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VOLUME 36 ISSUE NUMBER 5 May 2014
www.truckandbusbuilder.com 1
The International Newsletter of Commercial Vehicle Manufacturing Developments
Truck & Bus Builder
IN THIS ISSUENext major project for DAF is a new cab 2
Westport & Weichai launch WP12 gas engine 3
Anadolu Isuzu enters city bus market with Citiport 4
BYD wins orders for 5,000 ebuses 6
New Karsan Atak and Star midi-bus models 7
Faymonville unveils CombiMax trailer system 9
UK - GKN plc of Redditch, UK, has acquired Williams Hybrid Power Ltd (WHP) from Williams Grand Prix Engineering Ltd of Oxford for GBP8m.
WHP specialises in the design and manufacture of composite flywheel-based energy storage systems, initially exploring options for the bus, truck and tram markets. GKN and WHP have been working together to validate the use of this technology for the past few years, and now this stage has been reached, says GKN, it is appropriate for GKN to use its global resources and manufacturing capability to maximise the commercial opportunities. The new business will be called GKN Hybrid Power.
In addition to the GBP8m cash consideration, GKN has agreed to provide Williams with a further consideration payable based upon future sales of WHP products over the next 10 years. GKN says this will be calculated at 3.5% of sales in each of the first five years, declining on a stepped basis to 1.5% by the end of the 10 year period. This supplementary payment is limited to the cumulative sum of GBP4.0m.
Phil Swash, chief executive of GKN Land Systems, said: “This acquisition is a great opportunity for GKN to take a unique technology to global markets,
GKN buys Williams Hybrid PowerAcquisition / Alternative Drive
helping solve the emissions and efficiency challenges faced by mass transit companies around the world. It also provides GKN with a unique set of engineering skills we believe will help bring new innovation and performance to our wider product portfolio.”
Around 50 personnel are engaged in the hybrid development programme at WHP, who are to remain at Williams existing facility near Oxford until GKN has acquired suitable premises locally. A bus equipped with the hybrid system has been successfully deployed on long-term trials with bus operator, Go-Ahead in London.
It was announced subsequently that UK development grants have been awarded by Britain’s business secretary, Vince Cable, out of the GBP1bn grant allocation managed by the Advanced Propulsion Centre – formed by government and industry in January this year to invest GBP500m each of the next ten years into vehicle research and development of the future. GKN is understood to be committing GBP9.1m as part of a GBP18.2m scheme to incorporate the flybrid technology in buses.
For the financial year ended December 31, 2013, WHP made a loss after taxation of GBP1.0m.
China / USA – Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd (Foton), China’s biggest commercial vehicle manufacturer headquartered in Beijing, has launched a new truck model powered for the first time by the new ISG heavy-duty engine by Cummins Inc of Indiana, Ohio, USA.
Developed at Cummins Technical Center in Columbus, Indiana, the new G Series engine is, initially, being manufactured at the Beijing Foton Cummins Engine Co (BFCEC) in Beijing, a well-established 50-50 joint venture between Cummins and Foton.
Equipped with Cummins new heavy-duty ISG engine, it is to be used to power the newly launched Foton Daimler Auman GTL ‘Super Power’ truck being manufactured by Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co Ltd (BFDA), a 50-50 joint venture between Foton and Daimler.
China’s Foton Motor first to fit new Cummins diesel enginePower launch
Cummins explains that the joint venture between Foton and Cummins, successfully introduced the Cummins ISF light-duty engine platform in 2008, (now a leading power unit in the light-duty commercial vehicle market) and together, the two companies plan to synchronize the development of the Cummins ISG engine and the new GTL “Super Power” truck. The ISG heavy-duty engine platform is an in-line 6-cylinder engine, and is available in 11-litre and 12-litre forms to meet a broad variety of global market requirements and emissions standards.
Steve Chapman, Cummins Group Vice President - China and Russia, remarked: “The cooperation on ISG is a natural extension of the successful integration of Cummins ISF engine and Foton trucks.” Foton’s product line includes trucks, buses, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans. With 40,000 employees, Foton produced more than 670,000 total vehicles in 2013.
USA / Germany – America’s BorgWarner Inc of Auburn Hills, Michigan announced in April it had completed the acquisition of Gustav Wahler GmbH & Co KG, the German producer of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valves and tubes and engine thermostats. Gustav Wahler has plants in Germany, China, Brazil and the USA. Its customers include Daimler, Volkswagen, BMW, GM and John Deere. It employs some 1,250 people and has a turnover of USD350m.
Commenting on the takeover, James R Verrier, president and CEO of BorgWarner said: “From both a technology and geography standpoint, this acquisition is an excellent strategic fit. The acquisition strengthens BorgWarner’s strategic position as a producer of complete EGR systems andcreates additional market opportunities in both passenger and commercial vehicle applications.”
He went on to say that Wahler’s EGR valve technology and strong European customer base combined with BorgWarner’s existing EGR valve and EGR cooler businesses was expected to strengthen BorgWarner’s participation in the rapid adoption of EGR technology.
BorgWarner buys Gustav WahlerAcquisition
China - BYD Auto Co Ltd of Shenzhen, is working on developing three all-electric trucks or e-trucks with gross weights of 3t, 5t and 7t, according to Isobrand Ho, managing director, auto export trade division of BYD Europe BV headquartered in Rotterdam, in an interview with Truck & Bus Builder at Busworld Turkey last month.
The 3t e-truck, said Ho, would be ready by the end of the year, with the two other heavier models, the 5t and 7t trucks, being brought to market in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Ho said that internet purchasing was continuing to grow and influence demand for small home delivery vehicles: Shopper expectations were for daily deliveries to increase in frequency – already, he added, deliveries in some cities went to the same address as many as five times a day.
BYD is working together with a logistics company to develop the three e-trucks with the focus being the ‘last-mile’ of delivery need.
BYD to add e-trucks to electric vehicle portfolio
Product / Expansion
South Korea / Mexico – Daewoo Bus Corporation, the South Korean bus maker headquartered in Busan, is to move into the Mexican market, by building a manufacturing plant in Ciudad Sahagún, Hidalgo, some 92 km from Mexico City. The move is being made in partnership with American
South Korea’s Daewoo Bus targets Mexican marketExpansion
Coach de México (AMC), which already has a plant on the site.
Vehicle production is targeted to start in 2015 with the initial annual production target set at 300 vehicles, mainly consisting of urban buses powered by compressed natural gas engines.
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May 2014Truck & Bus BuilderT&BB
The Netherlands - Unlike some of its European rivals, the decision by DAF Trucks NV of Eindhoven, in the Netherlands not to introduce a new cab at Euro 6 emissions standards, could put it in a fortuitous position given the latest EC legislation being drafted in Brussels on new vehicle dimensions rules that would potentially allow tractor unit designs to be extended in length to be more aerodynamic.
By allowing manufacturers to create a more aerodynamic cab design by extending the length of the front of the vehicle by an agreed amount could lead to fuel efficiency savings of between seven and ten per cent, said Ray Ashworth, managing director, DAF Trucks Ltd of Thame, UK at a ride and drive event at the Millbrook Proving Ground, last month. As well as improving visibility and therefore safety, the reasons for the new EU dimension rules is to meet the goals set by the EU of carbon emission reductions by 2020: As carbon emissions equate directly to the amount of diesel fuel consumed, changes to the legislation to allow modifications to improve the aerodynamics of vehicles would to improve fuel consumption of trucks.
Ashworth said that the next big investment (post Euro 6) for Paccar’s DAF Trucks is a new cab. The new EU dimensions rules would be brought into effect between 2018 and 2020, dove-tailing nicely with the group’s investment plans, said Ashworth.
Trucks (and bus builders) have been under enormous pressures and costs the last 20 years from emission and safety legislation and this is set to continue. We have already mentioned
Next major investment is likely to be new cab design says DAF Trucks
R&D / Investment / Legislation
carbon emissions and already manufacturers are turning towards fuel saving and carbon reduction technologies such as waste heat recovery, micro hybrids and other forms of energy saving / regeneration technologies, but it is safety legislation that is the priority over the next 18 months.
EU Whole Vehicle Type Approval for multi-stage body builders becomes effective from October 29, 2014. Whilst the truck builders’ chassis are already type approved in accordance with the due date of October 29, 2012, the market is likely to experience delivery delays as vehicles become tied up with lack of certification sites in the UK and last minutes applications by body builders.
November 1, 2014, EC legislation mandates that the majority of trucks and buses are to be fitted with electronic vehicle stability control (VSC) otherwise called electronic stability programme (ESP).
On the same day, a year later (November 1, 2015), it is also scheduled to become mandatory for trucks operating in the EU to be fitted with lane departure warning (LDW) and an advanced emergency braking system (AEBS).
LDW alerts the driver to the fact he is changing lanes without indicating – by not indicating the system assumes the action is unintentional and warns the driver. AEBS is a pneumatically-controlled braking system that is activated automatically as part of accident mitigation or accident avoidance. DAF Trucks AEBS will slow and stop the vehicle by using radar to work out the potential collision speed.
UK / China - The Pelican Engineering Group of Wakefield, UK, the newly appointed UK distributor for the world’s largest bus and coach manufacturer, Zhengzhou Yutong Group Co Ltd of Zhengzhou, Henan Province, north-central China, is experiencing high demand for the new Yutong right hand drive 12m coach.
Ken Grindrod, sales director at Pelican Engineering said at this year’s CV Show in Birmingham last month that the response to its demonstration vehicle introduced at the end of 2013 had been extremely positive. As a result it had ordered eight just prior to the New Year as stock vehicles but these were sold almost immediately. It subsequently ordered another 20 stock vehicles, said Grindrod, with the result that a further seven have also been sold.
The coach itself is a high deck 12m 51 seat (with toilet) multi-purpose coach or a 53 seat unit without a toilet. This year the coaches are all to be fitted with a Euro 5 Cummins’ engine under small series build rules in the UK with ZF Ecolife automatic transmission and Meritor axles. Towards the end of this year, Grindrod announced, Pelican plans to introduce a Euro 6, 12m coach; but this would see the Cummins engine replaced with the DAF MX 11 engine.
High demand in UK for Yutong 12m coachDistribution / Export
The reasoning behind a move to the DAF engine is that it is a larger engine and the fact that DAF Trucks remains dominant in the UK market with almost a third of the UK truck market above six tonnes; this will allow operators, said Grindrod, to secure strong aftermarket parts sales and service support for the MX 11-litre engine in the UK as well as in Europe.
