Coach & Bus issue 24

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HOT LONG BLACK MEET KING LONG'S LATEST COACH CREATION OPERATOR: Tassielink INTERNATIONAL: MAN Lion's Intercity TECH: Cam Mirrors INDUSTRY: Scania Driver Award launched

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001Driver’s Seat

Fabian Cotter

“Doors may close but many more - or at least different ones - could open, so the trick will be to look for new market opportunities.”

B

REXIT, HUH? Well, that escalated quickly... Regardless of which side you barracked for – that is, even if you knew it was happening at all or what it exactly meant (plenty didn’t, it sounds like) – it just goes to prove that world trade markets and economies can get flipped upside down in a hurry and the ramifications of which won’t be fully felt for months or years or longer.

But that fortunately – and many are saying unfortunately, quite disturbingly - is democracy and there have been plenty of people who have given their lives for that principal, so the least that can be done is to see the result actioned out and the dice rolled. And this may not be such a bad thing; reading between the lines there are more than a few select experts that are noting people, companies, countries still have vested interests to do business with each other and who is to say such agreements and methodologies may not end up more efficient and refined and pragmatically beneficial for all parties involved?

Still the global coach and bus industry will be affected to varying degrees depending on a particular region’s connection to both the EU or the UK – or whatever the latter turns out to be, according to the scaremongers.

Doors may close but many more - or at least different ones - could open, so the trick will be to look for new market opportunities.

Speaking of which, there’s been recent fanfare about this concept ‘bus’ from China, technically known as the Transit Elevated Bus (TEB). You know the one, it drives ‘over’ the road and cars drive ‘under’ it – safely, of course. There couldn’t possibly be anything that could go wrong, could there?

Anyway, the concept has has been kicking around for a few years; so long in fact that when Coach & Bus magazine was starting and I was looking for some cool techie stuff, there wasn’t even high-resolution images of this ‘bus’ and the low-def video going around back then arguably raised more questions about its safe and successful use than it did answer them. Fast forward to 2016 and I’m still not convinced...

Close-up technical annotations show what looks like electric motor-driven train or tram wheels, so presumably some sort of track system will need to be laid; it has an undervehicle roof height of 7.22ft, but a tall Sprinter van is about 8ft, for example – let alone larger commercial vehicles on the same roads as the TEB. Anyway, the idea’s had a second wind and a trial in China is due to take place later this year, apparently. Let’s see what happens.

This issue we have some bumper things for you to sink your teeth into. Our coverstory sees the latest coach offering from King Long Australia for the hotly contested Australasian coach market, with the company’s new 6130CY body on Volvo B11R chassis giving customers a Euro feel for an ‘Asian’ (?) price, as it were. It will be interesting to see how sales of this go over the next 12 to 18 months.

The Scania Driver Competitions are upon us again and this industry-excellence initiative can only be a good thing for us all, and importantly is a way for drivers to get something back for their great efforts, so ensure your people apply to enter today.

We also check out the new BCI Bus facility in Melbourne, which has been running since mid last year but only now is fully completed in this the company’s 25th birthday year, plus

The Transit Elevated Bus (TEB) in China will undergo its first real-world trail later this year, apparently.

we visit Tassielink Transit on the beautiful Apple Isle to see how the latest Scania and Bustech product is helping them serve the healthy tourism market better.

Wowing people at the 2015 Busworld Kortjik Show in Belgium was the new MAN Lion’s Intercity bus, which has already won design awards, so we have a quick squiz at it here, plus we look at how digital cameras are changing the way ‘vision’ around our commercial vehicles is being interpreted, from a safer driving point of view.

And finally we finish our chat with Scania’s Julian Gurney and Trevor O’Brien in Part II of our 60 Minutes With interview, discussing bus safety, non-genuine aftermarket parts, all things Euro6 and the company’s telematics technology.

Yep, it’s been a crazy past few months and change seems to be the way of the world right now, as it always probably has been affecting our families, lives, business relationships and fast-food menu choices no doubt. And even for this magazine itself.

So, and even though my translation skills are a little rusty these days, I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes from the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tsu, which goes a little something like: “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” Ciao!

Until the next thrilling instalment...

Issue 024

Contents Regulars

CONTACT DETAILS PO Box 3294 Erina, NSW 2250 www.truckandbus.net.au

01 04 18 61 62 64

Enquiries Tel: 0411 099 091 Follow us on Twitter #truckandbusnews Managing Editor/Editor Fabian Cotter fabian@truckandbus.net.au Art Director Luke Melbourne www.groeningdesigns.com.au Advertising Sales E: coachandbus@adexec.com T: Lauryn McGuiness, 0404 058 380 Contributing Writers Chris Smith, David Meredith, Sven-Erik Lindstrand, Allen Matzel Contributing Photographers Mark Bean, Cristian Brunelli, Jan Glovac, David Meredith, Chris Smith, Paul Jakubicki, Matthew Everingham Coach & Bus magazine is produced under license by the Truck Power Media Group Pty Ltd. ABN 85 122 374 547 six times per year and is distributed to bus and coach operators, business professionals and the industry throughout Australia.

All material contained herein including text, photography, design elements and format are copyright and cannot be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Truck Power Media Group is a member of the Copyright Agency Limited (1800 066 844).

Driver’s Seat

It’s been a crazy time in the world with Brexit, over-road Chinese buses and other random stuff. Editor Cotter chews the fat.

Up Front

We wrap up the key local and international bus and coach news that affects us as a global industry and where we are heading.

In Depth – Bus Art For Change

TREND: At least one state or territory government is fighting back at graffiti with paint itself by endorsing local artists to beautify bus stops with attractive, tourist-friendly artworks. Could and should this initiative be rolled out nationwide? Fabian Cotter reports.

Hot Stuff – Gadgets on the Go

If you are past Lego and Meccano then these trick gadgets on the go are hard to resist. You may not need them, but you’ll certainly want them. Or is that vice-versa?

Company Car

FIRST LOOK: Pricing for the new 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is announced and the specs look pretty damned good. Fabian Cotter reports.

Money

It’s often a taboo subject around the camp-fire, but talking all things superannuation is probably best brought out in the open and tackled with gusto. Don’t be afraid of it! Get it sorted, says our financial guru Paul Clitheroe.

Interview

49

60 Minutes With...

INTERVIEW: In Part 2 of our interview with Scania Bus Australia’s Julian Gurney and Trevor O’Brien, we talk bus safety, non-genuine parts, and Scania telematics. Editor Cotter continues that chat.

Editorial contributions are welcome for consideration. Contact the Editor for guidelines, fees and level of interest.

All unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by a stamp, addressed envelope for their return. We will not be held responsible for material supplied electronically.

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Busworld 2015 Kortrijk, Belgium EPIC SHOW REPORT

tar BUS Shining SPresidential T RD-WINNING DAIMLER'S AWA HERE! CITARO IS FINALLY INTERVIEW: Nikki Brouwers

NEWS: Volgren Double-Deck

Sweet

EVENT: 61st UITP Milan,

2015

TECH: Solar Roads Concept

ECH

MEET BONLUCK'S Aussie electric CLASSY AFFAIR bus reveal ed!

- Futureproof? Cheaper

30/03/2016 5:40 PM pm 25/06/2015 10:20

CBT20_p000_COV.indd

1

than diesel?

EVENT: IT-TRANS, 2016 - Germany INTERVIEW: SCANIA's Julian GurneyInterview: and TrevorSean O’Brien Copeland Tech: Scania Mega Artic Bus Seats Operator: INTERNATIONAL: Irizar i8 revealed OPERATOR: Transwa TECH: VOLVO'sGuide: VDS system Metro Tasmania CBT23_p000_COV.indd 1 CBT22_p000_COV.indd

1

22/12/2015 7:34 PM

coach&bus 46

“Lion’s Intercity already meets the standard ECE R66.02 applicable from 2017, a particularly stringent passive safety requirement.”

Features

20

The Upper Hand

28

2016 Scania Driver Competition

34

COVERSTORY: Keen to enter the luxury coach market and tackle the big Euros, China-based King Long partnered with Volvo locally to produce a very special coach. Fabian Cotter reports.

EVENT: It’s on again, the quest to find out who is Australia’s best bus and coach driver for 2016. The Scania Drivers Competition pits the best against the best, but you have to be in it to win it. And it’s not too late.

Fabian Cotter checks it out.

Up and Running

FEATURE: Perth-headquartered BCI Bus opened a stunning new 4500m2 facility in Melbourne last July and it’s fittingly hitting its straps now in the company’s 25th Anniversary year. Fabian Cotter reports.

38 44 56

The Missing Link

OPERATOR: Tassielink has been doing great things on the Apple Isle now for quite a long while and it’s added new Scania-Bustech product to help ensure it continues to accommodate the huge backpacker tourism market using its services each day. Fabian Cotter reports.

Split Personality

INTERNATIONAL: Recently debuted at Busworld, Kortrijk 2015, the new MAN Lion’s Intercity is already a multi-award winner that’s giving more bus users a more comfortable coach-like experience. Fabian Cotter takes a quick look.

Transvision Vamp

TECH: We rely so much on screens and digital cameras these days for what we ‘see’ that it seems almost inevitable they would be used for vision enhancement while we are driving commercial vehicles. Fabian Cotter checks out how mirror use is changing for trucks and buses.

UpFront

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A NEW MINING BOOM – GOOD OR BAD NEWS? EXPERTS ARE PREDICTING a new type of mining boom in bauxite for Australia, which could have a positive effect on bus and coach sales in those areas.

According to mining giant Rio Tinto, and as reported recently in The Sydney Morning Herald, Chinese construction is set to drive a 15-year bauxite mining boom here.

Alf Barrios, head of Rio Tinto’s aluminium unit, is quoted as stating global demand is already growing rapidly and will outpace the 4 percent-a-year growth Rio forecasts for aluminium in the medium-to-longer

term. The company states it is spending $US1.9 billion ($2.6 billion) to raise output to tap the opportunity.

“Bauxite is a different story,” Barrios said in an interview posted on Rio’s website. “China’s bauxite demand growth is forecast to be significant over the next 15 years, and it is something we are very keen to capture.”

The 2015-approved Rio Amrun development on Queensland’s Cape York peninsula will produce about 23 million tons from 2019, which should offset declines at an existing operation and raise total output by 10 million

tons a year.

Barrios explained that China has raised annual imports from 2.2 million tons to 50 million tons in the past decade, as the quality and volume of its domestic sources of supply deteriorates. With further growth forecast and rival suppliers in Malaysia and Indonesia restricted by limits on raw material exports, Australia is seen as poised to benefit, it’s claimed.

Australian exports may rise at an average of 36 per cent a year between fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2021, according to the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

Bauxite is a mined material that’s processed into alumina, an intermediate product that’s further refined into aluminium.

“In the medium to longer term, aluminium is one of the fastestgrowing metals,” Barrios said.

Use of aluminium in vehicles is likely to account for about half of demand growth in the next 15 years, according to Barrios. Aluminium alloys are about one-third the weight of steel, meaning automakers are increasingly turning to the materials to boost efforts to lower vehicle weights and meet more stringent fuel-efficiency standards.

BAUXITE’S BOOM

Bauxite exports from Australia are poised to soar through fiscal 2021 60m tons 55 50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

2016

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2017

2018

Source: Australia’s Department of Industry, Innovation and Science

2019

2020

2021

CLASSIC CONCERTS ON AN ELECTRIC BUS CHILDERN FROM THE Side by Side

by El Sistema International Music Camp gave concerts on electric bus route 55 in Gothenburg, Sweden, recently. The concerts were the result of a cooperative venture between the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, and ElectriCity.

Passengers travelling on electric bus route 55 on June 16 and 17 could listen as youngsters from all over the world

play a variety of classical instruments.

The concerts were being held to draw attention to the international music camp, Side by Side by El Sistema, held in Gothenburg on June 15-18, 2016. The camp is part of the global El Sistema music school, which seeks to promote positive social change in the lives of children and youths through music.

