption.

5/10/20 9:26 am

OUR BUS SOLUTIONS

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY Uniquely positioned to deliver a full range of hardware and software, as well as integration and support services, Luminator provides tangible benefits to transportation operators and passengers: • By delivering meaningful real-time information to transport agencies and passengers – providing the intelligence needed to make informed decisions • Enhancing safety with comprehensive security, lighting and accessibility options • Ensuring on-going efficiency with solutions that are easy to maintain, update and operate Learn more about how Luminator is bringing intelligence, safety and efficiency to transport by visiting: www.luminator.com E sales@mobitec.com.au P (02) 9533 2000 A 10/85 Boundary Rd Mortdale 2223

9 Development and Engineering Centers across the Globe

ABC BD 2020 105-114.indd 112

Founded in 1928

Serving Customers in over 85 Countries

5/10/20 9:26 am

SEATING, AIRCON + PARTS & ACCESSORIES

SUPPLIERS

ISRINGHAUSEN - INNOVATIVE SEATING SYSTEMS

F

or decades, German company Isringhausen has supplied ISRI driver seats in original equipment quality that meet an array of vehicle manufacturer’s requirements and specifications, it says. Millions of drivers place their trust in the quality of ISRI products, the company says.

ISRI seats are also available as an aftermarket option for various trucks, buses and coaches and earthmoving equipment.

Isringhausen Pty Ltd provides sales, service and spare parts for ISRI seats to its Sydney customers, as well as providing these services to the Australian and New Zealand dealer network from its facility in Wetherill Park, Sydney.

Isringhausen says that it is the global market leader in the development and manufacture of innovative seating systems for commercial vehicles, as well as technical springs. Fifty-two plants across 20 countries form the backbone of its manufacturing infrastructure.

The company has operated since 1919, when it began as a manufacturer of bicycle seats and springs. ISRI designed the first automatic self-levelling air suspension seat for commercial vehicles in 1972.

ISRI IN AUSTRALIA ISRI seats was sold in Australia by a licensee from 1977 until 1993, when the decision was made to establish a wholly owned subsidiary of Isringhausen in Australia.

ISRI drivers seats are now fitted to 90 per cent of new buses and coaches built in Australia, says Isringhausen, with a product range from static seats to fully featured air suspension seats with integrated lap-sash seat belts and driveradjustable shock absorber.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ISRI seats are designed to meet or exceed internationally recognised ergonomic and safety standards, says the company, which is certified to the ISO9001 and QS9000 Quality Standards.

At the Isringhausen head office and factory in Lemgo, Germany, approximately 140 persons are actively engaged in product research, design, testing and development. busnews.com.au

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ABC-FP-5173930-TS-368

Creating Australia’s best seats.

Executive (full leather)

Explorer (verve range)

Educator 2 / 3

Designing and Manufacturing seats in Australia for over 60 years McConnell is the largest designer and manufacturer of transport seating in Australia.

Achieving this level of success while remaining a locally operated company is a testament to the quality of our product and the integrity and service of our dedicated team.

5 across School Safe

E: info@mcconnellseats.com.au 130 Northcorp Blvd Broadmeadows VIC 3047 T: + 61 3 9350 7277 and

mcconnellseats.com.au

ABC BD 2020 105-114.indd 114

McConnell is a wholly owned subsidiary of APM Group of Companies

5/10/20 9:26 am

ABC BD 2020.als - Base Edition 115

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ABC BD 2020.als - Base Edition 116

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