Pelican Engineering holds dealerships in the UK for two truck builders, DAF Trucks and Hino Motors – it only supplies parts for the remaining BMC vehicles, following the cessation of production of BMC trucks a year ago. Richard Crump, managing director of Pelican Engineering, speaking about sales of the Hino brand in the UK said it was selling reasonable numbers of the Euro 4 Hino 700 series tipper and similarly, good numbers of the Hino 300 series 7.5t gvw Euro 5 trucks. Sales of the latter offers three advantages compared with the European 7.5t gvw models, said Crump; a lower deck height, a lower curb weight compared with European models (Crump indicated a curb weight of 2.5t and a payload difference of almost one tonne) and price.
Crump also announced that it was working with Hino to introduce a Euro 6 version of the 300 series from July.
Canada / USA - Westport Innovations Inc of Vancouver and Delphi Automotive of Troy, Michigan are combining their intellectual property and engineering strengths to co-develop and
Westport and Delphi working on new injectors for gas enginesCollaboration / Technology
manufacture high-pressure natural gas fuel injectors designed for multiple engine OEMs. The companies, in a joint statement add that they plan to establish Westport’s high pressure direct
USA – US-based truck cab and cab trim supplier, the Commercial Vehicle Group Inc of New Albany, Ohio has announced it is to close its production and warehouse facility in Tigard, Oregon.
The Tigard facility makes interior trim components such as instrument panels and storage cabinets used in large commercial vehicles. The majority of this work is to be re-distributed to other CVG plants in North America. The closure is expected to be completed by the end of this year, says CVG.
Commercial Vehicle Group produces a full range of cab related products and systems for the global commercial vehicle market, including the heavy-duty (Class 8) truck market, construction, military, bus and agriculture markets and the specialty transport sector. Products include static and suspension seat systems, electronic wire harness assemblies, controls and switches, cab structures and components, interior trim systems (including instrument panels, door panels, headliners, cabinetry and floor systems), mirrors and wiper systems specifically designed for applications in commercial vehicles. In addition to its North American activities, it has operations in Europe, Asia and Australia.
CVG closes Oregon facilityRationalisation
Canada - Mantra Energy Alternatives Ltd, a subsidiary of Mantra Venture Group Ltd of Barnaby, British Columbia, has announced that it has started the development of a prototype fuel cell for transportation applications. A version of Mantra’s Mixed-Reactant Fuel Cell (MRFC) is to be designed specifically for integration into vehicles of various types, with the objective of demonstrating a working prototype later this year.
According to Mantra’s engineers, the advantage of the MRFC is the fact that it eliminates one of the most costly and failure-prone components of a conventional fuel cell, which is the membrane. The mixing of fuel and oxidant also allows for simplifications in reactant delivery and reactor manifold, reducing the space required for the system. The MRFC has been developed at the University of British Columbia (UBC) over a period of six years with very promising results, but has not yet been integrated into transportation applications, says Mantra.
Mantra explains that, in a conventional fuel cell, the fuel and oxidant flow in separate streams, separated by an ion-conducting membrane that divides the cell into discreet anode and cathode chambers. The single-cells are stacked electrically in series using bipolar flow-field plates that provide most of the stack weight and volume.
It goes on to say that, by contrast, in a MRFC, a mixture of fuel and oxidant flows through the cell as a single stream. Simplification of MRFC systems is possible because they can operate without the gas-tight structures within the stack that are required for sealing and separating reactant delivery in conventional fuel cells. As a result, MRFCs can provide significantly less expensive fuel cell systems with high volumetric power density.
Canadian fuel cell breakthroughInnovation
injection (Westport HPDI) as the leading natural gas technology platform for heavy-duty engine applications.
The family of injectors to be developed are to be one of the core components of the Westport HPDI 2.0 fuel system.
Delphi and Westport plan to increase production capacity to 100,000 HPDI injectors a year by 2018.
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Canada / China - Westport Innovations Inc of Vancouver last month the final customer validation units of its next generation Westport high pressure direct injection (Westport HPDI 2.0) on the Weichai Westport WP12 engine platform.
The Weichai Westport WP 12 HPDI is China’s first engine featuring Westport HPDI technology, delivering the power and performance of the base diesel engine, while replacing up to 95% of diesel fuel with cleaner burning, less expensive natural gas. Weichai Westport plans to release 30 trucks for customer validation during 2014 with factory production expected to start in 2015. The WP12 with Westport HPDI 2.0 is to be certified to be compliant with China V emissions standards without a complex after-treatment system.
Weichai and Westport also announced that they have agreed to develop the 10-litre Weichai Westport WD10 engine with Westport’s HPDI 2.0 system. Weichai Westport is to provide funding for the development with Westport supplying key components and engineering support. Due to commonality with the WP12, the programme is expected to take approximately two years with product availability planned for 2016. The current generation Weichai Westport WD10 and WP12 natural gas engines, using lean burn spark ignited technology, account for about 75% of Weichai Westport’s engine unit sales.
Westport & Weichai launch WP12 engine with Westport’s second generation HPDI technology
Environment / Product / Collaboration
David Demers, CEO of Westport, remarked: “We are entering the largest market for natural gas trucks demonstrated by our joint venture with over 60,000 natural gas engines sold by Weichai Westport in the last two years, a growth of approximately 100 per cent year over year. We have not only found common ground for success in China,” Demers continued, “but are forging ahead with a second program aimed at making the benefits of advanced Westport HPDI 2.0 technology available on the majority of the natural gas engines sold by Weichai Westport.”
China market opportunity for gas vehiclesThe market for natural gas in transportation
in China is bourgeoning. According to the International Energy Agency, natural gas demand in China’s commercial road transport sector will reach around three times higher than today’s levels by 2035.
According to NGVA Europe, China has the largest number of natural gas stations in the world, with 880,000 medium and heavy duty natural gas buses and trucks in 2013. Westport says that in 2013, China produced 1,352,171 medium and heavy duty trucks and buses, of which 720,955 were Class 8 vehicles. The potential for liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a transportation fuel in China continues to increase with the growing amount of LNG
USA / Germany – US battery and electric controls group, Johnson Controls Inc of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has signed a collaboration agreement with Fraunhofer Gesellschaft of Oberhausen in Germany to develop the next generation of more energy efficient, cost effective cooling systems for vehicle batteries. “The collaboration pairs the world’s leading automotive battery supplier with Europe’s largest organization for applied research” says Johnson Controls.
The American company says that the collaboration is to focus on technologies and thermal management strategies for Lithium-ion battery packs. Currently, systems with fans, compressors or pumps use energy to pull heat out of a battery.
“Optimizing the energy storage solution within the broader vehicle environment will enable Johnson Controls to design, develop and commercialize
American-German battery development dealEnvironment
systems which not only meet our customers’ requirements, but also lead to improvements in function, package and cost,” says MaryAnn Wright, vice president of Engineering and Product Development for Johnson Controls Power Solutions.
Johnson Controls says the scope of the work is to focus initially on 48-Volt Micro Hybrid battery technology, which is designed to deliver strong fuel and emissions efficiency, and load management at a lower price than hybrid and electric vehicle technology.
Johnson Controls Power Solutions lays claim to being the global leader in lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for start-stop, hybrid and electric vehicles. Its 50 manufacturing, recycling and distribution centres supply more than one third of the world’s lead-acid batteries to major vehicle makers and aftermarket retailers.
Turkey / USA - Temsa Global SA of Istanbul, Turkey, which launched its 45ft 57 passenger seat coach, the TS45, at the ABA show in Nashville in January and the UMA in Los Angeles a month later to complement its existing US coach model range of the TS 30 and the TS 35 coach models, has already received an order for ten units.
Omer Sozutek, international business development director, Temsa Global at Busworld Turkey last month said that production of the new TS45 model would begin from July this year at its factory in Adana, where it would be fitted with EPA 13 compliant Cummins engine and Allison Transmission.
Vehicles would then be shipped from Turkey to its distributor, CH Bus Sales of Faribault, Minnesota. The actual vehicles will arrive at its distributor’s sales and service premises in Orlando for audio and video installation and pre-delivery inspection before customer delivery.
Sozutek said that following the launch of its TS 35 model in 2010 and the TS30 model in 2011, it currently had 420 vehicles in operation spread over 30 states; in 2013, around 185 units of these vehicles were exported to the USA. In the first few months of 2014 sales had been brisk, said Sozutek.
Temsa adds 45ft coach in USExport / Product
Germany/China – Daimler Trucks of Stuttgart, Germany has revealed major plans to raise truck production later this year in China through Beijing Foton Daimler Automotive Co Ltd (BFDA) of Beijing, the 50:50 joint venture company producing Auman trucks it has with China’s Beiqi Foton Motor Co Ltd of Beijing.
The BFDA plant in Beijing opened in July 2012 and in 2013, BFDA sold about 103,300 units; a figure which represented the highest growth among China’s top five medium- and heavy-duty-truck manufacturers. From start of production in 2012, the Beijing plant has built over 150,000 units.
A major part of the expansion at the Beijing facility is the establishment of a Mercedes-Benz heavy-duty engine plant to produce Mercedes-Benz OM457 engines. These are to be installed in Auman products to further diversify and upgrade BFDA’s product portfolio.
The company expects additional momentum by an expansion of the dealer network that consisted of about 450 outlets at the end of 2013.
Daimler Trucks plans big expansion in China
Investment / Expansion
Truck & Bus Builder
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T&BB May 2014
Turkey – Citiport is the name of a new full low floor city bus from Turkish bus and truck builder, Anadolu Isuzu Otomotiv Sanayi ve Ticaret AS of Kocaeli, Turkey, which was unveiled at last month’s Busworld in Istanbul, Turkey, and marked the company’s entry into one of Turkey’s fastest growing market segments.
Another first for Anadolu Isuzu that comes with the new Citiport bus is the use of a Cummins engine, the ISB 6.7-litre Euro 5 compliant 289hp unit, rather than one from Isuzu. This is matched with the ZF Ecolife automatic transmission with three-stage integrated intarder, which is both hand and feet operated – again this is another first for the company. When asked why it had chosen a Cummins engine, Anadolu Isuzu’s engineering director, described it as the benchmark engine for the bus sector in Europe in terms of reliability, durability and engineering application.