“The camp is a meeting-place for young people from all over the world,

where you gather around a common passion for music. Performing music on an electric bus is a different and exciting way of sharing your passion. The collaboration is a creative way of giving the youths an arena and the passengers a unique bus ride. The art can take place in the midst of society”, said Petra Kloo Vik, manager for Children/Youth Activities at the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra.

“This is a great way of showing what it is possible to do on board silent buses.

El Sistema and Side by Side are both doing very important work that we here at ElectriCity are happy to support by allowing young musicians to play on board the buses,” said Helena Lind, Media Relations manager Volvo Buses.

Sessions have been shared on social media and been viewed by more than 2.6 million people.

www.truckandbus.net.au 005

UpFront BUSVIC 2016 – LAST CHANCE!

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BUSVIC 2016 IS finally upon us and delegates are reminded to hurry for their last chance to register for the event.

The final programme is now released for the 62nd Maintenance Conference and Trade Show to be held at the Pullman Albert Park Melbourne, Thursday 7 and Friday 8 July, 2016.

KEY EVENT FEATURES: - Maintenance, technical & management conference sessions and workshops delivered within the exhibit, all on the one level.

- Dedicated school bus sessions.

- Ample amount of time for delegates to interact with leading industry suppliers and be brought up to date with the latest products, services and developments.

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- Catering and networking events held within the exhibit.

- Premium keynote speakers and entertainers as part of the two-day conference programme including Alisa Camplin AO, Mick Collis and Tom Gleeson.

- Industry gala dinner held at Pullman Ballroom on July 7 and networking drinks and canapĂŠs among the exhibit on July 8.

- Event app available to enable all delegates to further engage with event exhibitors and other delegates.

For further information and to register immediately, please visit http://www.busvic. asn.au/public/events/2015-maintenanceconference-and-bus-expo/ today!

Alternatively, contact organiser Craig Spurr on +61 3 9914 7011 +61 3 9914 7011, or email cspurr@busvic.asn.au

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www.truckandbus.net.au 051

UpFront

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KNORR BREMSE FACTORY TOUR USUALLY THE DOORS of the state-ofthe-art factory are closed for visitors, but recently Knorr Bremse opened its factory doors in Granville, Western Sydney, for customers, press and replacement parts experts of Whites Diesels.

The facility provides almost 16,000m2 of office and production space and the plant provides work for around 260 employees. The facilities in Granville represent a total investment of approximately €25 million.

The Knorr Bremse experts showed their production and test activities for rail and commercial vehicle brake components, IFE-Tebel door systems, and Sigma Heating Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems.

In the commercial vehicle systems sector, the Knorr Bremse product range includes complete braking systems with Driver Assistance System solutions, as well as powertrain-related solutions and transmission control systems for enhanced energy efficiency and fuel economy.

The site is the provider for OE and aftermarket services for brakes, doors and HVAC in Australia. In addition the warehouse stocks in excess of more than 30,000 products to support the diverse range of rail and commercial vehicles.

The Knorr Bremse Factory was built in 2013 and has been designed in line with the latest environmental and industrial health and safety findings.

Accolade Awarded

red with The Hon. Winner: Fiona Hemmings pictu for Transport and Andrew Constance - Minister a (ABCU) Infrastructure, and Tony La Rocc

BusNSW BRANCH DELEGATE Fiona Hennings won the 2016 Achiever Award, sponsored by Australia Bus Coach Underwriting. Hemmings has been the proprietor of a bus business servicing the New England district for more than 25 years.

Her Minibus has featured prominently in the local Quality Business Awards, being a finalist in 2000, 2006 & 2009 and winning in 2003, 2012 and 2015. Hemmings was also a regional finalist in the NSW Business Chamber of Commerce Regional awards in 2013 and 2014.

She has been innovative in diversifying the business to operate TfNSW contracted services, DEC services, charters and a range of self-drive options, and has a strong commitment to providing a high level of customer service, it’s stated. She has provided local operators with advice on contract and accreditation compliance, and is a qualified BOAS auditor.

Hemmings was a BusNSW representative in a national My Mentor programme, aimed at supporting women to make their personal and professional lives better in every way. The program included the most up-to-date processes for dealing with some key business issues for women, it’s stated.

VIEW OUR FULL RANGE ONLINE

www.kinglong.com.au TRANSPORTING AUSTRALIA Please visit

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Call or email us for further information NSW, QLD, WA & NT

VIC, ACT, SA & TAS

Anthony Fisicaro

Stephen Long Regional Sales Manager m. 0409 488 834 e. stephen@hvagroup.com.au

Chris Cordia Regional Sales Manager m. 0438 040 411 e. chris@hvagroup.com.au

General Manager

m. 0400 968 106 e. anthony@hvagroup.com.au

130-132 Freight Drive Somerton VIC Australia 3062 t. (03) 9305 2299 f. (03) 8339 0265 e. info@hvagroup.com.au

UpFront

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GUIDE DOGS MORE WELCOME ON QLD PUBLIC TRANSPORT THREE MOCK BUS stops were unveiled to help blind and vision impaired people navigate TransLink’s public transport network, coinciding with new laws which come into effect with International Guide Dogs Day, recently.

At Guide Dogs Queensland’s Training Centre in Bald Hills, Brisbane, for the official unveiling, Disability Services Minister Coralee O’Rourke said the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Amendment Act 2015 would make it easier for people with disability to get out and about.

“The new law will benefit people with disability by enabling them to increase their access and participation in the community,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“For example, children with autism can be supported by an alternative handler, usually a parent, to control their assistance dog in public places and on public transport.

“It will also protect people who rely on certified guide, hearing or assistance dogs from being segregated from other patrons, separated from their dog or being charged extra.

“Individual operators of public

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places or vehicles can now be fined up to $12,000 and corporations can be fined up to $59,000, for denying public access to certified dogs and their handlers.

“We’re committed to improving the lives of people with disability and we expect that the introduction of this legislation will do just that.”

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the replica bus stop installation would provide a training opportunity for blind and vision-impaired people and their guide dogs.

“Guide Dogs Queensland provides a vital service to the community and we are very pleased to assist with the ongoing training the association provides,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank Pryde Fabrication for building the stops and generously donating $10,000 to the project.

“The Queensland Government contributed $11,012 to the initiative which will give blind and vision impaired people added confidence to use public transport with their guide dogs.”

Guide Dogs Queensland chief executive officer Dan English said

International Guide Dogs Day was dedicated to recognising the unique partnership between a guide dog and its vision impaired handler.

“It’s really great to see that this year’s International Guide Dogs Day will mark the realisation of many years hard work between Guide Dogs and the government on legislation and subsequent amendments to provide a law that meets the needs of today’s guide dog handlers,” English said.

“For Guide Dogs Queensland, these amendments are all about slashing red tape and lengthy administrative processes so our dogs can start changing lives for the better as soon as possible.”

For more information on the Guide, Hearing and Assistance Dogs Amendment Act 2015 visit www.qld. gov.au/ghad

Driver fatigue final report release THE NATIONAL TRANSPORT Commission (NTC) recently released the Heavy Vehicle Driver Fatigue Data Final Report, which was endorsed by the Transport and Infrastructure Senior Officials Committee (TISOC).

Chief executive of the National Transport Commission Paul Retter said the final report incorporated stakeholder feedback on the discussion paper released in August last year.

“We know that fatigue is a major contributor to crashes but without more rigorous data we won’t know what reforms will reduce the problem and make Australia’s roads safer for everyone,” Retter said.

“The regulation of driver fatigue is a complex policy issue and more detailed research needs to be done on its causes and impacts.”

He said the fatigue data framework would help to ensure data about the frequency and impact of driver fatigue was collected in a consistent and comparable way across the nation’s states and territories.

The framework developed by the NTC will see four fatigue-related projects being pursued. These projects will: - conduct new research to evaluate the fatigue impact of the current laws; - develop nationally consistent definitions and measurements of fatigue; - analyse commercial data to evaluate the frequency and impact of fatigue regulations; - review road agencies’ ability to link crash data to driver accreditation.

Research activities will be conducted by the Alertness Safety and Productivity Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) who will conduct comparative research in both laboratory and field environments. This will include evaluating the accuracy of existing fatigue monitoring technology. Anyone interested in financially contributing to the CRC should contact them as soon as possible.

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UpFront

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FINNISH TEAM WINS VOLVO EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR THE SECOND TIME, Team Harju from Finland won VISTA 2016 – Volvo Trucks’ and Volvo Buses’ global competition for workshop personnel, recently. The winning team snared the honours thanks to its excellent teamwork and problemsolving ability, it’s claimed.

At a gala dinner on June 1 the winners of the Volvo International Service Training Award said: “This is unbelievable – I’m extremely proud and happy for my team,” explained Immo Harju, team leader of Team Harju.

“VISTA is always a very hard competition. If you want to be successful,

you must keep learning everyday. Even during the world final, we have been learning new things – so to win it again is amazing.”

The first part of the competition, in which the participants answered theory questions in three rounds, was held in September, November and February.

After that, the best teams went on to the regional semi-finals in April, from which 32 teams qualified for the global finals in Gothenburg, Sweden, on May 31–June 1.

VISTA is a competition that has only winners. The most important result is the competence development that the

competition promotes. The primary goal of VISTA is to develop and improve the participants’ know-how, skills and ability to cooperate. This in turn leads to improved quality in the work carried out at Volvo workshops around the world. Ultimately this means that VISTA contributes to improved customer service and increased customer satisfaction, the company states.

VISTA is a competition for workshop

personnel in Volvo Trucks’ and Volvo Buses’ global service network. It is the biggest competition of its kind in the world, bringing together more than 18,000 participants from 96 countries.

The competition started in 1957 in Sweden.

2016 2016 2016

MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE MAINTENANCE CONFERENCE CONFERENCE CONFERENCE AND AND ANDTRADE TRADE TRADESHOW SHOW SHOW

PULLMAN HOTEL, ALBERT PARK, MELBOURNE. JULY 2016 PULLMAN PULLMAN PULLMAN HOTEL, HOTEL, HOTEL, ALBERT ALBERT ALBERT PARK, PARK, PARK, MELBOURNE. MELBOURNE. MELBOURNE. JULY JULY JULY 77AND 7AND AND 7 AND 8,8,8, 2016 8, 2016 2016

Join us for BusVic’s 62nd Maintenance Conference and Trade Show; recognised as the industry’s leading exhibition, conference and networking event.

• Maintenance, technical & management conference sessions and workshops delivered within the exhibit, all on the one level.

• Ample amount of time for delegates to interact with leading industry suppliers and be brought up to date with the latest products, services and developments.

• Catering and networking events held within the exhibit.

• Premium keynote speakers and entertainers as part of the 2 day conference programme including Alisa Camplin, Mick Collis and Tom Gleeson.

• Industry gala dinner held at Pullman Ballroom on July 7, and networking drinks among the exhibit on July 8.

• Event app available to enable all delegates to further engage with event exhibitors and other delegates.

Registration now open.

Programme & further details at www.busvic.asn.au.

Contact Craig Spurr on (03) 9914 7011 or cspurr@busvic.asn.au

UpFront GAS-POWERED DOUBLE-DECK TEST READY A VIGOROUS TEST STAGE for the world’s first Euro6 double-deck natural gas-powered bus is underway ahead of delivery to the British market, slated for later this year.

The bus, developed by Scania and assembled in the United Kingdom by mi Vehicle Integration Limited and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), recently arrived at the Port of Gothenburg, Sweden, before being driven more than 400 kilometres to the Scania Technical Centre in Södertälje.

The bus was developed in response to customer demand, after the success of Scania’s single-deck model in the UK. The first order for five double-deck buses has been confirmed by Reading Buses, which already maintains a fleet of 34 Scania single-deck renewable natural gas (RNG) buses and was the first UK operator to begin

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running the single-deck variant in 2013.

“There is a significant interest with operators throughout the UK, and a number of serious inquiries are being processed by Scania Great Britain and Alexander Dennis,” explained Mark Oliver, Bus and Coach Fleet Sales manager for Scania Great Britain.

Oliver says a major challenge in developing the product was modifying the fuel system to ensure that the bus offers an acceptable range for operators. Fuel tanks for single-deck gas buses are often placed on the roof of the vehicle, a solution that, due to height restrictions, was not possible on the new double-deck model.