The Citiport is offered in a three door configuration with air operated double doors at all three entry points. The floor can be lowered using an air-operated kneeling system to a height of 240 mm for access directly from the pavement. The interior has a slope of just 4.5 degrees to ease passenger mobility and there is a dedicated area for wheelchairs. It is fitted with a 39kW Konvekta air conditioning system and heating system.
It is fitted with an electronically controlled braking (EBS) system Wabco with integrated hill hold function. The driver’s area has a fully integrated dashboard and steering column with a fully adjustable air-suspended seat and electrically operated driver’s window. Another standard fitment is internal and external cameras integrated into the front panel to enable the driver to have all round visibility when driving.
This move into the full size city bus segment is part of the company’s overall major expansion plans and strategic drive to expand its product range, increase market share in Turkey and to increase exports in the MENA region. Tugrul Arıkan, general manager at Anadolu Isuzu said that it would achieve sustainable growth through research and development investments, market expansion and product diversification. It would not only focus on the Turkish market but also Euro 6 European markets as well as expanding sales in Euro 2 and Euro 3 markets of the Middle East and Africa. Arikan said that a Euro 6 version of Citiport, again using an equivalent
Anadolu Isuzu enters full low floor city bus market with Citiport
Product / Strategy
compliant Cummins engine was scheduled to go into production for European markets in the second half of this year.
Also on the stand at Busworld Turkey was the new 9.5m Visigo coach; it was almost exactly one year ago that Anadolu Isuzu had presented this new coach in Istanbul – it has passenger seat options of 35+1, 37+1 and 39+1 for the tourist and intercity commuter market.
A special feature is the use of panoramic skylight or three skylights in the roof for increased light internally and vertical visibility. It comes fitted with front and rear disc brakes, double circuit automatically adjusted ABS air brake system, auxiliary exhaust brake, engine room fire detection and warning system, a 5.2-litre, size Euro 5-EEV, 204hp Isuzu engine with manual gearbox for the domestic market. It also stated at the time that a fully automatic air conditioning (heating and cooling) system was fitted as a standard, which is a first in the segment in Turkey, offering a 28.4kW air conditioning capacity and 38.270 kcal/h heating capacity.
The company also introduced at the same time last year, an upgraded NOVO small bus series (7m) making the models of Novo, Novo Lux and Novo Ultra more aerodynamic and more modern in their appearance as well as the introduction of improved safety such as front and rear disc brakes as standard. It was also the debut of a more powerful 190hp Euro 5 / EEV engine and fitment of double glazing as standard.
In October, at Busworld Kortrijk, Anadolu Isuzu introduced its new 9.5m Visigo coach and the new 9.5m standard height public transportation bus, Citibus, to the European markets for the first time. The company announced that it would introduce Euro 6 compliant models of both also in 2014.
Also on display was a CNG version of the Citibus, fitted with a Cummins 5.9-litre Euro 5 CNG engine. This version was also first introduced to the market at Busworld in Kortrijk last year.
Anadolu Isuzu is looking to expand its exports into Africa with Euro 2 and 3 vehicles and the modern European markets with Euro 6 diesel and CNG versions of it bus and coach range. In 2013, Anadolu Isuzu built more than 2,000 buses, of which 850 were exported and 1,350 were sold in Turkey. In 2012 Anadolu Isuzu sold 1860 buses, of which 950 were exported and 910 were sold in Turkey.
Turkey - As part of its efforts to introduce a new coach platform at Euro 6 for EU countries, Temsa Global AS of Istanbul, is to use the IAA in Hannover later this year introduce to the markets its new 12m coach platform, the LD range.
Temsa Global first announced its new LD project covering three models - the LD Coach, the LD IC Coach (inter-city) and LD SB Coach (school bus) - at Kortrijk in October last year. Temsa says the new LD range replaces the Tourmalin and Safari models, of which it has sold more than 3,500 units in the past 10 years in more than 30 countries throughout Europe.
The design focus of the new LD coach platform, says Temsa, has been on total cost of ownership and meeting the operational needs of Temsa customers and fleet managers consisting of low fuel
New Temsa LD coach line up ready to replace Temsa’s Tourmalin and Safari
Product consumption, easy maintenance and service, high level of passenger comfort and user friendly driver’s area.
The LD coach, which replaces the Safiri, is to be available in both 12 and 13 metre lengths and is to be fitted with the new DAF MX11 11-litre engine matched with the ZF transmission and axles. Customer options include a 3rd door for disable access, toilet, kitchen unit, a refrigerator, audio and video system and customised interior.
Replacing the Temsa Tourmalin and Safari RD intercity models is the new LD IC coach. This has a more modular interior design suited to best fit the coach operators own requirements. It shares the same driveline and vehicle length of options of the LD coach.
The third model is the LD SB - it replaces the Tourmalin model introduced and delivered for the school bus market, of which it has sold more than 1400 units during the last decade. This coach model is to be fitted with a Cummins ISB 6.7 litre engine with a choice of transmission, either a ZF AMT or Allison automatic with ZF axles.
China / Turkey – Later this year the world’s largest battery and electric bus supplier, BYD Auto Co Ltd of Shenzhen, plans to add three new models to its 12m version of the BYD ebus family, currently on trial across Europe; these are a smaller 8.5m bus, an 18m articulated unit and a double deck.
According to Isobrand Ho, managing director, auto export trade division of BYD Europe BV in Rotterdam, speaking at Busworld Turkey said that these vehicles would be introduced gradually for customer trials in different parts of the globe in the same way its 12m ebus has been introduced to the market. (The two-door 12m version of the BYD ebus on display at Busworld Turkey has been tested worldwide in 48 major global cities: In Europe cities include Madrid, Salzburg, Warsaw, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Brussels, Tel Aviv, Budapest and London, whilst outside Europe major cities include Shenzhen, Beijing, Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Bangalore and Bogota).
The 8.5m electric bus features an all-aluminium monocoque body with dimensions of 8.54m long, 2.4m wide and 3.21m high and seats for 22 passengers plus the driver seat. It is fitted with a single BYD Fe battery pack with 250Ah capacity and two BYD permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) with energy output each of 90kw and torque of 400Nm each, delivering a range of up to 180km. It has a two leaf entry, ahead of the front wheels and the same in the middle. It has a boarding height of 340mm, a curb weight of 9t and gross weight of 12t. Recharging time is three hours.
The 18m articulated ebus version with dimensions of 18m x 2.55m x 3.19m provides 43 passenger seats and total passenger capacity of 135. The battery packs have a capacity of 500Ah, hold 375kWh of energy and offer 226kWh/100km of power. It can have up to three doors with double leaf openings, a boarding curb height of 330mm at the front and 340mm at the middle and rear doors. Its curb weight is 18.7t and gvw of 28.7t gvw.
The double deck, claimed to be the world’s first all-electric decker, is a trial three-axle model developed to meet the special requirements of the Hong Kong market. Specifically for the largest double deck market in Europe, London, BYD has designed a 10.2m, two axle low-floor vehicle. BYD suggests it is to have battery power of 350kWh, an operating range on a single charge of 200km, a top speed of 70km/h, and that on its introduction is scheduled to be soon. Other details of the electric decker include a maximum width of 2.55m and height of 4.4m, two doors, boarding height of 322mm, seating for 17 on the lower deck and 37 on the upper deck, curb weight of 13.5t and gross vehicle weight of 19t. Charging time is 1.5 hours using a 200kW system.
BYD unveils new ebus models at Busworld
Product / Alternative Drive
USA - Truck bodies and specialty vehicles manufacturer, Supreme Industries Inc of Goshen, Indiana, USA, has completed the previously disclosed sale of its shuttle bus assets to Forest River Inc of Elkhart, Indiana – see T&BB March 2014 for more details.
Supreme concludes sale of bus assets to Forest River
Acquisition
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SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT 28
APRIL 2014
Special Supplement to Truck & Bus Builder on Commercial Vehicle Developments in China
CHINADear Reader,Despite words of caution and concern by a
number of analysts that the Chinese economy
is at risk of overheating, the commercial vehicle
manufacturing industry, which generally is one of
the first industry sectors to display evidence of this
happening, is, as yet, not showing any signs of this
occurring. The CV sector grew by a steady 6.4%
overall to eclipse the four million mark.
In fact, the industry as a whole appears confident
of continuing growth into the future. Furthermore,
this confidence is evidenced by the continued
investment, not just in capacity but in alternative
fuel vehicles and their production.In fact, in this issue, there are three companies
looking to raise money through the Shenzhen or
Shanghai stock exchanges for defined investment
projects involving advanced technologies and / or
alternative fuels and drivelines.Jim Gibbins, editor
1
Name Change / Product / Manufacture
Hangzhou / Japan / Sweden - Dongvo
(Hangzhou) Truck Co Ltd (formerly Dongfeng
Nissan-Diesel Motor Co Ltd) has announced that
series production of the new UD Quester heavy-
duty truck would start during the second quarter
this year.A prototype of the UD Quester tractor - which is
to be called Kuteng in China as this is the Chinese
name - made its debut on the Chinese market
in December 2013 at Hangzhou City, Zhejiang
Province. Its dimensions were 6.8m long, 2.5m
wide and 3.7m high, it had a curb weight of 8.76
tons and a gross combination weight limit of 40
tons. It was fitted with the GH1C 11-litre Euro
IV compliant diesel engine made by UD Trucks
Corporation, with a power output of (424hp)
316kW and matched with a Shaanxi Fast
12-speed manual transmission.In preparation for production, a spokesperson
for the Volvo Group, (which owns UD Trucks
(formerly Nissan Diesel), in response to questions
from Truck & Bus Builder, said: “We have
introduced a number of new systems and
processes to be able to make use of Volvo’s
global supplier structure. And in production, we
have invested in a number of tools and working
methods to strictly ensure that we can meet the
quality standards required by Volvo. We have
also introduced Volvo’s quality audit process
before delivery to dealers and customers.” A high
percentage of the truck is to be manufactured
using local suppliers, although the engine is to
come from UD Trucks in Japan.Dongfeng Nissan-Diesel Motor Co Ltd (DND),
founded in 1996 in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang
Province, is a parity joint venture (50:50) between
UD Quester trucks to be built and sold in
China under the name of KutengDongfeng Motor Corporation and UD
Trucks Corporation, with registered capital
of CNY290m. The spokesperson added that
Dongvo (Hangzhou) Truck Co Ltd was currently
still an independent joint venture, but that it would
become a subsidiary of Dongfeng Commercial
Vehicles (DFCV)*, once DFCV received all the
necessary approvals for its start-up, which, the
spokesperson said was expected to happen by
mid-2014.However, even after the inauguration of DFCV,
Dongvo (Hangzhou) Truck, as a subsidiary of
DFCV is to continue to only manufacture UD
branded trucks, whereas, DFCV itself is to only
manufacture DongFeng branded trucks.
The curent annual production capacity is 10,000
UD truck chassis. Output remains low; the
company built 362 truck chassis in 2012, which
generated revenue of CNY231m.Backgound to the new DFCV joint venture
*In January this year, the Volvo Group announced
that China’s National Development and Reform
Commission (NDRC) had given its approval to the
proposed joint venture between the Volvo Group
of Gothenburg, Sweden and China’s Dongfeng
Motor Group Co Ltd (DFG). This is one of a number of approvals required
from the Chinese authorities. It was back in
January 2013 that AB Volvo (the Volvo Group)
signed an agreement with DFG to acquire 45%
of a new subsidiary of DFG, Dongfeng Commercial
Vehicles (DFCV), which would include the major
part of DFG’s medium- and heavy-duty commercial
vehicles business and to produce commercial
vehicles under the Dongvo brand name.
Product / Technology
Xiamen / Taiwan - Xiamen King Long United
Automotive Industry Co Ltd (Xiamen King Long)
of Xiamen City, Fujian Province has brought to
market an all electrically powered coach for the
commuting service markets. The coach at 10.7m
long, 2.5m wide and 3.3m high, has a monocoque
body structure and has an in-house developed
100kW KLBEVTM200 electric motor, which provides
motive power from lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4)
batteries produced and supplied by Taiwanese
company, Simplo Technology Co Ltd of Huko,
Hsinchu county, Taiwan. It offers a carrying capacity
of 51 passengers and has a gross weight of 16.6t.
Xiamen King Long launches electric commuter coach
Funding / Investment / Expansion
Hangzhou - Steering system and related parts
and components for commercial vehicles and
passenger vehicles, Zhejiang Shibao Co Ltd of
Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, announced that
it plans to raise funds of CNY708m to expand its
operations and specifically in four projects.
The four projects are:• To increase output capacity of its hydraulic steering
systems for passenger vehicles and commercial
vehicles, including 200,000 sets for commercial
vehicles – Investment needed CNY128m;
• Manufacture and processing of precision
Zhejiang Shibao steering systems to raise stock
market funds to expand operationsfoundry parts and to increase capacity to
60,000 tons a year (CNY200m).• Building an R&D and testing centre (CNY40m)
in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province;• To build a production line for electric power
steering of 2.1 million sets a year (CNY340m).
Zhejiang Shibao Co Ltd has been listed on the
Shenzhen stock exchange since 2006 (002703,
SZ), and supplies steering systems to major
manufacturers such as FAW, DFM, JAC, King
Long, Foton, Chery, as well as to customers in
export markets such as Iran’s Saipa Diesel Group.
Export
Shanghai / Thailand - February saw SAIC
Maxus Motor (Thailand) Co Ltd - a joint venture
company established in 2013 by SAIC Motor
Commercial Vehicle Co Ltd of Shanghai and
the Chai Tai Group of Thailand - start sales of the
MAXUS van range in Thailand.The new joint venture is engaged in the sales of
Maxus buses in Thailand. The first batch of about
100 V80 minibuses, are to be delivered to consumers
in Thailand for commuter service operations.
The V 80 minibus is 5.7m long, 2m wide and 2.5m
high. It has a gross vehicle weight of 4,100kg and
a carrying capacity of up to 16 passengers. It uses
a Shanghai Diesel SCR 2.5-litre Euro III compliant
diesel engine, which offers an output of 100kW.
Production of Maxus started in 2011. Sales
totaled 11,302 units in 2013, 7,076 units in 2012,
and 2,833 units in 2011.
SAIC’s joint venture starts sales of MAXUS in Thailand
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT 23
APrIL 2014
IN THIS ISSUE
Dietrich Carebus pioneer’s new child seat
2
Indcar to build buses in Romania
3
DCG importing Yutong coaches to Europe
4
EEC trailer innovation award results
6
ATDyanmics enters Europe with boat-tail 8
Foton enters Europe with new energy
9
Special Supplement to Truck & Bus Builder on Commercial Vehicle Developments in India
Contract
China - BYD Auto Co Ltd of Shenzhen, China,
a fast expanding new energy company, with
its short but very progressive 15 year history in
battery technology and now since 2003 and 2009,
also specializing in the manufacture of electrically
powered cars and taxis and most recently buses,
announced at Busworld last month that it has won
an order for 2000 full size electric buses from the
City of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
Paul Lin, senior manager, branding, BYD,
explained that the city of Shenzhen announced
in July this year that by 2015 all public vehicles
buses, taxis and other state-owned vehicles
operating in the city would be those that were fully
electrically powered only with zero emissions. Lin
added that during the recent Universiade2011
(University games) held in Shenzhen in August this
year, 40, BYD electric buses (eBUS-12) served the
sports village, sports venues and media centre, to
provide transportation for competitors, technical
officials, reporters and spectators. Lin said that
already 200 eBUS-12 were being operated as part
of Shenzhen’s public transportation system.
The eBUS-12 is a three-door full low floor city
bus made of an all-aluminium monocoque body
construction. It is fitted with a synchronous
e-motor, which drives through a 3-speed
automatic transmission, with electrical energy
stored in BYD’s own Fe battery pack, for which
BYD calculates, will last a full ten years based on
4000 cycles. (He also stated that the company
made battery packs with capacity for 6000 full
cycles, the equivalent to 15 years life). The battery
pack, says Lin, can then be recycled for energy
storage in another application such as solar power
storage. The eBUS is fitted with ZF rear drive axle
and has electronically controlled air suspension
front and rear which provides a kneeling function.
Lin is also able to installed the 100kW charging
station and thereby provide a turn key solution to
Vehixel and Indcar announce collaboration
to expand business internationally
its customers).
The eBUS-12, has a curb weight of 13.8t and
offers what Lin considers to be a conservative range
of 250km on a single charge in urban conditions
with stop-start depending on the duty cycle (280
to 300km is possible on less demanding routes,
says Lin). The bus can be fully charged in 3.5 hours
with a 100kW charger; energy consumption, says
BYD, is around 130kWh/100km with a battery
power pack density of 324kwh.
BYD exhibited at both APTA Expo in New
Orleans, USA and Busworld in Kortrijk, Belgium,
last month to introduce its eBus on both continents.
At Busworld, Lin announced that the eBus would
enter trial service in several European cities,
including Copenhagen and Frankfurt, in the coming
months. It is also understood that BYD’s electric
bus has started undergoing trials at one of the
world’s busiest airports in the city of Los Angeles.
The company added that the eBUS-12 was the
first in a range of electric buses under development;
other variants are to include a 10m model (eBUS-
10, 280km per charge), a double deck (eBUS-
12D, 200km per charge) and a right-hand-drive
version of its eBUS-12.
A further development announced as Future
Fuels & Power was going to press was an
agreement signed by BYD and Daimler AG
to establish “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New
Technology Co Ltd,” a 50:50 research and
technology centre to develop electric cars in China.
A further development announced as Future
Fuels & Power was going to press was an
agreement signed by BYD and Daimler AG
to establish “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New
Technology Co Ltd,” a 50:50 research and
technology centre to develop electric cars in China.
A further development announced as Future
Fuels & Power was going to press was an
agreement signed by BYD and Daimler AG
Investment / Research Centre
Germany / USA - Voith Turbo GmbH & Co KG of
Heidenheim, Germany, has opened a hybrid power-
train development centre in Poway, California, north
of San Diego for the further development of its hybrid
diesel/electric drive systems for transit buses.
Voith says that the centre covers more than
5000 square feet and includes office, warehouse
space and testing facilities. Also, a large solar panel
installation provides electricity for most day-to-day
facility operations.
“We are extremely excited to open a US-based
Hybrid Power-Train Development Centre,” said
Rob Wiss, vice president, Voith Turbo US Road
Voith opens US hybrid centre
Product / Technology
Product / Technology
USA - BAE Systems of Johnston City, New
York, USA used APTA Expo 2011 in New Orleans,
Louisiana, last month to launch, the HDS 300
system, its HybriDrive series propulsion system for
articulated buses.
Based on the company’s proven HDS 200 hybrid
electric propulsion system technology currently
deployed in more than 3,500 transit buses across
the globe, the HDS 300 system will allow higher
capacity buses with gross vehicle weight ratings of
up to 63,000lbs (28.6t).
BAE Systems said it was currently working with
bus manufacturers New Flyer and Nova Bus to
make its HDS 300 hybrid electric propulsion system
available to North American bus transit fleets.
The system, BAE added, can be purchased as a
standard package or with electrified accessories
which further increase the system’s efficiency
by reducing energy demands on the engine.
Electric accessories offer reduced maintenance
and improved safety over their conventional
counterparts, eliminating the normal jungle of belts
and hydraulic lines from the engine compartment.
USA - BAE Systems of Johnston City, New
York, USA used APTA Expo 2011 in New Orleans,
Louisiana, last month to launch, the HDS 300
system, its HybriDrive series propulsion system for
articulated buses.
Based on the company’s proven HDS 200 hybrid
electric propulsion system technology currently
deployed in more than 3,500 transit buses across
the globe, the HDS 300 system will allow higher
capacity buses with gross vehicle weight ratings of
up to 63,000lbs (28.6t).
BAE Systems said it was currently working with
bus manufacturers New Flyer and Nova Bus to
make its HDS 300 hybrid electric propulsion system
available to North American bus transit fleets.
The system, BAE added, can be purchased as a
standard package or with electrified accessories
which further increase.
Kässbohrer moves into truck
body building
Irizar plans entry into USA
Division. “The centre will allow us to further
develop hybrid bus technologies and cater to
the specific needs of our customers who want
to expand their use of this emerging technology.
Above all, we are making an important contribution
to the US economy by expanding the use of
clean-energy technology in transportation fleets
across the country.”