Like many diesel-powered double-deckers, some of the bus’ fuel supply is stored underneath the stairs behind the driver. However,

the majority of the gas is stored in a new compartment behind the upper passenger area.

Additionally, engineers also had to fit the gas engine into the double-decker’s smaller engine compartment and deal with increased heat output, according to Tudor Clipii, assignment manager for the project.

While in Södertälje, the bus will undergo numerous tests in which, among other things, the engine software and fuel consumption will be optimised.

In addition to being quieter than diesel models, the renewable natural gas bus will also produce much lower carbon emissions.

“We’re pleased that we’ve got a vehicle that uses fuel from a lowcarbon, sustainable fuel source, in both single and double deck models,” said Oliver.

MAN Publishes Revised Diagnostic Manual THE FOURTH EDITION of the reference book Principles of Commercial Vehicle Technology contains 578 pages and was published recently with expanded content and integrated digital features.

MAN engineers have been shaping the development of commercial vehicles for over 100 years. This knowledge and experience forms the basis for the handbook, which has become established as an important reference work for commercial vehicle technology over the past few years. Using a range of illustrations, graphics and tables, it conveys the basics of truck and bus technology for the practical work of trainers, engineers, drivers, experts, motor traffic technicians and fleet managers.

Subsequent to the success of the third edition in 2007, technological advancement has now made a new edition necessary. The fourth revised edition has been expanded to include current technical highlights, such as the MAN D3876 engine and the Turbo EVBec engine brake as well as assistance systems, such as GPSsupported cruise control or Emergency Brake Assist. The chapter on bus/ coach technology has been significantly expanded. ‘Future Technologies’ is a completely new chapter highlighting various spheres of activity for the design of future mobility.

MAN has now expanded the print edition with complementary digital content for the first time. The reader can access films and animations via corresponding QR codes that explain selected technical matters and complex commercial vehicle technologies with particular clarity. These films are also available at www.cv-technology.man.

The comprehensive 578-page book also includes a digital version on USB, with all chapters prepared in a userfriendly way and featuring bookmarks for easy navigation.

The book costs 94 Euros. The dictionary can be purchased at www. nutzfahrzeugtechnik-lehrbuch.man.

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FIRST YEAR OF VOLVO BUS RUNNING AFTER ONE YEAR of electric bus service on route 55 in Gothenburg, Sweden, Volvo Bus is claiming a massive success.

The buses and bus stops received a high rating by passengers and drivers alike, and the technology worked very dependably, it’s stated. Over the past year the service has carried about 1.2 million passengers. In time for the first anniversary of the electric bus route, global ICT provider Ericsson is now joining the ElectriCity partnership.

Traffic on route 55 in Gothenburg began in June 2015 and the green

electric buses soon became a common sight on the urban scene. Today the route between Chalmers and Lindholmen carries an average of 100,000 passengers a month. Surveys conducted by the ElectriCity partners reveal that both passengers and drivers appreciate the new electric bus route and that the vehicles, charging infrastructure and bus stops more than meet the highest expectations.

According to Public Transport Authority Västtrafik, passengers are generally very satisfied with the service. The fact that the buses run

on renewable electricity is regarded favourably, and the bus stops at Chalmersplatsen and Teknikgatan are rated very highly. About 80 per cent of passengers appreciate the free WiFi on board, and no less than 93 per cent feel that the low on-board noise level is a great benefit. Measurements carried out by Volvo confirm these perceptions and show considerable differences in noise between diesel and electric power, both inside and outside the buses, particularly at low speeds.

Surveys carried out by bus operator

Keolis show that the bus drivers also feel the low noise level is one of the biggest advantages of electric power, both because it contributes to a better working environment and because it is appreciated by the passengers. The fact that the buses are equipped with zone management which automatically limits speed in certain areas is regarded as positive and boosts safety.

Route 55 is not only Gothenburg’s first route serviced by electric buses, it is above all an arena for showcasing the latest technologies and for developing emerging solutions.

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UpFront NT Buses Security Increased in 2016 The Northern Territory Government has fitted all Darwin and Alice Springs public buses with protective window film, marking a $91,000 investment to increase protection for passengers and bus drivers from bus windows shattering.

Safety of passengers and bus drivers working and travelling on Darwinbus and Alice Springs bus networks is a priority of the Government.

The number of rock throwing incidents and the high risk of injury to passengers, drivers and other road users is something that the Department of Transport takes extremely seriously.

The fit-out, applied to all 70 public transport buses operated by both Territory Transit and Buslink in Darwin and Alice Springs, was finished in March.

The film will not stop a window breaking; however, it will prevent glass shattering inside the cabin of the bus.

If you see a rock throwing incident occur or are victim to one, local police appreciate notification of occurrences and any other information that could assist in bringing offenders to task.

BUSWAY BIRTHDAY THE SOUTH EAST BUSWAY from Woolloongabba to Eight Mile Plains, Queensland, celebrated its 15th birthday as of one of the world’s finest busways, last April.

State Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly said the opening of the South East Busway was the beginning of a Brisbane busway network that had become an example of best practice for public transport around the world.

“Delivering more than 18,000 customers every hour to their destinations in peak periods, the 17km South East busway from Woolloongabba to Eight Mile Plains is a very popular and efficient transport choice for thousands of customers every day,” Kelly said.

“By comparison, buses travelling in general traffic can only carry up to 1,600 passengers an hour.

“Today, there are now more than 29 kilometres of busway which includes 27 stations and 20 tunnels. More than 72 million trips are made on our busways each year.

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“The 17 kilometre busway runs adjacent to the South East Freeway and comprises environmentally designed busway stations and a busway operations centre that employs modern technology.

“The busway stations have been developed at key suburban nodes to serve major activity centres. This allows buses to serve low-density communities, collect passengers from local roads and then join the busway for a faster trip into the city.

“Owned, operated and maintained by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, the South East Busway infrastructure is an impressive operation.

“More than 750 CCTV cameras monitor infrastructure, tunnels and assets 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. “The busways feature realtime safety and security incident management and linear heat detectors in the tunnels can trigger water deluge system to extinguish fires.

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“Environmental measures include solar panels for power generation and rain water reticulation systems for cleaning at some of the stations.

“Busways collaborate with the Brisbane Transport Network Coordination Centre, other Department of Transport staff, Brisbane City Council, the Queensland Police Service and emergency services to ensure the safety of the busway network.

“Busways continue to be a great success story for South East Queensland public transport. They separate buses from general traffic and make our buses faster and more reliable and efficient.

“Every full bus takes around 40 cars off our roads and one bus, travelling on the busway is equal to 50 per cent less emissions than a bus in standard traffic.”

The South East Busway was (to Eight Mile Plains) was officially opened on 27 April, 2001 ahead of a weekend of busway fun days, before opening to bus traffic on Monday 30 April.

Industry Trend

Bus Art For Change A Northern Territory Government initiative to reduce graffiti at bus stops is gaining results and giving a young artist a chance to display their wares. Could this be a strategy to be employed across Australasia?

Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter reports.

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HERE’S SOMETHING very cool about seeing brand new hightech bus shelters in operation, featuring the latest bus-route data displayed, good lighting, ample seating and generally being dry and clean.

It’s the very thing that helps encourage commuters to take the bus in the first place. However, not all locations have the latest or stops and certain areas still have the older styles in use.

Graffiti is a perennial problem that has plagued both types, with often the older ones prone to enduring neglect thereafter. The Northern Territory Government, though, has embarked upon a refreshingly proactive initiative

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by using Indigenous art as an innovative measure to reduce graffiti across Greater Darwin.

Minister for Transport Peter Chandler said, “Urban bus shelters are at times targeted with graffiti and the Territory Government is reducing repair costs by painting art on shelters as this has been shown to reduce vandalism.

“The Country Liberals Government is committed to building a liveable environment, supporting jobs and improving aesthetics along road corridors.”

Local artist and youth family support social worker David Collins and artist Jesse Bell have been leading the painting of 10 city bus shelters in a bid to reduce

vandalism and graffiti removal costs, it’s stated.

Mr Collins said, “The public art project aims to promote community engagement and pride in suburban areas; and engage youths from a range of backgrounds.”

Ten bus stops on McMillans Road were also painted in 2014, under Mr Collins’s direction with ‘graffiti’ style artwork, and as a result the vandalism and graffiti at those bus shelters was greatly reduced and the artwork remains un-defaced.

Four indigenous youth from the Department of Corrections assisted in the preparation, cleaning and clear coating of the bus stops.

The project helped fulfil community service work obligations for these youth and provided meaningful and rewarding tasks that contribute to the local community.

Minister for Correctional Services John Elferink said, “Being given the opportunity to participate in this long-lasting, meaningful community project is a step in the right direction for these youths and enables them to contribute back to society in a positive way.”

It’s a great idea and something that could be rolled out across the country as a cheaper way to counteract graffiti in areas where neglected bus shelters are doing nothing to ensure bus commuters to use the service.

DARWIN SITE LOCATIONS: BUS STOP NUMBER

LOCATION

227 & 228

Dick Ward Drive, Nightcliff

109 & 110

Bagot Road, Ludmilla

181 & 299

Stuart Highway, The Narrows

173

Stuart Highway, Parap

286

Stuart Highway, Berrimah

287 & 297

Stuart Highway, Winnellie

“...helped fulfil community service work obligations for these youth, provided meaningful and rewarding tasks that contribute to the local community.”

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Coverstory

Photography: Cristian Brunelli

GAINING THE UPPER HAND

To tackle the long-distance tourer market, King Long Australia needed a very special type of coach to take on the dominant Euros. But instead of beating them it took a punt to ‘join them’, so to speak. The new 6130CY body on Volvo B11R chassis now gives operators a high-deck option that’s looking to hit the mark. Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter reports.

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n the theoretical ‘fit in (legally) as many seats as possible into a two-axle coach body’ market there are a few select players plying product to potential customers hoping to impress. In practice, without a toilet - ‘dunny’, ‘loo’, restroom, or whatever else you scream out when you randomly wake up on long journeys and are really busting for a pee – such high-capacity vehicles essentially render themselves useless on intercity or interstate trips longer than, say, two hours. And that’s for folks even with good bladders.

Still, operators love to know what their options are for such occasions on two axles, where they can tailor exactly what capacity they need once they’ve run the maths and switched the toilet door ‘engaged’ sign off.

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Now, there are some awesome three-axle coaches available that probably best do that, to be fair. But companies like King Long in Australia has spotted an emerging two-axle niche with the option of a trusty lav, which aims to provide customers with a cost-effective long-haul coach option that won’t break the bank, comparatively speaking.

That’s a big call given the strength of the players in it to win it, but being big enough to sense a market preference still for Euro running gear (some may arguably say unjustifiably these days), the massive Xiemen, China-origin bus manufacturer has proudly hedged its bets on Euro goodness, too: the Volvo B11R twinaxle chassis.

“This is our new 6130CY body, which we’ve

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done with Volvo and it fits into a segment of the market that we haven’t had a vehicle in before. It’s a high-deck vehicle with a 1650mm floor height. It comes on a Volvo B11R chassis with 410hp and a 12-speed Volvo I-Shift transmission,” said King Long Australia general manager, Anthony Fisicaro.

“In terms of the chassis, it’s got independent front suspension, EBS, ABS – all those wonderful Volvo features. In terms of body construction it’s a steel frame with a full vehicle E-Coat dipping process.

“It’s a new model that King Long has here; a variation of an existing model that we used for coming up with this series for this particular niche market. Obviously, we changed our 6130CY considerably to suit the Volvo running gear and meet the tough Australian requirements,” he explained.

At first glance, uninitiated bus heathens might dismiss it as just another luxury coach on the winding roads of wine regions, across vast rugged plains, or propped up nicely out the front of some majestic (read: pretentiously swanky) hotel, but fear not – Coach & Bus magazine doesn’t talk to those types of people at the best of times.