California-based Maxwell
Technologies is
to supply Voith with ultra capacitors; it already
uses Maxwell to supply systems for its patented
DIWAhybrid parallel drive system, which went into
production last month. Voith has been working
with Gillig to field test its parallel DIWAhybrid drive
system and says the aim of the Hybrid Power-
Train Development Center to expand on DIWA and
create new hybrid technologies for the US market.
INDIA
AXLES
1
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT 13
MArCh 2014
Special Supplement to Truck & Bus Builder on Commercial Vehicle Developments in East Asia
EAST ASIA
AXLES
1
Assembly / Agreem
ent
South Korea / Vietnam - Hyundai M
otor Co
of Seoul, South Korea is considering pulling out
of an agreement with Vietnam’s Truong Hai Auto
Corporation of Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam,
because of delays in completing a local plant.
Hyundai signed an agreement with Vietnam’s
largest commercial vehicle assembler in 2011 for
the latter to assemble diesel engines at a new
USD182m facility in the Chu Lai Economic Zone of
Vietnam’s Quang Nam province.
But the delay in implementing the agreement has
Hyundai reviews Vietnam diesel engine project
meant that Hyundai’s regional requirements have
moved on from what was originally agreed. The
Korean firm is now understood to object to Truong
Hai’s plans to press ahead with assembly of Euro
II and Euro III engines, saying it would prefer to
switch to Euro IV engines from 2016.
Meanwhile, the Vietnam government has just
approved the assembly by Truong Hai of up to
100,000 diesel engines over a five year period,
ending in December 2018, in line with the
specification requirements of the local market.
Expansion / Assembly / Distribution
Indonesia / Sweden - Swedish truck and bus
manufacturer, Scania AB of Sodertalje, aims to
strengthen its position in the Indonesian bus market
following the establishment of a new bus plant in the
country in late 2013, with the collaboration of its long-
standing local truck distributor, PT United Tractors.
The new facility has a monthly production
capacity of 25 completed buses, or around 250-
300 units per year. Demand for intercity and tourism
buses in Indonesia has expanded rapidly over the
last several years, with rising incomes encouraging
more leisure travel.
Public transport in the country’s major cities is
also heavily dependent on buses and demand here
is also increasing rapidly. The overall bus market is
currently dominated by Hino and Mercedes-Benz,
with Chinese brands beginning to make inroads in
the last year or two.
Scania has a stronger presence in Indonesia’s mining
truck segment, however. The company estimates last
year’s truck sales in the country at 450 to 500 units, a
level largely unchanged from the previous year despite
the tough conditions in the mining sector - with coal
prices depressed for some time.
Indonesia is one of Asia’s largest producers of
coal, which it exports to major regional markets such
as India and China. Scania estimates that around
95% of its truck sales in this country are to mining
companies. Its largest client here is PT Pamapersada
Nusantara (PAMA), which has one of the largest fleets
of mining trucks in the world - including 640 Scanias.
Mikael Benje, head of Scania’s representative office
in Indonesia, said around 2,900 Scania mining trucks
were currently in operation in Indonesia, as well as
Scania expands presence in South-east Asia
150-200 (mostly imported) buses.
Scania expects
its truck
sales to
increase
from current levels, particularly when coal prices
recover and investment in coal production rises
once again. Mr Benje believes the tough off-road
operating conditions in this segment offer additional
opportunities for his company.
The company
has established
a new
parts
warehouse in Singapore to improve aftermarket
supplies and reduce its clients’ truck downtime.
“Mining vehicles are worked hard and require rapid
access to parts. One of the reasons we built a new
parts warehouse in Singapore is that we want to cut
lead times in the region”, Mr Benje added.
Large truck operators in Indonesia increasingly
look at the life-cycle costs of trucks, including fuel
consumption, and capacity utilisation, rather than
just the initial truck cost and load capacity, says
Scania. This is expected to benefit European truck
manufacturers such as Scania, as well as others,
Mercedes-Benz and Volvo for example, which offer
good fuel economy and durable trucks compared
with Japanese and Chinese trucks.
Scania is also enjoying strong demand for its
vehicles in Singapore, fuelled by the island-nation’s
construction boom. It sold over 200 trucks in this
market last year and the company claims to have a
strong presence in the bus segment, having delivered
1,100 units since 2007. Deliveries in 2013 are
estimated at around 30 units, however.
As regards other markets in the region, Scania sold
around 670 commercial vehicles in Malaysia and
500 in Thailand last year. It also recently established
dealer operations in Myanmar in 2013.
Product
Japan / Germany - Last month saw Kawasaki-
based Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corporation
New 8.55t Fuso Canter
now on sale in Japan Aftermarket / Investm
ent
Japan / Singapore - Isuzu Motors Ltd of
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, Japan, through its subsidiary,
Isuzu Motors Asia Ltd has established a new
aftermarket centre in Singapore to help improve
aftermarket parts availability and service backup
across the ASEAN region.
The Singapore centre is to be managed by Isuzu
Motors Asia Ltd and is in response to increasing
volumes of Isuzu medium and heavy trucks in use
in the region and rising local content levels. Isuzu
Motors Asia Ltd was established in March 1996
and its function is the control of Isuzu business
in ASEAN countries, supply of CKD parts/service
parts and providing support for after-sales activities
of distributors / dealers in the ASEAN region.
The new aftermarket parts facility has been set
up in Johor, on the southern tip of the Malaysia
peninsula and just across the causeway from
Singapore, with more than 30,000 parts in stock to
supply aftermarket distributors across the region.
A similar centre was established in Dubai in 2010
to serve Middle-Eastern markets.
Isuzu establishes new
aftermarket centre in
Singapore
(a subsidiary of Daimler AG) introduce a new high-
payload version of its Canter medium-duty truck
through its network of dealerships across Japan.
The new truck has a payload of almost six tons
and a gross weight of 8.55 tons, compared with
a maximum gross weight of 8.25 tons previously.
The new truck model is also being rolled out this
year in 40 other markets worldwide.
Export / ExpansionUSA / South Korea – February saw US truck-
maker, Navistar International Corporation of
Lisle, Illinois, USA enter the South Korean market
with the launch of its ProStar 6x4 range of heavy
cargo trucks, powered by its 475hp 12.4-litre
(Maxxforce 13) engine.
The move
by Navistar
follows the
recent
implementation of a trade agreement between
South-Korea and the USA in March 2012, which
eliminates import tariffs on these products.
Navistar says it has sold 70,000 units of this truck
model in the US to date and is upbeat about its
sales prospects in South Korea. The company
claims that the ProStar, which it has priced at KRW
159 million (USD149,000), is 9% more fuel-efficient
than its European competitors.
Navistar suggests the South Korean heavy-
duty truck market is currently 55% controlled by
European brands such as Mercedes-Benz, Scania,
Volvo and MAN, with the remainder taken up by
domestic trucks from Hyundai and Tata Daewoo.
Navistar plans to support products in South Korea
through its International truck dealerships, currently
found at six locations and plans to continue to grow
its service and support network.
ProStar units for the Korean market are built at
the company’s assembly plant in Springfield, Ohio.
Navistar enters South
Korea’s heavy truck market
SP
ECIA
L SU
PP
LEMEN
T 1
AP
RIL 2014
Special Supplement to Truck & Bus Builder on Com
mercial Vehicle Developm
ents in South America
SOUTH AMERICA
AXLES
1
Dear R
eader,
Welcom
e to
our new
est regional
supplement
recording the
most
important
developments
concerning the comm
ercial vehicle manufacturing
industry in Brazil and other South American countries.
As w
ith our
other regional
supplements,
we
highlight new
business
relationships, new
products, legislation impacting the m
arket and the
manufacturers’ research and production strategies.
As usual we look at the m
arkets by product segment
and w
eight. In
this inaugural
edition w
e have
focussed on the largest market, Brazil.
Jim G
ibbins, editor
Jose C Secco, local correspondent
Investment
Brazil
/ U
SA
- Supplying
engines for
new
customer applications in trucks and buses is one
of the key pillars of Cum
mins’ grow
th strategy in
Brazil.
As part
of this
initiative, C
umm
ins Inc
of
Colum
bus, Ohio, through its subsidiary, C
umm
ins
Brasil Ltda of São Paulo, B
razil plans to invest
USD
48m on engineering technology and in further
modernization
of its
plant in
Guarulhos,
state
of São Paulo unit, where its diesel engines are
produced. It also announced plans to invest more
than USD
90m in the first phase of construction
of a new plant at Itatiba, in state of São Paulo,
to where it plans to transfer its energy and filter
business areas. This new plant is expected to
begin operations during 2015.
The com
pany expects
the truck
market
to
grow steadily in 2014, by betw
een five and ten
per cent. A number of truck m
anufacturers have
launched production
operations recently
with
trucks fitted with C
umm
ins engines. One such
example w
ould be MAN
Latin America, w
hich has
been installing the Cum
mins ISL 420hp engine in
the VW C
onstellation since 2012. Other brands
that have installed or plan to offer a Cum
mins
Cumm
ins to invest USD
138m in diesel engine
manufacturing operations in Brazil
engine unit in Brazil are all C
hinese; they include
Beiqi Foton M
otor, Foton Aum
ark do Brasil,
Metro-Shacm
an and JAC
Motors should utilize
the brand’s
engines. Foreign
manufacturers
/
assemblers m
ust comply w
ith local rules, which
require that 65% of com
ponents must be sourced
from w
ithin Brazil – so thus requirem
ent ensures
that the engines are built by Cum
mins in B
razil and
not imported from
China.
Cum
mins estim
ates that nearly 70,000 diesel
engines are to come off its production lines this
year for installation in trucks. For the bus segment,
the company expects an increase in m
arket share
from 11%
to 20% w
ithin three years, with its
engines being offered in a number of new
models
and in new applications during this tim
e; this
includes, says Cum
mins, the supply of engines to
Mercedes-B
enz do Brasil for installation in light-
duty Mercedes-B
enz buses.
Cum
mins Inc has four divisions and business
in Latin
America
is split
as follow
s: Engines
45%, D
istribution 30%, Energy G
eneration 13%
and components 14%
. After a slower year than
expected in 2013, the company is now
focused
on meeting forecast projected grow
th.