With a sleek and sexy, dark-carbon-

look windscreen whose theme lends itself seamlessly and purposely along the top of the flanks, it’s almost like a caped-crusader comicbook hero mask. Nothing too ornate; less Batman and more Robin – which he’s probably not happy about, doing all the work while the main Bat has his feet up sitting around saidhotel’s pool, probably.

“Part of that design, we introduced the sloping front windscreen behind the B-pillar, so there was increased visibility for the driver, hence why it sort of slopes down on either side over the driver’s shoulder,” Fisicaro proudly explained.

“At the moment we’ve built five - four of them are sold and the fifth is the demo that we are showing around. But there’s another five in production, as we speak, so this is out of a first batch of 10. The first four went to Kastoria Bus Lines for Nationwide Tours, with is part of Seymour Coaches.

“The second set of five being built will have a variation of different specifications, including toilet and wheelchair lifts and some flexible options for customers to change seating configuration. That’s a little bit hard to do when you are building stock units – all of these are on the stock units unless they get sold prior [to

“...we introduced the sloping front windscreen behind the B-pillar, so there was increased visibility for the driver.”

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2 Looks good from behind, note port-side air-con vent at the rear.

2 A stylish yet aggressive front end from King Long. LED headlamps look great at night.

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I-SHIFT? LIKE IPHONE, RIGHT? Wrong! But it is a 12-speed manual gearbox with an automated gearchanging system designed for tourist, intercity, regional and route buses. It offers high driving and ride comfort and excellent fuel economy, according to Volvo. An optimised Volvo I-Shift system is also available for Volvo’s hybrid buses.

Volvo I-Shift is a fast-acting gear-changing system with brief interruptions in torque and a wide ratio span, resulting in ample resources for high average speeds, it’s claimed. The gear lever is integrated into the driver’s seat and gear-changes are entirely automatic.

The starting gear is selected automatically according to the road’s gradient and vehicle load.

Volvo I-Shift is available with a choice of several different gear-shifting programs, including a function that allows a choice between fully-automatic gear-changes and manual gear selection, featuring a performance programme with kickdown function utilising the engine’s capacity to the maximum. No clutch pedal is needed as the gear-changing software senses the need for gearchange in order to remain optimum performance.

The gearbox is reputedly compact and lightweight. Long oil-change intervals mean low operating costs and less environmental impact. If special oil is used, oil and filter changes can take place as far apart as once every 400,000km or every three years, says Volvo.

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All the data is clearly and prettily displayed.

2 The higher deck gives that true coach feel. Interior well lit and airy.

3 Volvo I-Shift ready for action at the command centre.

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“When you have an operator who is able to spend a bit more, they don’t need to spend $600,000 - they’ve got this option now.” manufacture].

“Having dealt with OEMs in the past and with what we were looking at now was a segment of the market that we didn’t really compete in, so from King Long Australia’s side it’s a new segment for us – it’s a coach market. In the past, I guess, we’ve really done day charter vehicles and school buses. This is a much higher spec vehicle for longer distances, as well. But obviously it gives Australian operators a choice to use the best Volvo chassis available in the market. It’s their top-of-the-line chassis with a competitively priced body, which they can use from school work all the way up to coach work,” Fisicaro said.

So what sort of bum comfort was chosen for such a niche vehicle?

“We’ve got flexible seating options. We haven’t put our standard school King Long seat in because it’s not that type of vehicle, so we’ve

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gone for a more luxury style of seating [from McConnell]. In a maximum capacity it could probably go to 61 if someone really wants it to, albeit with a minimum legal seat spacing – and it doesn’t include a toilet. You could fit 57 fixed seats and a toilet if you wanted to, though that would be very tight, so most people would go for 53 or normally 49 reclining with a toilet which would be very, very comfortable.”

So with the B11R widely lauded by many drivers the world over, particularly with the 12-speed I-Shift, what is it like to drive from the eyes of a competitor?

“Driving it is awesome! The 410hp Volvo with the 12-speed I-Shift packs a real punch; there’s a phenomenal amount of torque and it’s just a totally different vehicle to drive just because of the Volvo B11R chassis – you really notice it when you drive it.

“All the other ones we are building are also on

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Volvo B11R chassis. It’s really only available on the B11R at this stage.

“To date, the Demo vehicle has been doing the rounds in Victoria and in the next couple of weeks it will start moving north up to Sydney and then up to Queensland. We’ve got a lot of people interested in having a look at it. Our Sydney sales guy, Stephen Long, and together with the Volvo sales team will be showing it around Sydney and country NSW, and then up all around Queensland.

“This is our first higher-spec vehicle. We wanted a product for a segment we didn’t have a unit for, so it’s our first high-deck coach. Our standard vehicles run at around 1350mm floor height; this is a 1650mm floor height and we’ve got the lift-up pantograph-style bin doors with a huge luggage space over rear-axle storage compartment. This is also able to fit a rear wheelchair lifter over, if it is required. Luggage

space and storage increased because of the taller floor height, around 10m3.”

So what kind of operators are avoiding probably pricier three-axle coaches, or two axles that don’t have the luxury appointments suited for long-distance travel?

“A bit of both. You’ve got your traditional operators who’ve got their charter services and I guess on the type of work they are doing – if they’ve got a contract or not – this is a vehicle that is priced around the AUD$430,000$450,000 mark, so it’s in a different category.

When you have an operator who is able to spend a bit more, they don’t need to spend $600,000 - they’ve got this option now of a chassis that they’ve probably got in their fleet or very similar chassis. They are used to the Volvo running gear and they’ve got this ability to have this with a more cost-effective body price. And with the body itself we’ve spec’d it

up, as well. So it’s our full-length coach body as standard: Isiri driver’s seat, curtains, TVs – specifically for Australia.”

According to Fisicaro, the standard King Long two-year / 200,000km warranty applies, matched to the usual 12-month warranty for the B11R. He says part of the decision to work with Volvo was that when you start talking about long-distance charter or express, or those sorts of services, it’s important to have not only a body repairer in proximity but more importantly a dealer with the service ability and access to spare parts quickly. As most people would realise it’s all Volvo running gear, if they run into any problems all they need to do is go into a Volvo dealer to get chassis work sorted, he says.

“Any bodywork issues will be taken care of by King Long, as we have various repairers around the country – in Melbourne and Queensland,

BUS SPECS MAKE: Volvo MODEL: B11R twin axle BODY: King Long 6130CY CHASSIS: 4x2 ,RHD (Aust. spec). Independent and rigid front suspension. Frame: C-profile beams with flat, builder-friendly upper surface.

ENGINE: Volvo D11C. In-line 6-cylinder diesel rated at 330hp, 370hp, 410hp (EEV compliant) or 450hp Euro5 compliant. Volvo EMS (Engine Management System).

Fuel tanks: Volumes from 2x 150L up to 720L, steel or polyethylene tanks. Transport tank of 50L. TRANSMISSION: Volvo I-Shift 12-speed automated gear-changing system. Automatic transmission is available for the D11C370.

SUSPENSION: Electronically controlled air suspension. Rigid or independent at front. Front and rear stabilisers. Rear axle: Volvo single-reduction axle with alternative ratios available and optional differential lock.

BRAKES: Twin-circuit system. Volvo disc brakes combined with EBS 5-controlled ABS/ASR functions and Electronic Stability Program (ESP).

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in South Australia, WA – so the body side is probably a little easier to look after.

So who’s grass does Fisicaro see this new coach cutting in the sales race? Volvo’s itself at any point?

“No, not really as it’s giving their customers another option. If it’s cutting anyone’s grass I guess maybe the Australian manufacturers, Irizar, Scania – the likes of the customers who still want a European chassis, but who can’t quite justify spending the big dollars for an Australian-built vehicle, or they are looking for something they can get a bit sooner rather than later. Obviously with the Australian-built stuff there is a lead time, so it gives us the ability to … deliver in 4-6 months – aside from the five currently in build [sooner]. Again, it depends on chassis availability, as Volvo needs to send a chassis to us in the factory to get that built, but it’s one of those things that if someone

wanted 10-20 vehicles as soon as we got those chassis we could probably build those in around three months.

It’s all sounding solid on paper – so what are the ballpark costs and savings that Australian operators are looking at?

“That’s a really hard question. It’s probably [savings] $80K+ I’d guess. Obviously, to the Australian manufacturers it’s higher as we are all aware the imported stuff is getting more competitive. But again it’s a different segment; we are not doing it on the B7 or B9 chassis – quite often you’ve got to compare it to a comparable vehicle. So in particular in the Victorian market and the markets where perhaps the contract has a fill-in price element to it, now it’s something that’s not far off the ceiling price, so operators do have the ability to spec a pretty good vehicle – depending on what State it is going in to.

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“Our standard vehicles run at around 1350mm floor height; this is a 1650mm floor height and we’ve got the lift-up pantograph-style bin doors with a huge luggage space over rear-axle.”

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1 Good, well-lit access to the

vehicle here.

2 The extra ‘height’ means

more luggage room here.

2 Quite a stylish number. Long

hot black streak look like a mask wrapped around the eyes and over the ears.

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Industry Excellence

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THE BEST OF THE BEST Bus and coach drivers in Australia will again battle it out for top honour as the best of the best at the 2016 Scania Driver Competitions, helping push local industry standards to even greater heights of service and safety.

Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter reports.

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t’s a hard old slog for many bus drivers day to day who often go unnoticed and unappreciated by commuters who just swipe on and off during their journeys and go about their business. Yet the Scania Driver Competition will again seek to find Australia’s best bus drivers and recognise their efforts by the end of October in Melbourne this year.

Touted as part of Scania’s “world-wide skills, safety and efficiency programme”, the local segment of the competition kicked off late April and invited a range of drivers to participate and test their mettle against their peers, as will others the world over.

This event is massive and growing each year; Scania states it is the “largest global driver competition for truck and bus drivers”, attracting more than 100,000 participating

drivers from more than 40 countries in 2014.

In Australia, this is the third time it is being held for bus and coach drivers and it’s the sixth time drivers get a shot at the illustrious title. Started in 2007, it aims to raise the profile of professional drivers and the road transport industry among the general public, it’s stated.

Yet it is more than just a pat on the back at the end of it. In 2016, prizes worth thousands of dollars will be awarded to the winning drivers who successfully navigate the on-line challenger round, and then graduate to the national final, to be held in Melbourne at the end of October.

The structure is simple and is as follows: The initial round is a knowledge-based test conducted via the internet, while the national final will “test on-road, real-world driving

“...the national final will ‘test on-road, real-world driving abilities, manoeuvring abilities, safe work and driving practices’.”

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1 You won’t be thrown off the deep

end. There will be plenty of time for group discussions.

2 The Scania Driver Competitions are conducted all over the world.

3 If you are good at throwing darts down at your local pub then you might have a bit of a chance. Kiddin’.

4 May the best man or woman win!

The best of the best.

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abilities, manoeuvring abilities, safe work and driving practices”. There will be a further knowledge-based test under exam conditions, as well as a media interview.

Roger McCarthy, Scania Australia’s managing director said, “The Scania Driver Competitions have become a global opportunity for … drivers to demonstrate their expertise, knowledge and professionalism.”

“Scania believes the driver is the transport operator’s single most important asset in delivering ‘Total Operating Economy’,” he said.

“Our transport industry faces multiple challenges and opportunities. Society continues to look for demonstrable improvements in road safety from the road transport industry. Reductions in fuel usage, however small, reduce emissions and deliver lower operating costs. Lower costs, in turn, increase transport operators’ profitability and provide the opportunity to grow their business. Drivers play a pivotal role in each of these areas,” McCarthy added.

The company says Scania customers and drivers are urged to enter the 2016 Scania Driver Competitions to demonstrate what they know, or to find out what they could improve.

At the very least, knowledge will be tested, awareness of issues will be raised, and a focus on safety and total operating economy will be enhanced, it’s claimed.

All bus and coach drivers with an HR licence – whether they own or drive a Scania or any other type of heavy commercial vehicle – are welcome to enter via www.scania.com.au/ competitions “By registering for the competition and taking part in the on-line stage of the

COMPETITION FACTS: Scania Driver Competitions 2003 - limited to 20 European nations and attracted some 6,000 participating drivers. The competition was organised by Scania in cooperation with the European Commission. It was in line with the objectives of the European Union’s common transport policy and the directive on the training of professional truck drivers.

Scania Driver Competitions 2005 - the Scania Driver Competitions concept expanded to include Argentina, Brazil, South Africa and Taiwan. In Europe, the competition was supported by the European Commission and attracted more than 14,000 drivers.

Scania Driver Competitions 2007 - Scania’s Driver Competitions became a truly global event, featuring some 63,000 professional truck and bus drivers from 40 countries in Europe, Latin America, Australia, Asia and Africa. During the competition, Scania arranged seminars on road safety, many of these in partnership with the World Health Organisation.

Scania Driver Competitions 2010 - With some 45,000 truck drivers competing from all over the world, the Scania Driver Competitions 2010 series consolidated its position as the world’s largest truck and bus driver competition and training event.

Scania Driver Competitions 2012 - Globally, 76,000 drivers participated in the truck and bus driver competitions. In a survey, contestants said they become better drivers after having participated.

Scania Driver Competitions 2014 - Never before have so many drivers from so many countries participated. Globally, the competition attracted more than 100,000 truck drivers alone, across 40 countries.

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“...knowledge will be tested, awareness of issues will be raised, and a focus on safety and total operating economy will be enhanced.”

1 They’ll get right down to the nitty-gritty during the

competitions, drivers have nothing to lose and businesses have plenty to gain,” McCarthy said.

“We know for a fact that good drivers use less fuel, look after their vehicles better and avoid incidents on the road or in the depot.

The 2016 Scania Driver Competitions aim to raise levels of awareness across all three areas, which have benefits for all drivers, their families, their employers, our entire transport industry and, indeed, all other road users.

“At the very least, promoting the 2016 Scania Driver Competitions to your drivers or driving colleagues will help reinforce the importance of safety at work, efficiency of operation and encourage a positive mind-set in the job,” he said.

Registration for the 2016 Scania Driver Competitions is now open. To enter or find out more visit www.scania.com.au/competitions

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Scania bus test.

2 [L-R] Scania Driver Development Team member

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Alana Mountfield, second-placed Nigel Chater, 2014 winner Jola Ramsay, third-placed Carl Searle and Scania Australia managing director, Roger McCarthy.

3 “Get your motor running... Head out on the highway...

Born to be wiiiiiiild...” - not! It’s all about safe and conservative bus driving.

FACE THE CHALLENGE THE SEARCH FOR AUSTRALIA’S MOST VERSATILE DRIVER HAS BEGUN.

Put your industry knowledge and driver skills to the test.

Register NOW at scania.com.au/competitions See website for Terms and Conditions.

Industry News

UP AND RUNNING

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It seems fitting celebrating its 25th birthday in 2016 that BCI Bus this year completed its brand new, state-of-the-art Melbourne site. At 4500m2, the venue is a mammoth development for the Australian bus brand and will prove key to how it conducts its business here in Australia.

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“The new 4500m2 venue plays host to multiple roles, being a workshop, showroom and offices for sales and administration.�

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1 The new Melbourne facility has plenty of room to

get things done.

2 About to deliver its latest customer bus.

3 It acts as a warehouse, showroom and

administration facility.

4 Sticking your web address on buildings makes

perfect sense these days.

5 Just some of the friendly staff based in Melbourne.

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t was a huge step in the evolution of the Australia’s BCI Bus, a Perth-based family business which 25 years ago started building strong and productive sales channels in the local bus industry, setting up new dealerships across Australia and generating effective after-sales support for clientele. Today it is one of the most recognisable and highly purchased bus brands in Australia.

When BCI founder and chairman, Ron J. Nazzari established the company in 1991 it was a small family-run operation in Perth.

Today, BCI’s head office is still located in Perth, but with dealerships in each state and territory of Australia and in New Zealand – and now this new Melbourne facility, which has technically been operational since July 2015.

According to the company, the team still firmly maintains a family focused approach to business and these values extend through to the network of experienced dealers, who work to offer customers the highest level of after-sales support in Australia and across the Tasman.

The new 4500m2 venue plays host to multiple roles, being a workshop, showroom and offices for sales and administration, with a lot of the staff based in Perth having moved over to work at the new Melbourne facility.

The completion of the Melbourne facility is the latest evolutionary step for the company, which in its history used to manufacturer in Malaysia on MAN, Nissan and MercedesBenz chassis before doing so on its own

chassis, but then in a state-of-the-art facility in Xiamen, China since 2011 to strict Australian ISO standards.

The Xiamen facility offers an increased production capacity and greater quality control and boasts the latest manufacturing machinery, it’s claimed. Most BCI vehicles boast around 65 per cent Australian content.

More recently, a business venture with Mercedes-Benz has seen a special line of up to 94 BCI bodies on the German marque’s chassis, with more than a dozen still to come.

In New Zealand there’s keen interest in BCI’s double-decker product, with an order for 15 more vehicles having been taken, the company states.

The company says over the 25 years it has been responding effectively to the requirements of clients, supplying one bus or a whole fleet that can be customised to an operation’s needs. With a combination of extensive ongoing consultation with operators and BCI’s dedicated Australian engineering and quality control teams during production, it guarantees its vehicles will always be at the forefront of the industry in innovation and responsiveness to changing needs, it states.

BCI offers a full range of vehicles from 8 to 14.5 metres, which are available to be customised to suit, from schools to mining specifications, route and charter operations.

It also specialises in ergonomic vehicles to improve disabled passenger accessibility and supports safety belt seats for all school applications.

BCI SALES MELBOURNE ADDRESS: 40 Wedgewood Road, Hallam VIC 3803 Ph: 03 8787 2100, 03 8787 2100 Fax: 03 9703 2454

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Operator

THE MISSING LINK Stuck for choice deciding if a bus or a coach is needed? Why not get something that does both roles, giving you the best of both worlds? Seeking a ‘hybrid’ in a different sense, Launcestonbased Tassielink Transit did just that to cater for a burgeoning Tasmanian backpacker market.

Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter reports.

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W

hen it comes to areas or cities where you are looking to find buses and coaches being more popular than rail transport, you won’t find a better specimen than Tasmania. And that’s purely because when it comes to the latter – there is none!

Tasmania is a truly beautiful natural island with enchantingly tall forests, pretty lakes, rugged mountains and unspoilt coastlines attracting mainlanders and international tourists by the thousands each year. And, er … okay – maybe the odd award-winning winery or brewery has something to do with that as well.

Plus tasty local cheeses, fresh seafood and there’s probably decadent chocolate in the mix there somewhere as well. Mmmmmm... Choco-late... But anyway.

With more than a third of the Apple Isle comprising Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area and National Parks – home to loads of rare and unique plants and animals often not found across the rest of Australia – it’s a mammoth holiday drawcard for bush-walkers and backpackers et al year ‘round. And if they aren’t ‘driving’ over to Devonport via a Spirit of Tasmania then they are most probably flying in

to mainly Hobart and Launceston – with a fair number looking to buses as their main mode of transport once landed.

That dynamic puts operators in a very curious situation: how do you ensure your bus or coach fleet ably satisfies the travellers’ needs so that they don’t feel compelled to just hire a car?

For Tassielink Transit, which prides itself on “providing comfortable, hassle-free and affordable bus services to people of all ages and to most corners of Tasmania”, it realised it needed a bit of both – to cover a range of roles in one particular vehicular unit.

The company travels through more than 50 regional and remote towns and villages, ensuring its passengers can get off the beaten track and truly experience the beauty that Tasmania has to offer, it’s stated. It not only provides commuter services, but also a comprehensive charter and freight service.

Corporate functions, airport transfers, school camps and tours, or even a dinner transfer Tassielink aims to provide comfortable, reliable charter bus travel for all.

So to help keep doing that cost effectively, it basically needed the convenient accessibility of a low-entry bus and the long-distance comfort

aspects of a coach. And it got it from Bustech and Scania.

Why so? With Scania already supplying 70 per cent of Tassielink Transit’s chassis and engines, and Bustech recently working with the big Swede on 140 low-floor buses for the NSW STA (key lessons from which translated to the Tasmanian project), it all just made a lot of sense.

Both bus-building companies devised a unique low-entry regional bus configuration to suit the specific needs of Tassielink Transit, based on a successful Bustech design in use on the Gold Coast running as an airport shuttle.

The DDA-compliant semi-low floor, wheelchair-friendly design with a single door provides easy access for older and less-mobile passengers, as well as deep underfloor bins for stowage and useful luggage racks inside.

“We see a lot of backpackers and tourists in this region,” said Shane Dewsbery, managing director of Tassielink Transit, who identifies tourist meccas such as Port Arthur and the Huon Valley, as well as the route out to Richmond, as locations to be served by the new bus.

“...how do you ensure your bus or coach fleet ably satisfies the travellers’ needs so that they don’t feel compelled to just hire a car?”

1 The new Bustech-Scania unit was

just what Tassielink was looking for.

2 Low-floor access leads to elevated

rear floor section.

3 Meet the Tassielink team!

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“Backpackers and local travellers have bulky loads and we also need to be able to give passengers in wheelchairs hassle-free access as well. For many elderly and disabled passengers, the bus is essential in the outer urban and regional areas.

“The new design will give us excellent utilisation, with the low-floor access and good luggage spaces, plus the interior design has a coach-like feel about it, thanks to comfortable seating and an elevated rear floor section.

“This will be the first Bustech bus designed specifically for use in Tasmania especially catering for the Tasmanian regional roads and conditions,” Dewsbery said.

The new Tassielink buses will also be running routes between Hobart city and the outer urban fringes, which include well-known tourist destinations.

“We have specified 52 coach-like seats that have thicker than usual bases, to give greater comfort, because many passengers will be seated for longer periods than is usual on a route bus.”

“We have added armrests for the aisle seats to enhance passenger comfort because some of the routes have a lot of corners.

AWARD-WINNING HISTORY Tassielink Transit’s roots stem back from July, 1985, when the Melbournebased Invicta group first expanded to Tasmania with the purchase of Morse’s Bus Service in Devonport. According to the company, the then lack of future opportunities in along the North-West coast saw this service sold in 1990, but not before it led to the purchase and development of a range of other services to wilderness icons and areas.

The first acquired was from Devonport to Cradle Mountain, the second was Tag Along Tours in Hobart, and finally Mountain Stage Line in Launceston.

This was the beginning of the

Wilderness Network.

In 1989, after developing both the product and the marketing direction of the company, “Tasmanian Wilderness Travel” became a well-recognised operator in the Tasmanian naturebased tourism area, with an influence far greater than its size would indicate, it’s claimed.

In 1997, the company purchased and amalgamated TRC Travel and TigerLine Coaches with Tasmanian Wilderness Travel. In 1999, it added the Port Arthur, West Coast, East Coast and Huon Services from Hobart Coaches. Later acquisitions include the

service between Cressy, Longford and Launceston in October, 2005.

TASMANIAN WILDERNESS TRAVEL In 1997 Tasmanian Wilderness Travel won three awards at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards. In 1998, the company repeated this success in the Awards.

In 1999, TWT was inducted into the Hall of Fame, having won Awards for three years in succession. In 2000 and 2001 Tasmanian Tours and Travel won another award. Further Awards were added to this impressive list in 2003 and 2004. It again won in 2005, and again was inducted into the Hall

of Fame.

Tassielink Transit separated from the Invicta Group in 2001. It is wholly owned within the John Usher extended family, carrying on a family tradition of coach operation, which began in 1947.

The introduction of new operating contracts in January 2008 has provided the means and incentive to invest in new vehicles, and develop routes and timetables, improving the transport options for the communities it serves, it’s stated. These changes have led to significant and continuing patronage improvement on most of its services, according to the company.

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GREEN HOUSE CHALLENGE Tassielink Transit was proactive in becoming a founder member of the Federal Government’s Green House Challenge, an initiative to reduce overall greenhouse gas.

With a fleet of around 35 vehicles it ensures that the optimumsized vehicle is selected for each journey, reducing unnecessary engine emissions. All its vehicles, including air conditioning equipment, are regularly serviced to maintain optimum fuel efficiency, it’s claimed. The company utilises its smaller fleet on its tourist destinations during the low season to reduce unnecessary energy consumption.