Import / D
istribution / Agreem
ent
Brazil / C
hina - Following in the footsteps of a
number of its fellow
truck and bus manufacturers,
like Shaanxi Auto, Sinotruck and Foton, another
Chinese
bus producer,
Shanghai Shenlong
Bus C
o Ltd (Sunlong) of Shanghai, China, has
announced that it plans to begin exporting buses
to Brazil before the end of June.
This announcem
ent w
as m
ade by
Brazilian
entrepreneur, Mauri M
oreira de Oliveira, w
ho has
been appointed as Sunlong’s Brazilian partner.
Oliveira announced that he w
ould be investing
an initial BR
L15m (U
SD6.4m
) to construct a new
distribution centre on an 80,000 sq m site in Juiz
de Fora, in the state of Minas G
erais.
With 35 years of experience in the segm
ent and
having worked w
ith foreign bus chassis builders,
Volvo and Scania and Brazilian bus body builder,
Com
il, Oliveira stated that Sunlong’s arrival in B
razil
would be the result of three years of discussions
and negotiations with the C
hinese builder.
Oliveira says the buses and coaches are to be
imported fully built up ready for operation in the
Brazilian market place and that already, a num
ber of
vehicles were undergoing type approval in the country.
Shenlong Bus appoints industry entrepreneur
in Brazil to sell Sunlong buses
As is comm
on in the passenger car and truck
segments,
buses im
ported from
C
hina have
a
certain attraction and market place due to their
often highly competitive low
price. Oliveira points
out that the vehicles being imported, how
ever,
incorporate a great deal of advanced technology
to improve both com
fort and safety such as air
suspension, air conditioning systems and AB
S.
Oliviera says that w
hilst all the imported vehicles
would be equipped w
ith diesel engines, Sunlong
has the technology to offer a full range of other
powertrains
including hybrid
vehicles, electric
vehicles and even buses propelled using fuel cells.
How
ever, import of such m
odels would only be
likely once the Brazilian governm
ent had defined its
incentive programm
e.
Oliveira
also announced
that Sunlong
would
consider producing buses in Brazil in a few
years’
time; this w
ould, if it went ahead, be its first plant
outside of China. O
liveira remarked: “O
ur plan is to
win a sm
all slice of the Brazilian m
arket by offering
products that complem
ent the market.”
Sunlong buses to be sold in Brazil are to include
9m to 12m
coaches and 12m city buses.
Brazil - In addition to the ungraded Ford C
argo
816, Ford Trucks of São Bernardo do C
ampo, has
announced that later this year it plans to expand its
presence in the medium
truck market by offering
the 11 ton Cargo 1119 m
odel. Details w
ere not
released but Ford suggests it will have the highest
output and load capacity in its class.
Product
Ford to offer new 11t truck
Sweden
/ B
razil –
Worldly
knnown
for its
brake system
s and
brake com
ponent products
for comm
ercial vehicles, Sweden’s H
aldex AB of
Landskrona, is targeting the Brazilian truck and bus
markets to expand sales.
Brazil is, indicates Haldex, the largest and single
most im
portant country in South America. It points out
that, after a slow year in 2012, the Brazilian econom
y
once again started to show its strength during 2013.
In addition to a growing econom
y, Brazilian legislation
was also driving technical developm
ent forward. An
emissions standard equivalent to EU
RO5 had, H
aldex
points out, already been introduced, as well as rules
regarding ABS and automatic brake adjustm
ent.
ABS
legislation w
as introduced
in 2013
and
required new trailers in B
razil to be equipped with
ABS system
s, comm
ents Haldex, adding that the
legislation would be fully im
plemented in 2014.
The ABS legislation w
as also expected to increase
the penetration rate of automatic brake adjusters
in order to fully utilize ABS perform
ance. Haldex
draws
attention to
the fact
that annual
trailer
production volume for the South Am
erican market
amounted to approxim
ately 80,000 vehicles.
In its annual report for 2013 it points out that Haldex’
new m
anufacturing plant in São José dos Cam
pos
saw a 50%
increase in production volume. This, it
says, is a brand new facility w
ith a new organization,
so this positive progress is a welcom
e addition to
meet the grow
ing demand in South Am
erica. The
plant in São José dos Cam
pos replaced three former
sites, and it was, says H
aldex, carefully chosen for its
strategic and logistical location.
Sales
Haldex targets Brazilian m
arket
VOLUME 35 ISSUE NUMBER 4 MaRch 2014
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China - BYD Auto Co Ltd of Shenzhen, China, a fast expanding new energy company, with its short but very progressive 15 year history in battery technology and now since 2003 and 2009, also specializing in the manufacture of electrically powered cars and taxis and most recently buses, announced at Busworld last month that it has won an order for 2000 full size electric buses from the City of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China.
Paul Lin, senior manager, branding, BYD, explained that the city of Shenzhen announced in July this year that by 2015 all public vehicles buses, taxis and other state-owned vehicles operating in the city would be those that were fully electrically powered only with zero emissions. Lin added that during the recent Universiade2011 (University games) held in Shenzhen in August this year, 40, BYD electric buses (eBUS-12) served the sports village, sports venues and media centre, to provide transportation for competitors, technical officials, reporters and spectators. Lin said that already 200 eBUS-12 were being operated as part of Shenzhen’s public transportation system.
The eBUS-12 is a three-door full low floor city bus made of an all-aluminium monocoque body construction. It is fitted with a synchronous e-motor, which drives through a 3-speed automatic transmission, with electrical energy stored in BYD’s own Fe battery pack, for which BYD calculates, will last a full ten years based on 4000 cycles. (He also stated that the company made battery packs with capacity for 6000 full cycles, the equivalent to 15 years life). The battery pack, says Lin, can then be recycled for energy storage in another application such as solar power storage. The eBUS is fitted with ZF rear drive axle and has electronically controlled air suspension front and rear which provides a kneeling function. Lin is also able to installed the 100kW charging station and thereby provide a turn key solution to
Vehixel and Indcar announce collaboration to expand business internationally
its customers).The eBUS-12, has a curb weight of 13.8t and
offers what Lin considers to be a conservative range of 250km on a single charge in urban conditions with stop-start depending on the duty cycle (280 to 300km is possible on less demanding routes, says Lin). The bus can be fully charged in 3.5 hours with a 100kW charger; energy consumption, says BYD, is around 130kWh/100km with a battery power pack density of 324kwh.
BYD exhibited at both APTA Expo in New Orleans, USA and Busworld in Kortrijk, Belgium, last month to introduce its eBus on both continents. At Busworld, Lin announced that the eBus would enter trial service in several European cities, including Copenhagen and Frankfurt, in the coming months. It is also understood that BYD’s electric bus has started undergoing trials at one of the world’s busiest airports in the city of Los Angeles.
The company added that the eBUS-12 was the first in a range of electric buses under development; other variants are to include a 10m model (eBUS-10, 280km per charge), a double deck (eBUS-12D, 200km per charge) and a right-hand-drive version of its eBUS-12.
A further development announced as Future Fuels & Power was going to press was an agreement signed by BYD and Daimler AG to establish “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co Ltd,” a 50:50 research and technology centre to develop electric cars in China.
A further development announced as Future Fuels & Power was going to press was an agreement signed by BYD and Daimler AG to establish “Shenzhen BYD Daimler New Technology Co Ltd,” a 50:50 research and technology centre to develop electric cars in China.
A further development announced as Future Fuels & Power was going to press and technology centre to develop electric cars in China.
Product / Technology
Product / Technology
USA - BAE Systems of Johnston City, New York, USA used APTA Expo 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana, last month to launch, the HDS 300 system, its HybriDrive series propulsion system for articulated buses.
Based on the company’s proven HDS 200 hybrid electric propulsion system technology currently deployed in more than 3,500 transit buses across the globe, the HDS 300 system will allow higher capacity buses with gross vehicle weight ratings of up to 63,000lbs (28.6t).
BAE Systems said it was currently working with bus manufacturers New Flyer and Nova Bus to make its HDS 300 hybrid electric propulsion system available to North American bus transit fleets. The system, BAE added, can be purchased as a standard package or with electrified accessories which further increase the system’s efficiency by reducing energy demands on the engine. Electric accessories offer reduced maintenance and improved safety over their conventional counterparts, eliminating the normal jungle of belts and hydraulic lines from the engine compartment.
USA - BAE Systems of Johnston City, New York, USA used APTA Expo 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana, last month to launch, the HDS 300 system, its HybriDrive series propulsion system for articulated buses.
Based on the company’s proven HDS 200 hybrid electric propulsion system technology currently deployed in more than 3,500 transit buses across the globe, the HDS 300 system will allow higher capacity buses with gross vehicle weight ratings of up to 63,000lbs (28.6t).
BAE Systems said it was currently working with bus manufacturers New Flyer and Nova Bus to make its HDS 300 hybrid electric propulsion system available to North American bus transit fleets. The system, BAE added, can be purchased as a standard package or with electrified accessories which further increase.
Kässbohrer moves into truck body building
Irizar plans entry into USA
Truck & Bus Builder
IN THIS ISSUE
Dietrich Carebus pioneer’s new child seat 2
Indcar to build buses in Romania 3
DCG importing Yutong coaches to Europe 4
EEC trailer innovation award results 6
ATDyanmics enters Europe with boat-tail 8
Foton enters Europe with new energy 9
Germany / USA - Voith Turbo GmbH & Co KG of Heidenheim, Germany, has opened a hybrid power-train development centre in Poway, California, north of San Diego for the further development of its hybrid diesel/electric drive systems for transit buses.
Also, a large solar panel installation provides electricity for most day-to-day facility operations.
“We are extremely excited to open a US-based Hybrid Power-Train Development Centre,” said Rob Wiss, vice president, Voith Turbo US Road Division. “The centre will allow us to further develop hybrid bus technologies and cater to
Voith opens US hybrid centre
the specific needs of our customers who want to expand their use of this emerging technology. Above all, we are making an important contribution to the US economy by expanding the use of clean-energy technology in transportation fleets across the country.”
California-based Maxwell Technologies is to supply Voith with ultra capacitors; it already uses Maxwell to supply systems for its patented DIWAhybrid parallel drive system, which went into production last month. Voith has been working with Gillig to field test its parallel DIWAhybrid drive system and says the clean-energy technology in transportation aim of the Hybrid Power-Train Development Center to expand on DIWA and create new hybrid technologies for the US market.