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1 Shane Dewsbery, managing

4

director of Tassielink Transit.

2 Plenty of room for loads of backpackers.

3 Wheelchair users easily accommodated.

4 Quick-access on-board storage just in case.

“They also fitted a spare wheel and carrier into the chassis, which is unheard of for a low-floor bus.”

“From my perspective as an outer-urban operator in Tasmania, this is the best design I have seen,” he said.

“You have good capacity for luggage inside the bus, nice seats with grab handles, but none of the usual grab bars found on a route bus. Moving to the semi-low floor means we can do without the cumbersome wheelchair lifts as the front suspension kneels to facilitate roll-on access. This design means the bus can do two jobs really well.

“Bustech has been exceptionally accommodating in creating this specification for us. They designed bonded side windows for a smart, flush look. They also fitted a spare wheel and carrier into the chassis, which is unheard of for a low-floor bus.”

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Notably, the spare wheel is actually fitted in the engine bay, as the fuel tank is mounted in usual Bustech style between the axles under the floor.

The Scania K 320 UB 4x2 LB chassis provides a 320hp five-cylinder Euro5 engine driving via a ZF automatic transmission; the bus body also features front and rear-facing cameras, as well as interior cameras.

The versatile Bustech design makes it suitable for school runs, shuttle and charter work as well as outer-urban route work, it’s claimed.

Many of the lessons learned in that NSW project translated into the Tassielink Transit vehicle and Bustech says it is proud that the finished vehicle is 100 per cent compliant in

its chassis and body integration.

“We were delighted to be able to deliver a bus to Tassielink’s imaginative specification,” said Jamie Atkinson, Scania Bus and Coach New Vehicle Account manager.

“We worked closely with Bustech and Tassielink throughout the build and delivery process to ensure their specification requirements were met. We are sure Tasmanians will appreciate the effort that has gone into building this bus. It is designed to improve passenger comfort and convenience,” Atkinson said.

“A follow-up order for a second identical vehicle has already been received, underlining the success of the specification for our customer,” Atkinson added.

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SPLIT

PERSONALITY The evolving trend to create a bus that does multiple roles to boost fleet efficiency is nothing new, yet its refinement in terms of what that format takes is eagerly watched by operators the world over. MAN debuted its new multi-role Lion’s Intercity unit at the 2015 Busworld Kortrijk late last year and the punters paid keen attention. Coach & Bus magazine editor Fabian Cotter reports.

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B 1 2

1 Making its debut at Busworld,

Kortrikj 2015, in Belgium.

2 Plenty of overhead storage on tap.

3 An award-winning driver’s work

space.

4 No, that’s not for playing the latest

Nintendo; that’s to control the wheelchair lift.

5 The end result. Voila!

uses that are more coach like, midi-buses more like low-floors, humble vans that are trying to capture more of the shuttle service while competing with low-floor midis – you can’t do them all but there’s the quest by manufacturers to try to go close. Operators are discerningly looking for vehicles that can fulfil a combination of tasks to keep fleet costs down. And while some OEMs might look at that as a bad thing, in terms of moving less of more expensive product, some are happy trying to tap into that niche and seize the market advantage.

MAN Lion’s new Intercity offers a coach feel in bus dimensions, something with “the high flexibility in the configuration” to allow the Intercity to deploy “as an intercity bus, in shuttle transport or as school bus.” And it’s picked up a prestigious design award for it already.

Winning the coveted 2016 iF International Forum Design Gold award in the “Automobiles/Vehicle/Bikes” category earlier this year at BMW World in Munich, it was just one of 75 gold prize winners out of a massive 5295 entries submitted. In the “Automobiles/ Vehicle/Bikes” category, the MAN Lion’s

“...impressed with its timeless design, clear 3

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Intercity thus beat contenders such as sports cars and motorbikes made by household names, it’s stated.

“This intercity coach made by MAN demonstrates how standard design tasks can be solved in an inspirational way. It impressed the award panel with its timeless design, clear lines and perfectly balanced proportions. All of the details are flawlessly implemented, with the interior matching the exterior and vice versa, the windows and doors are attractively integrated and the colour scheme, the materiality and surface form are perfectly designed. All of these factors make the bus a modern vehicle that is absolutely convincing in its entirety,” said the award panel, made up of 58 design experts, in justifying their decision.

The award, presented annually since 1953, examined the external appearance and shape of the products, as well as the degree of innovation, ergonomics, functionality together with environmental aspects involved.

Stephan Schönherr, vice-president of

Omnibus Design at MAN said: “We are thrilled to have received this award, which is an internationally renowned seal of quality for good design. It is a great success that has so far generally been reserved for our luxury segment and premium products.”

According to Schönherr, the award proves that MAN’s standard products are perceived and recognised as high quality and holistically designed vehicles in design circles, as they set a high standard of design quality and functionality.

The MAN Lion’s Intercity combines firstclass comfort with a high level of functionality and outstanding safety in the very best MAN quality, it’s claimed. The vehicle not only sets standards with its striking, aerodynamically optimised design and excellent driving characteristics, but first and foremost with its efficient fuel consumption and low life-cycle costs, according to MAN. After having also won the Red Dot Design Award and the German Design Award, the iF Gold Award 2016 is the 13th design award for MAN, which also includes accolades for design and aesthetics in its NEOPLAN line of buses and coaches.

Yet design success aside and with MAN

lines and perfectly balanced proportions.” also touting the benefits of its the high flexibility in the configuration - which allows the Intercity to do a range of roles – there are numerous efficiency-increasing and safety features. In terms of the latter, for school bus duties the Lion’s Intercity already meets the standard ECE R66.02 applicable from 2017, a particularly stringent passive safety requirement for the strength of the body in buses. The roll-over rigidity thus provides an even higher [level of] passive safety, it’s stated.

So what’s the difference? Currently applicable standard ECE R66 weight for the roll-over test corresponds only to the unladen weight (ready-for-use vehicle including 75kg driver, 90 per cent filled fuel tank, coolant and lubricant, tools and spare wheel) of the bus.

The ECE R66.02 looks at unladen vehicle weight and 50 per cent of the weight of all occupants secured by restraint systems. The stipulation is that in case of a roll-over, the structure must be able to absorb significantly more energy, so that the survival space for the

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“The roll-over rigidity thus provides an even higher [level of] passive safety, it’s stated.”

1 Visually, inside it’s a mix of

three kinds of bus.

2 The twin-headlight look adds

to its unique appeal.

3 Looks like good use of seating

and space inside here.

4 And storage underneath has

1

occupants is maintained.

Available in two lengths, the Intercity comes as a 12.3-metre or Intercity C 13-metre, with luggage capacity of 5.2m3 and 6.4m3, and a maximum seating arrangement of 55 and 59 seats, respectively.

Lightweight, long-lasting components were used throughout to keep running costs down, with a reduction in drag and maintenance and repair friendliness at the forefront of design and production.

Powering it along is the lightweight sixcylinder MAN engine from the D08 range, said to save 450kg. The compact D08 engine has spaciously dimensioned side flaps and an angled bottom lid to enable optimum access to the engine compartment, says MAN. It also features as automatic engine shutdown during idling and air compressor with automatic idling to improve efficiency.

The lightweight theme continues with six tyres (twins on the rear) on aluminium wheels (-96kg) and a lightweight air-conditioning system (-66kg).

With the Intercity also envisaged to be used for longer, coach-like journeys the aerodynamic tweaking for higher-speed fuel consumption was a key aspect of wind-tunnel

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equally been well thought out.

testing. The design with its vaulted, slightly inclined panoramic front window provides less contact area to the headwind. The air flow is optimally deflected by the rear separation edge, it’s claimed.

Other highlights include: easy access to the spare wheel and the front lighting through the large and wide-opening centre section of the front area; tough but pleasant-totouch plastics; easy-to-clean and high-UVresistance surfaces; and corrosion protection via cathodic dip coating (CDC).

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BUS SPECS MAKE: MAN MODEL: Intercity CHASSIS: MAN twin axle ENGINE: MAN D0836 LOH, six-cylinder, vertically installed in-line. Power – 213kW; Torque – 1100Nm (max.)

TRANSMISSION: 6-spd manually operated, 4-spd automatic, 6-spd automatic WHEELS: Aluminium BODY: Height – 3175mm (inc. air-con); Length – 12,280mm; Width – 2550mm.

Wheelbase - 6000mm MISC.: Luggage Volume – 5.2m3

4

Spotlight On

60mins with...

PART 2 Julian Gurney and Trevor O’Brien

National Manager Bus – Retail, and National Manager Bus – Government, Scania Australia Last issue we chatted in-depth with two key managers in Scania Australia’s localised brand and product strategy. This issue we continue our chat and talk bus safety, non-genuine aftermarket parts, Euro6 and the company’s telematics system.

Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter reports. www.truckandbus.net.au 049

Q

Telematics is increasingly looked at by major bus operators as a way of monitoring and improving their fleet usage. What investment has Scania made into telematics that is ready for use in Australasia? Were there any major region or country-specific considerations that had to made to it for use here? How can operators best maximise its use and what customer support does Scania offer for it?

JG: “Scania has invested very heavily in our own proprietary telematics system – our platform is the Scania Communicator, and it is now standard fitment in all of our bus and truck chassis. Scania Australia offers free data transmission for our clients on our Scania OnBoard Monitor programme, and for those clients looking for 60-second updates we offer a fee-for-service arrangement with our Scania OnBoard Control package.

“Scania Australia also provides driver training to all of our clients, who would be familiar with Alana Mountfield and Tony Finneran. They have been travelling Australia providing driver training and coaching to school, coach and city bus operators.

“Alana has also provided training to an operator in Japan for their Volgren-bodied, Scania chassis articulated buses – quite a challenge but a great result!

“At the past 2015 BIC Conference we aired a video on our Scania Optimise product – we have successfully completed trials with several city bus operators where we demonstrated how using the program can lead to a 10 per cent drop in fuel consumption, a more relaxed driving environment and an overall improved customer experience.

“To our knowledge Scania is the only OEM investing this heavily in driver training and integrated FMS systems that help decrease the client’s ‘total cost of ownership’ while improving their overall ‘total operating economy’.”

Q

What is the most popular Scania product currently in use in Australia,

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“To our knowledge Scania is the only OEM investing this heavily in driver training and integrated FMS systems that help decrease the client’s ‘total cost of ownership’”

and is there anything new coming that should sit equally well with the market here? What are the best things about Scania bus product for this region and in what ways could it improve?

JG: “Our volume mover is the city bus chassis, but our most popular unit is our K 310 School/Charter chassis with either a local body or in A30 guise.

“The 9.0-litre engine with SCR emission solution has been incredibly well accepted since its introduction and the simplicity of the fuel system with PDE injectors and fixed geometry turbo really appeals to the country school bus operators.

“Being a 9.0-litre engine it is also a pretty lazy unit pumping out 1550Nm and it sits at 1500rpm at 100km/h. Fuel consumption is fantastic and our Opticruise gearbox with the Scania Driver Support scoring system is helping to improve the driver’s overall driving efficiency.

“The 18-T GVM changes in Western Australia, Victoria and NSW have helped enormously, as we can now build product on these chassis up to 3.9m high with highcapacity luggage space – just like we do in Europe!

“We don’t have any plans to introduce the Euro6 emission coach chassis into this market yet, unlike the Euro6 city bus chassis, which we are seeing in Canberra and Adelaide.

“Our dedicated Dealer Development team is constantly reviewing Scania Australia’s dealer network and the bus and truck vehicle parts. Their role is to detect potential gaps and then work with local service providers to ensure that our customers receive the best possible service and parts support.”

Q

What has been the efficiency result of the Euro6 Scania buses used in the ACT? Were they up to the expectations of both Scania and the client in servicing the role required, or what tweaks have needed to be made to maximise results? And why?

T’OB: “The Euro6 introduction to ACTION has been amazing. The introduction of SCR needed some additional supply infrastructure

in the depots, but the buses have been well accepted.

“At the start of the programme we looked at the options we had for Euro6.

“There are two other power outputs that use both SCR and EGR, but we opted for the relative simplicity of the SCR-only version along the same lines of the Euro5 package as mentioned.

“They are always the first units out of the depot and last in and have almost 100,000km on them already and are delivering great fuel and overall operating economy.”

Q

What is Scania’s strongest sales segment, in terms if product type, and what is its strongest region, in terms of state, territory, or area in Australasia? How much of an influence is the actual place and role that a Scania bus is expected to function in, in determining how it ultimately performs? Or are they turn-key propositions that just need a solid service schedule behind them?

JG: “Our city bus sales are the strongest per segment; this reflects the fact overall city bus sales are the biggest market share in Australia. In terms of our sales volumes in this segment the combined NSW/ACT region has the most sales (47 per cent), followed very closely by Victoria (42 per cent).

“Our vehicles are closely matched to the role they are expected to perform, regardless of where the operation is. We use a Scania programme to optimise the specification for the client’s application.

That way we know we have matched the engine/gearbox and chassis model to what the client’s expectations are – particularly noting the duty-cycle that the bus is to conform to.”

Q

How is Scania affected by non-genuine parts for its buses in the industry, or has it successfully ensured Scania-genuine parts are used by its customers throughout?

Why should operators only choose Scaniaendorsed product and does it endorse Scania parts for its Higer-built buses, or is that actually left up to Higer to supply similar-spec parts?

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JG: “Scania has been working very hard over the past few years to make sure our parts are competitively priced within the industry. Off the back of the parts pricing adjustment we have picked up significant increases in volumes of parts sales.

“Scania genuine parts come with a 12-month factory-backed warranty and, if fitted by our trained Scania Technicians, both parts and labour are covered should there be any failure of the part within that warranty period.

“We have also a long-running service exchange programme, which provides excellent value for customers. Key components are returned to Sweden for complete overhaul and refurbishment incorporating many new parts, and yet they are priced well below a brand-new replacement part.

“We are also offering Fixed Price Repairs for the replacement of key components.

Again this is exceptionally price competitive with non-franchise repairers, plus you have the benefit of factory-trained technicians undertaking the work. Also it is often more efficient to completely replace a gearbox or driveline assembly with a new part than rebuild one, if only in terms of reduced downtime, which makes our Fixed Price Repair even more appealing.

“The Scania Higer A30 is a Scania from bumper-to-bumper – so we carry all the parts for our A30 range. We are the only European OEM to offer this fully built and fully supported product on the market.”

Q

How can Scania maintain or improve its sales position globally and in this region? How does it stay ahead of the game in terms or ensuring Scania product is the continued choice for its customers, and how does it change attitudes of others so that it attracts new business?

JG: “When a new customer comes on board we welcome them to the ‘Scania Family’. We have been fortunate enough to enjoy relationships that go back 30 years to when the Scania Bus & Coach Department first started up. To be involved with

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companies for such a long time is greatly appreciated and we go to great lengths to ensure all our clients’ loyalty is well rewarded with our ongoing support.

“We offer support through our after-sales process, support with our driver training and fleet management programmes and even support in assisting our clients move on their second-hand buses and coaches to other members of the ‘Scania Family’.

“Our account managers work hard to make sure we are meeting our clients’ expectations. And while we cannot say we hit the mark 100 per cent of the time we certainly don’t give up when the going gets a bit challenging.

“Our clients have rewarded this support with their strong loyalty continuing to purchase Scania product, which really is something of which the whole team is proud.”

Q

What key Scania bus product from other markets would Scania love to bring in but can’t for whatever reason? Or if there is no restriction then why is it not here? Is there any key midi-bus products that exist that could suit?

T’OB: “If we had European weight regulation, European width regulations, all of the ECE design regulations we wouldn’t be Australia. When the rules change, we will adapt or change as the circumstances allow.

“The market has evolved around the local rules and the rest is just good healthy discussion.”

Q

What other new safety-related technologies are coming out on Scania buses that should be of interested to this country? Why so? What’s so good about it?

JG: “The heavy vehicle industry has slowly been adopting the safety technology enjoyed by the passenger car market.

Scania offers the following safety related technologies on its bus and coach range: “EBS is currently a standard fitment across our entire bus range, with ESP available as an option.

“EBS - The brakes on all axles are continuously adjusted by means of the electronically controlled brake pressure.

“ESP - brakes each wheel independently if it detects that the driver’s commands are different from the actual direction of travel of the vehicle.

“On Coaches we can also offer: Advanced Emergency Braking (AEB); Lane Departure Warning (LDW); Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).

“Advanced Emergency Braking, AEB, is an active safety support system including the use of sensors from LDW and ACC. The system is aimed to alert the driver at risk of accident. The AEB system works to prevent catching up and standstill accidents. The system does not handle vehicles from the opposite direction. AEB brake assist will help the bus driver to apply enough brake force.

The system uses the functions of Distance Sensor Radar and a Forward Looking Camera (FLC).

“Lane Departure Warning, LDW, system depends on visible road markings identified by the FLC. The system will warn the driver if the coach unintentionally cross over the lane markings.

“Adaptive Cruise Control, ACC, is considered a comfort-enhancing function that assists the driver to maintain a constant time interval to the vehicles in front. ACC recognises the distance to and the speed of vehicles ahead by using the Distance Sensor Radar. The system makes sure the coach keeps a certain time gap and speed in relation to preceding vehicles.”

Q “...while we cannot say we hit the mark 100 per cent of the time we certainly don’t give up when the going gets a bit challenging.”

And finally, what does Scania offer Australasian customers in terms of bus product and services that others can’t match?

JG: “The Scania ‘Total Transport Solution’ is probably the ‘product’ that separates us from our competitors.

“It is the whole package, not just the upfront purchase price – but the fuel consumption that we can achieve; the driver training, Scania designed and built integrated FMS equipment and programmes,

www.truckandbus.net.au 053

“The Scania ‘Total Transport Solution’ is probably the ‘product’ that separates us from our competitors.

It is the whole package.”

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parts packaging and pricing and finally Scania’s own workshops in all of the Australian capital cities.

“We have a demo bus program for our A30s where we have clients letting us know in advance that they want to purchase them once the nine-month demo programme for those particular vehicles is finished.

“We have introduced a ‘stock school bus’ programme with Volgren and Irizar to ensure minimal lead times for our clients once their letter to replace their vehicles has been received.

“To my knowledge no-one else offers all of these products and services as one complete comprehensive package.

“Everything we do revolves around supporting our clients to help them improve their company’s profitability – if we can do that, and do it well, then the team at Scania can be proud of their achievements.”

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Futureproof

056 www.truckandbus.net.au

TRANSVISION VAMP Safety dictates commercial vehicle drivers need good all-round vision of their ‘tall’ trucks, buses and coaches, with various mirror design and placements used previously. Now, in a digital world, are high-definition cameras at the forefront of giving them their clearest picture yet?

Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter investigates.

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C

runch! Ouch! Oh, no! The amount of times car drivers haven’t had the luxury of kerbside onlookers instructing “A bit more, a bit more” when reversing into tight spots we’ve probably never really heard of. Until reversing cameras became a factory or aftermarketinstalled necessity, there were probably very few who later ‘fessed up’ to their partners at home they’d stupidly backed into another parked car or sneaky pole at a supermarket parking lot, or out on the street. There were probably fewer still who got away with the ‘It will just buff out, love’ hastily concocted spiel.

In a car at ground level it’s arguably somewhat easier to see obstacles in your periphery – either in motion or at standstill – and the importance of this crucial safety dynamic is increased tenfold the ‘taller’ and longer the vehicle.

For buses in particular, it’s a priority to reduce blinds spots, safely load and unload passengers, and set up the driver’s environment as best as possible so they can reverse with confidence – no easy feat. The overall design and sheer size of the coach or bus, coupled with the driver position up front, can be affected by large ‘blind spots’ around the vehicle. And in busy cities especially, a

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“...a driver’s clear vision around their vehicle is vital due to increasing traffic and potentially random actions of nearby pedestrians and cyclists.”

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MIRROR, MIRROR …

FOR THE TALL Orlaco has more than 25 years of experience in designing and developing certified vision solutions for eliminating blind spots around vehicles, machines and ships.

From design to development and from production to service, Orlaco says it “keeps matters in its own hands, and that makes us unique” The company produces more than 120,000 cameras, supplying around 70 per cent of these to the largest OEMs in the world from its Dutch head office. Orlaco sells the remaining 30 per cent aftermarket via an extensive dealership network.

Orlaco consists of over 180 staff members and in optimised production halls it can assemble cameras, monitors, cables and connectors, but also RadarEye sensors, switchers, mounting products, interfaces, controls and power supplies. Orlaco has a Special Products department for developing customer-specific systems, with expertise in industrial, electronic (Trucktronic ®), optical, mechanical, embedded software, functional safety and 3D simulation design, plus advanced and test engineering, it’s stated.

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driver’s clear vehicular peripheral vision is vital due to increasing traffic and potentially random actions of nearby pedestrians and cyclists.

And while digital cameras being used to afford views of what’s behind or to the side of a bus or coach is not new - with an array of companies offering wired or wireless camera kits to do the job - the strategy of using multiple cameras to ‘panoramically’ cover a vehicle’s rear end is claimed to offer the bus driver their best-yet rear view when reversing or turning.

Dutch firm Orlaco specialises in camera and monitor systems for heavy equipment, commercial vehicles, cranes, lift trucks, maritime applications, emergency vehicles, railway applications, municipal vehicles, and airport vehicles. It offers a range of cameramonitor vision solutions for all coaches and buses, developed with a view to improving safety, efficiency and comfort it’s claimed.

According to the company, “An Orlaco camera monitor system gives the operator the extra pair of eyes [he or she] needs, irrespective of the type of coach or bus and the operating conditions.”

“When making a sharp turn, the bus’s 1 Exterior mirrors replaced with interior screens

in trucks.

2 The three-camera system on the rear of this coach let’s the driver swing out or reverse with ease.

3 Retractable wing ‘cameras’ on a truck.

long tail can swing out dangerously. In this situation the driver can no longer see the rear of the bus, which increases the risk of damage to the vehicle or its surroundings.

Orlaco provides a vision system called Rear Corner View designed for buses and coaches to eliminate blind spots on the rear.

“The rear of the bus is barely or not visible to the driver. Especially the rear of buses with three axes and an enclosing rear axis can swing out up to five feet. Traffic and objects behind the tail swing are invisible due to the obstructed view.”

The company’s Rear Corner View system means the entire rear of the vehicle and other traffic are displayed to the driver on a screen, despite the tail swing. And this should help prevent accidents, damage, personal injury and enable the driver to steer the bus or coach safely.

So how does it work? Rear Corner View employs no fewer than three cameras on the rear of the bus: on the left, middle and right rear. Additionally, Orlaco says it can be combined with a side view system, too, where a camera is connected to the turn signals.

“When signalling a turn to the right, the right side of the split screen on the monitor

5

NIGHT VISION ENHANCEMENT

6

Could digital cameras one day replace side mirrors on buses and coaches?

?

4 Cameras left, right and centre on this coach’s rear.

5 The side cameras add extra vision for bus and

coach drivers.

6 Night vision camera might prove really handy on

long-haul truck routes.

www.truckandbus.net.au 059

1

2 3

4

switches to side view. The left part of the monitor shows the left rear corner. After 10 seconds the monitor automatically switches back to the full rear view. The side view provides the driver with a view on cycling lanes, side-walks, parallels and the area beside the road.”

The four-camera system is available with an Orlaco 7-inch double-DIN built-in monitor, though the system can also be connected to third-party screens. Rear Corner View is applicable to all buses and coaches, it’s stated.

Yet perhaps its coolest new product due for release in 2017 for trucks is MirrorEye – making mirrorless trucks possible thanks to using high-definition cameras. Though there no plans for such technology to be used on buses just yet, Coach & Bus magazine is kind of hoping that changes soon.

MirrorEye, it’s claimed, replaces the side mirrors on trucks and improves overall performance with features including night vision, overtaking detection and an automated panning function.