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May 2014
China / Turkey - At Busworld Turkey last month, BYD announced that its factories in China would be building some 5,000 electric buses (ebus) this year, the company’s current build capacity of its three factories in Southern China, according to Isobrand Ho, managing director, auto export trade division of BYD Europe BV headquartered in Rotterdam, in an interview with Truck & Bus Builder. (The designed capacity, with some additional investment, however, is for 10,000 units a year).
BYD Auto Co Ltd of Shenzhen has three factories, two in Shenzhen and one in Changsha – the latter is the first dedicated electric bus making facility in the world, Ho states. Changsha was the former manufacturing facility of Meidi Bus Co Ltd, bought by BYD five years ago for the premises and the skill base of the workforce in manufacturing complete buses. However, Ho points out, the integral chassis and body structure of the ebus range, is to BYD’s own design.
The 5,000 ebus orders are for its 12m variant, of which in the past three years it has sold in excess of 1,200 units and which has been trialled already in more than 48 cities in 30 countries worldwide. The orders are mainly from three cities in China; these are Nanjing, Dalian and another, yet undisclosed, city.
BYD is very positive about the future. Ho said
BYD wins orders in China to manufacture 5,000 all electric buses this year
Production / Alternative Drive
that discussions, during a two day conference and user forum held in London recently involving some 60 operators that have trialled the BYD 12m ebus, were not about whether the electric bus had a future but they were about operational issues, total cost of ownership and residual values. Ho said that there was a compelling case for the electric bus in cities: it is zero polluting, it is quiet and it costs 75% less in fuel cost compared with a diesel bus - London trials of the BYD ebus with Go Ahead and TfL suggest an average recharge cost of just GBP19.44 a day.
One operational issue to come out of the recent London trials was of too high torque, as the acceleration of the ebus is more than three times greater than that of its diesel equivalent. Consequently, the companies involved in the London trials are working together to lower the acceleration rate to the TfL specified limit of 1.6 metres per second.
Another issue that is being discussed is passenger capacity, said Ho, its ebus can carry some 60 European passengers. He pointed out that EC legislators had voted positively last month to changing the gross permitted weight of a 12m city from 18t to 19.5t, which would add to passenger capacity. He also said that BYD, along with others, were lobbying to allow zero emission vehicles an extra tonne ie 20.5t gvw in order to compensate for the
extra curb weight due to the weight of the batteries.Ho said that BYD was already warrantying its
batteries for up to 4,000 cycles and based on a single daily recharge, the batteries would last 12 years on this basis, with at least 70% of the power density. However, in-house testing has shown, said Ho, that its batteries are capable of lasting two and half times that figure of 10,000 cycles. BYD plans to buy back the batteries at the end of bus life to recycle the battery cells for re-use in what Ho calls, second life applications such as, temporary energy storage cells for solar power and wind energy or as a backup energy store for cellular (mobile phone) towers.
In order to assist with bringing the electric bus to market, Ho said that BYD recently brought representatives of four leading banks in China to Europe to show them the electric bus business case and to discuss leasing arrangements for future vehicle sales. BYD is looking at setting up a separate leasing company in partnership with the major banks to sell its buses.
Asked about rapid charging systems, Ho said that whilst BYD could offer rapid charging through pantograph or induction charging, he did not see a strong case for this, as not only is the infra-structure expensive but it adds extra weight of the bus, thus reducing its passenger number capacity.
Regards business in North America, BYD expects to see ebus production start in Lancaster, California within the next two months and that it was still looking for a factory and / or a partner in Europe that does not yet have electric bus capability. He also announced BYD was looking at the prospect of a separate assembly facility in the UK.
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May 2014
Turkey – Karsan otomotiv Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S. of Bursa used Busworld Turkey to announce the launch of two new bus models enabling it to be able to supply one of the most comprehensive ranges of buses from 6m to 18m in all Turkey.
Karsan, which builds 12m and 18m low floor diesel and CNG powered buses as part of its licence agreement with Italy’s BredaMenarinibus, of Bologna as well as its own in-house design of low floor / entry minibus, Jest, has now added to its range with the new 8.1m low floor Karsan Atak (means rapid in Turkish) city bus and the 8.1m high deck inter-urban Karsan Star coach models. (Both these models were unveiled in prototype form (under code names of CXL and MPXL, respectively) at Busworld Kortrijk in October last year).
The Karsan Atak midi-bus features a rear engine mounted Fiat Powertrain 3.9-litre four cylinder Euro 5 / EEV 150hp engine matched with a choice of a ZF 6-speed manual or robotised (AMT) transmission and Raba drive axles and 17.5in wheels. It offers configurations for up to 61 passengers without a wheelchair user, and 52 passengers with one wheelchair user. Karsan said that the comfort, equipment and features of the 12m buses were now available in more economical 8m versions – features include electronically controlled air suspension front and rear with kneeling and independent suspension
Karsan launches Atak and Star midi-bus models at Busworld Turkey
Product
at the front, electronically controlled air braking system (including ABS, ASR and EBS) and many others features as standard such as engine room fire suppression system and destination signs.
In November, Karsan plans to launch a Euro 6 version, which will be offered with either the Allison full automatic or ZF AMT for European markets.
The Karsan Star has the same drivetrain and chassis as the Atak, which includes the independent suspension at the front, but it has a high floor, luggage racks, seats for up to 31 passengers – the seating system is on rails which this provides a multitude of different seating arrangements - and a large baggage allowance volume of 4.25 sq m.
Karsan said it plans to also offer Euro 6 versions of both models from the end of the year for EU countries and in preparation of compliance with Turkey’s planned emissions change to Euro 6 in 2016.
The vehicles are to be built at Karsan’s factory in Bursa starting later this month.
At Busworld Turkey, Karsan said that it built no fewer than 540 BredaMenarinibus vehicles for Turkey; 300 18m articulated units with the MAN diesel engine and 240, 12m city buses fitted with Mercedes-Benz CNG engines. Total BredaMenarinibus vehicle build in 2013 amounted to 580 vehicles; to date it has built and sold some 700 vehicles since its cooperation with BredaMenarinibus.
Turkey - “2013 was a successful year for otokar as we grew by 40 per cent in turnover and reached approximately 117 million dollars in exports. Our international bus sales to about 40 countries, predominantly in Europe, grew by 25 per cent. We have utmost confidence in our business, as we touch the lives of millions every day with the buses we produce. As with Turkey, Otokar aims to become one of the key players in the European market.” These were some of the opening remarks by H. Basri Akgul, assistant general manager, Otokar, speaking at a press conference at Busworld Turkey in Istanbul last month.
Otokar, which builds a range of buses and coaches from seven to 12m in length, trailers under the Fruehauf brand name, military vehicles and since last year, light trucks in technical cooperation with China’s Foton, saw turnover rise to TRL1.4bn (EUR480m) in 2013 from TRY1.0bn (EUR342m). In 2013, Otokar started assembly of a Euro 5 compliant light truck derived from the Foton Ollin 3.5t model, but this is called the Otokar Atlas in Turkey. It is available in two wheelbases of 3,360mm and 3,800mm, and is fitted with Cummins 156hp engine with a torque of 500Nm at 1200-1900 rev/min. All products are built at its 552,000 sq m facility in Sakarya, located a few hours’ drive from Istanbul.
Akgul said that Otokar has been the market leader
Turnover rises 40% at OtokarPerformance
for the past four years in bus and small series coach in Turkey claiming that in 2013 three out five small buses sold were its Otokar Sultan 7m to 9m models (known as the Navigo in EC countries), and that one in two of the 12m city bus low floor models sold in Turkey were the Otokar Kent. In 2013, Otokar reported it produced 5609 vehicles including 3,923 buses. Sales totalled 5,554 vehicles including 3,614 buses for Turkey and 429 buses for export.
In terms of exports, Otokar has expanded sales strongly in Europe following its opening of a dedicated sales outlet, Otokar Europe SAS in Roissy, France (near Paris) in 2011. Akgul suggested that it had expanded its service points to some 200 and that in 2013 Otokar vehicle sales accounted for 2.8% of the 32,992 buses and coaches sold across Europe.
Otokar has spent approximately 4.2% of its annual turnover during the last five years - equivalent to TRY229m in total - and last year was awarded as having the most successful R&D centre within the automotive sector in Turkey, Akgul stated. Its most recent investment has been the electromagnetic interference/compatibility (EMI/EMC) control test and measurement facility. In 2013, it was the 11th company in Turkey in terms of number of patents filed.
Karsan upgrades JestProduct
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Turkey - Karsan otomotiv Sanayii ve Ticaret AS of Bursa used Busworld Turkey to announce a number of new features and upgrades to its 6m (15 to 21 seat) minibus, Jest.
Jest was first introduced to the market in May 2013. It features a modern low floor body structure, a 2.5-litre FPT F1A 125hp diesel engine fitted at
the front with front wheel drive and is focused on providing access for wheelchair users.
Sales have been swift and in the short period of time on the market, some 700 Karsan Jests have been sold mainly in Turkey but also in Israel, making it, said Karsan, the leading vehicle in the intra-city short-distance public transportation vehicle segment. Karsan says Jest continues to attract great interest in its segment and, as of 2014, new features are to include ESP, aluminium alloy wheels, a remote control central lock system and tinted windows.
China / Canada – The latest country to fully certify BYD’s electric bus (ebus) as being compliant with its vehicle build and safety standards is Canada.
Electric bus builder, BYD Motors Inc* of Los Angeles, USA announced last month that its 12m battery-powered low floor electric city bus is now approved for sale and operation in Canada after earning the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) Certification and being placed on the Vehicle Manufacturers Registry with Transport Canada.
CMVSS prescribes the minimum performance levels that vehicles and equipment must meet to run on Canadian roads, which, BYD points out, includes several standards beyond the US Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
BYD’s all-electric bus employs many advanced technologies developed in-house by more than 15,000 of its own engineers. Such in-house developed technologies include its advanced fire-safe, non-toxic and fully recyclable Iron-Phosphate batteries, in-wheel hub motors and regenerative braking. It can be driven up to 250km (155 miles) and last up to 30 hours in heavy city traffic on a single night-time (full) charge.