Said to afford a crystal-clear view of all traffic in the vicinity, MirrorEye consists of two High Definition (HD) cameras placed on either side of the cabin – automatically

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retractable, so the James Bond-type cool factor of this is amazing. The driver can view the camera images in real time on a split screen HD monitor in the window stile, providing them with an optimum view of road users alongside, or an acute angle behind the truck – at all times, everywhere and under all circumstances.

Long distance haulers should be particularly impressed with the Night Vision function, which is said to provide the driver with a better view of surrounding night traffic.

Additionally, MirrorEye has a panning function: “the cameras automatically adjust when turning or reversing, providing drivers with a better view whilst performing these manoeuvres”.

Increased safety also comes from it being able to alert the driver as to whether the adjacent lane is occupied by another road user when changing lanes.

With its aerodynamic design, tests also show the system results in up to 2 per cent reduction in fuel consumption when compared to traditional side-mirrors, it’s claimed. It also meets strict EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) standards and is manufactured according to the ISO/TS 16949 directives for the automotive industry, Orlaco states.

“...on either side of the cabin – automatically retractable, so the James Bondtype cool factor of this is amazing.”

1 From such a tall driver’s position, good overall

vision of the vehicle is paramount for safety, 2 Side cameras could help give a better view of

pedestrian actions in the periphery.

3 Clear vision is relayed to the driver on high-

definition screens.

4 Three cameras at the rear of the bus should

help greatly reduce any blindspots when reversing or swinging out.

Hot Stuff

By Fabian Cotter

Gadgets on the go

We’ve scoured the globe for all the latest gadgets and gizmos for when you are on the go.

Wynd Air Purifier It may seem far fetched, but they laughed when bottled water first became a viable commodity, so portable clean air might just take off. The Wynd portable Air Purifier creates a bubble of clean air around you by removing dust, allergens, smoke, and pollution from your personal space, it’s claimed. Since it filters harmful particles out of the air around you, Wynd helps you breathe clean air and feel refreshed, apparently.

WHAT? WHO? HOW MUCH? CONTACT?

And if you’ve travelled to any an smog-infested city for work and known what it’s like to cough up a lung mid-morning then something like this might make a lot of sense.

Touted as an intelligent personal air quality system, it monitors your environment and cleans as needed. Wynd is the size of a water bottle, so it’s easy to use anywhere — in offices, hotels, cars, public transportation, and more. Wynd is said to clean more

than 70 per cent of particles in a typical car cabin in under 10 minutes and fits in standard cupholders.

Wynd lasts 8 hours of typical use without a charge and can deliver 9 litres of clean air per second. Plus the clip-on tracker unit monitors air quality and can relay the data back to your smart phone so you know exactly what sort of air you are breathing.

Pretty cool.

Wynd Air Purifier Wynd TBC www.hellowynd.com/

Bose QC35 headphones There isn’t much from Bose these days that gets a bad wrap and the new QC35 wireless noise-cancelling headphones do their job to ensure that isn’t changing in a hurry.

They aren’t cheap at around $350 a pop, but in this case you do get what you pay for, with the Bluetooth-ready QC35 right cup having three control buttons, a useful microUSB slot and an LED. A 2.5mm jack on the other cup means it can be used wired

if you so choose, and although they weight 310g once on they don’t really feel like that. They have a well-built feel and are ergonomically designed.

Travellers will love that they fold up into a cool carrying pack, the result not too small but still can conveniently be sorted away in your travel luggage.

There’s an Android app that easily lets you pair devices and a cheeky female voice that verbalises instructions is a very nice touch.

WHAT? WHO? HOW MUCH? CONTACT?

Bose Wireless headphone Bose Approx $350 www.bose.com

The Pilot System

WHAT? WHO? HOW MUCH? CONTACT?

The Pilot System Waverly Labs Approx USD$130 www.waverlylabs.com

International travellers will fondly – or not – recall being in a foreign country and not be able to communicate with locals fast enough to find the nearest toilet or hot dog stand. Okay, maybe it’s not that bad and many locals seem to work out your inane rambling, but still it would help to be able to communicate a bit more on more meaningful topics ‘while in Rome’.

The ingenious device called The Pilot system by Waverly Labs is said

to allow the wearer of the in-ear device to understand up to several different languages in real time for proper translation purposes. Using a handy app, you can flick through the different languages you need, which includes – at this stage - French, Spanish, Italian, and English.

It is due to retail for USD$129 and there are plans to add more languages as the device gains popularity.

Company Car

Tech-laden E-Class to hit Oz soon The 2016 E-Class pricing and specification is announced and the stylish mid-sized executive boasts all the latest technology you can eat. And then some. Fabian Cotter reports.

Y

ou wouldn’t be the first potential Mercedes-Benz buyer confused by the vast array of Classes and models in the range, so if you statistically you just picked something in the middle there’s a good chance you’d end up with an E-Class – no bad thing given the latest looks and features coming our way.

It’s a beautifully sculptured body with levels of class that sees it at ease on the driveway of some swanky cocktail party soiree, or carting you around comfortably to your next business meeting, or impressing the folks as they sidle in for their next Uber trip. Something like the E-Class as a company car gives you options and covers all bases.

We’ll have three engine variants at launch in July with a further two in time. The new E-Class will arrive as the E 200 (entry-level petrol, 2.0L four-cylinder – 135kW, 300Nm); E 220 d (entry-level diesel four-cylinder – 143kW, 400Nm); and the E 350 d (3.0L sixcylinder turbodiesel – 190kW, 620Nm), with all models equipped with the new 9G-TRONIC nine-speed automatic transmission.

The first two models arrive with AGILITY SELECT (with five driving programs), Widescreen cockpit, COMAND Online multimedia, Nappa leather-covered steering wheel with funky touch-control buttons, 18-inch alloy wheels, KEYLESS-GO package, Black Ash Open-Pore Wood trim and DAB+ digital radio.

The E 350 d gains larger 20-inch AMG wheels and AIR BODY CONTROL Air Suspension as standard. Also standard is the Burmester® surround sound system with 13 speakers, head-up display, heated front seats, leather upholstery, MULTIBEAM LED headlights and panoramic glass sunroof.

Later in 2016, two additional petrol models

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will arrive: the E 300 and E 400 4MATIC. Both will have Multi-beam LED headlights and AIR BODY CONTROL Air Suspension standard.

There’s a lot of cool tech on these things as standard, with all 2016 E-Class models to arrive with the Driver Assistance package PLUS, Wide-screen cockpit, KEYLESS-GO with hands-free access, 360° camera, front electric seats with memory function and LED high-performance headlights and Stardusteffect LED tail-lights – some random David Bowie homage no doubt. In terms of safety, it comes with standard 9 airbags, ATTENTION ASSIST, an Active Bonnet, and Driver Assistance Package PLUS. This is the tenth generation of the E-Class, but compared with its predecessor its wheelbase is 65 millimetres longer (2939/2874) and its overall length is increased by 43 millimetres (4923/4880). Track width is increased 20mm at the front and 7mm at the rear for improved handling, it’s claimed.

The body shell uses more aluminium and ultra-high-strength steel components than its predecessor with the front wings, bonnet, boot lid, and large sections of the front and rear ends made of sheet or cast aluminium.

Inside it doesn’t seem like too foul a place to be, with two 12.3-inch high-resolution displays forming a centrepiece wide-screen display, which the driver can set in three modes: Classic, Sport and Progressive. As it’s all digital it can be fully customised by the driver.

The current Manufacturer’s Recommended List Price (MRLP) for the 2016 E-Class range is as follows: E 200 - $89,990 (MRLP); E 220 d - $92,900 (MRLP); and E 350 d - $134,900 (MRLP), ex. on-roads. Pricing for the E 300 and E 400 4MATIC will be announced later.

CAR SPECS MAKE: Mercedes-Benz MODEL: 2016 E-Class ENGINE: E 200 (entry-level petrol, 2.0L four-cylinder – 135kW, 300Nm); E 220 d (entry-level diesel four-cylinder – 143kW, 400Nm); E 350 d (3.0L sixcylinder turbodiesel – 190kW, 620Nm).

TRANSMISSION: 9G-TRONIC ninespeed automatic transmission WHEELS: 18-inch alloys (E 350 d – 20inch AMG alloys) MISC.: AGILITY SELECT (with five driving programs), Wide-screen cockpit, COMAND Online multimedia, Nappa leather-covered steering wheel with touch-control buttons, KEYLESS-GO package, Black Ash Open-Pore Wood trim and DAB+ digital radio.

1

“...at ease on the driveway of some swanky cocktail party soiree, or carting you around comfortably to your next business meeting.”

2

“Ground control to Major Tom...”

It all looks a lot more complex than a high-end toaster, but it’s sure to be comfy, too.

2 It definitely is a good-looking luxury exec.

1

www.truckandbus.net.au 063

064Money Matters

Paul Clitheroe EMBRACE SUPER – IT’S GOOD FOR YOU

N

ext time you’ve got a few friends over for a barbecue, try raising

the topic of superannuation.

Chances are some people will pour

themselves extremely large drinks, others will slip into a type of coma, and some will become extremely absorbed by a spoon or

salt shaker. Personally, I’m a big fan of super, but new research shows plenty of Australians don’t share my enthusiasm.

According to Suncorp’s Attitudes to Superannuation report, two out of five workers have never topped up their super and only one in 10 pay extra into their super each pay day. Almost 45 per cent of people say they find super complicated.

I realise the situation isn’t helped by successive governments fiddling with the rules. But the basics of super are quite straightforward.

Super is built up over our working lives from contributions by employers (and hopefully, topped up out of our own pockets) plus investment returns. It’s lightly taxed - both to

encourage our active contribution towards it and to increase the size of the payout at the

end.

Yes, the fine print can be confusing, but the fact is we need super.

Eligibility for the age pension is being pushed out from age 65 to 67 by 1 July

2023. From the start of 2017, changes to the pension assets test will make it harder to receive a part pension.

The bottom line is that we’re increasingly expected to fund our own retirement.

Interestingly, Suncorp’s survey found 33 per cent of people weren’t engaged with their super because it’s boring. However, as

a colleague of mine who recently turned 50 pointed out, super suddenly becomes a lot more interesting as we age.

The trouble is, ignoring your super for much of your working life makes it a lot harder to grow a decent nest egg later on.

With your annual super statement likely to arrive in the next few weeks, taking a few simple steps can make a valuable difference

to your super balance on retirement.

First, check the fund fees you’re paying. If

you think you’re paying too much, consider switching to a low-fee MySuper option – most funds offer these.

If you have more than one super fund, think about rolling the balances into a single account. It can save on fees and make it easier to keep track of your super. Be sure to check how this impacts your life cover, especially if you have a pre-existing medical condition, which can make it hard to get life insurance with a new fund.

Finally, think about using the new financial year to kick-start some additional super

contributions through salary sacrifice.

Check out the superannuation calculator on the government’s MoneySmart website to see how it can help grow your super.

“...changes to the pension assets test will make it harder to receive a part pension.”

Paul Clitheroe is a founding director of financial planning firm ipac, chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money magazine.

Visit www.paulsmoney.com.au for more information.

064 www.truckandbus.net.au

N E R G L VO

F O P O T S S A L C TH E

A O V E R 35 Y E

B S T IT U T E U S O N S A R A L IA H T S E U C A N R IE R O E F P X G E U FAC T U R I N N A M S U B RS IN

Volgren. Built smart. Built safe.

Visit us online www.volgren.com.au or contact Sales +61 3 9791 4255 VICTORIA 221-243 Hammond Rd Dandenong VIC 3175 +61 3 9791 4255

NEW SOUTH WALES 7-11 Broadhurst Rd Ingleburn NSW 2565 +61 2 9618 7876

3-13 Kilcoy Dve Tomago NSW 2322 +61 2 4913 7100

QUEENSLAND 20 Amy Johnson Place Eagle Farm QLD 4009 +61 7 3243 5300

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 47 Beringarra Ave Malaga WA 6090 +61 8 9248 8055

Global Technology

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financial risk for your business!

It’s your

choice

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