*BYD Motors Inc was established in 2011, is an American manufacturing company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of BYD Company Ltd of Shenzhen; the largest domestic car and electric-bus manufacturer in China. BYD is a publicly traded company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with 60% of stock owned by US investors. BYD Motors says it has recently hired more than 60 US citizens to support BYD Electric Bus and Energy Module assembly and manufacturing factories in Lancaster, California. BYD says the first US built electric buses were expected to be delivered to customers by the end of last month.
In March, BYD reported it had secured an order for 1,200 electric buses from the city of Dalian, northern China; the city is purchasing 600 BYD electric buses in 2014 and another 600 in 2015, totalling 1200 units.
BYD ebus now certified for sale in Canada
Certification
Turkey / Germany - Mercedes-Benz Türk used Busworld Turkey 2014 last month in Istanbul, to launch its Euro 6 Setra 500 Series luxury coach range almost two years ahead of mandatory compliance in Turkey of the Euro 6 emissions standards on January 1, 2016.
Three models of the 500 Series were unveiled by Daimler Buses’ Turkish subsidiary for the Turkish market; they were the Setra 515 HD, Setra 516 HD/2 and Setra 517 HDH. All three were powered using a six-cylinder in-line engine developed by Mercedes-Benz, which complies with the Euro 6 standard and produces 476hp (350kW).
Since the establishment of Mercedes-Benz Türk in 1967, the company has made investments totalling EUR807m and since it started its production in 1968, it has built 70,000 buses and coaches – in fact, the recently built 70,000th vehicle produced at its bus and coach in Hosdere was a Travego 15.
In 2013, Mercedes-Benz Türk sold a total of 1,174 coaches and city buses to the domestic market, exported 2,861 buses and coaches, 28% growth on 2012 manufactured 4,005 units.
Mercedes-Benz launches Setra 500 Series in Turkey
Product
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T&BB May 2014
Turkey - otokar of Istanbul and Sakarya introduced the Engelsiz (disabled) Maxi Sultan midi-bus (otherwise known as the Navigo U in mainland Europe) onto the Turkish market at Busworld Turkey in Istanbul last month.
The Engelsiz Sultan Maxi (Navigo U) is a 7.7m front engine high floor bus that has a passenger capacity of 31+1+1. However, the flexibility of design allows variable setups based on the number of wheelchair users; ranging from 27 standard seats, one wheelchair user and driver to seven standard seats, seven wheelchair users and a driver. Seats are placed on rails and these are designed for removal. Wheelchair access is via a Braun lift located at the centre doors. More than 600 (Navigo U) units have been sold in many EC countries (France, Germany, Italy and Spain for
Otokar introduces Navigo U to Turkish marketProduct
example), since its introduction in 2008. It is now being introduced to the Turkish market to offer a vehicle that is able to comply with the upcoming regulations on accessibility for wheelchair users.
The vehicle is based on the small-sized Navigo (EC) / Sultan (Turkey) range, which reached a milestone in terms of production in February this year, when Otokar built its 15,000th vehicle in this range.
Otokar, which displayed its complete bus and coach model range at Busworld Turkey, included the new Tempo. This is an interurban 27 seat coach, which it launched in Turkey in June last year and is derived from a lower specification version of the Vectio tourism midi-coach. Otokar said at the show it had sold more than 350 units of in the first five months of its market introduction.
Germany – “No bus in the world is safer” is the slogan used by Daimler Buses to announce the inclusion of new Active Brake Assist 3 (ABA 3) in its Mercedes-Benz Travego touring coach.
Daimler Buses last month said that the HD premium Travego once again had the edge on its competitors: claiming that it is the first bus in the world to be available with the new ABA 3. The company explained that the previous generation, Active Brake Assist 2, was already able to initiate braking action when the danger of a collision with slower vehicles ahead or stationary obstacles arose. However, now new ABA 3 can go one step further, Daimler says, by initiating automatic emergency braking when stationary obstacles are encountered.
This means, Daimler Buses continued, the Travego coach fitted with ABA 3 not only mitigates the consequences of a serious accident, but it can also autonomously prevent accidents providing the braking parameters are within the physical limits.
The new Active Brake Assist 3 in the Travego is to be fitted as standard, if a customer orders adaptive cruise control (ACC). Fitment of ACC is a precondition for Active Brake Assist 3, as it relies on the adaptive cruise control to measure the distance and relative speed of vehicles ahead.
Active Brake Assist 3 in Mercedes-Benz TravegoSafety / Technology
ABA 3 will automatically brake the coach until the speed-dependent distance pre-set by the driver has been reached, and if necessary, bring it to a complete stop.
Daimler Buses prides itself at being first with these safety systems, claiming that numerous safety systems have celebrated their world premieres of the Mercedes-Benz Travego over the years.
For instance, in 1999, the very first Travego distinguished itself with the competition, says Daimler Buses, when it was fitted with an electronically controlled braking system, disc brakes all-round and powerful xenon headlamps.
In 2002, the Travego was the first bus or coach with the electronic stability programme (ESP), which then became standard in 2003.
In 2004, in the Travego, Mercedes-Benz was the first manufacturer to present three new assistance systems adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and the continuous braking limiter.
In 2008 this was followed by the first generation of Active Brake Assist and the passive safety system, Front Collision Guard (FCG).
In 2012, Active Brake Assist 2 with extended functions and Attention Assist (drowsiness warning for the driver) were introduced.
USA / Turkey - Displaying its revolutionary and award-winning (Busworld Kortrijk 2013 Award) fully automatic rear-facing wheelchair securement station, called Quantum, at the Busworld Turkey in Istanbul last month, Patrick Girardin, global product manager of Q’Straint, advised Truck & Bus Builder that it plans to start series manufacture of the Quantum system at its headquarters in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from the first quarter of 2015.
Girardin said it had taken several years to develop the Quantum system and that it had been undergoing successful transit bus field tests for more than 18 months in North America with very positive feedback. It has what it calls a bump and go safety system - so that should an object be in the way as the arm is extending or contracting it stops movement immediately. It is currently working on developing the software further
Q1 in 2015 is production target start date for Q’Straint’s Quantum restraint system
Manufacture / Product
to accommodative as many variables as possible. It plans to start the supply of Quantum to bus builders in North America first, followed by the sale and supply of it as a retrofit option. Once it has established a market presence in North America, it plans then to introduce it in other markets, namely Europe. This is to be managed by Q’Straint Europe, which has its European headquarters in Whitstable, Kent, UK and where is recently establish a crash test facility for the group - see Truck & Bus Builder April issue.
Q’Straint is a family owned and managed business with Patrick Girardin as president and Eric Girardin in charge of international sales. It has three subsidiaries one in the UK, where it has just opened a brand new crash test centre and two others; Q’Straint Australia in Rocklea, Queensland and Q’Straint Canada in Cambridge, Ontario.
Germany – EvoBus GmbH of Stuttgart, the marketing arm of Daimler Buses for the Setra and Mercedes-Benz product range in Europe, announced that it had started series production of the Setra TopClass 500 at the Setra factory in Neu-Ulm, Germany with assembly of the first customer vehicle, an S 517 HDH three-axle coach.
The Setra TopClass 500, which was launched at Busworld in Kortrijk last October, replaces its predecessor, the TopClass 400, of which more than 7,400 units have been produced in Neu-Ulm since the vehicle was first introduced to the market in 2001. (However, the S 431 DT double-decker coach fitted with Euro VI technology is to continue to be an integral part of the current product range).
Daimler states the Neu-Ulm plant employs some 3,600 people to work in the paint shop, the seat production unit, the pre-assembly area, final assembly and the finishing department. In 2013, it says more than 2,350 Mercedes-Benz and Setra brand buses and coaches were built. Together with the plant in Mannheim, the facility in Neu-Ulm serves as the backbone of Daimler Buses’ European production network, which encompasses a total of six plants in Germany, France, the Czech Republic, Spain and Turkey.
Neu-Ulm starts manufacture of new Setra 500
Manufacture
The Netherlands - Belgian passenger transport company, De Lijn, has ordered 105 hybrid Citeas from VDL Bus & Coach, of Eindhoven, which shall is to supply new next-generation serial hybrid bus, the VDL Citea SLF-120 Hybrid from September.
The vehicles for De Lijn are to be equipped with a serial hybrid system from Siemens (ELFA) and a 4.5-litre Euro 6 diesel engine from Cummins. The rear axle is driven by an electric motor for which the electric current either comes from the roof mounted battery pack or the diesel generator directly. The battery pack derives its charge either from the diesel generator or from recovered braking energy.
The battery pack is designed to supply sufficient power to drive a fairly long distance in pure electric mode. This also provides sufficient capacity to power all the auxiliary units such as the compressor, steering pump, doors, air conditioning and so on electrically.
The hybrid Citeas for De Lijn are to be equipped with a start-stop system. This system switches off the diesel engine at bus stops and whenever the bus is at a standstill; it then restarts using just electric power. Fuel savings of between 30 and 35% are expected compared with a traditional diesel-powered bus.
The hybrid Citeas for De Lijn have 25 regular seats, five folding seats and a capacity of 95 passenger.
VDL wins order for 105 next generation hybrid Citeas
Alternative Drive
Norway / Sweden - Scania AB of Södertälje, Sweden has won its largest order yet for its own brand fully-built bus and coach models of 114 vehicles from operators in Norway. The order includes the Scania Citywide city bus, Scania OmniCity 320 and 340 intercity buses as well as its Scania Higer A30 coach with delivery this year and during the autumn of 2016.
Largest Norwegian bus order yet for Scania
Order
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T&BBMay 2014
Belgium – Heavy-duty trailer building specialist, Faymonville AG of Bulligen, Belgium, has developed a radically new modular system for constructing on-highway trailers for transporting loads between 60 and 250 tonnes gcw.
The new system is called CombiMax, which effectively consists of a series of carefully and cleverly designed components that can be coupled together to offer a full range of heavy-duty trailer combinations. There are a number of components that are key to the modular construction kit system that have been developed by Faymonville, they are: a single but universal gooseneck; decentralised ‘add-on’ steering systems, lighter pendle axles and independent suspensions, symmetrical and universal coupling heads and lightweight construction of the modular vehicle chassis.
The one gooseneck technology or ‘one neck technology’ as referred to by Rainer Noe, chief engineer of the CombiMax project, is the central key to the CombiMax trailer range. This is due to the fact that the universal gooseneck allows coupling by all three traditional coupling systems – the bolt system, the quick disconnect hook system or the installable telescopic centre beam. The components combine with one another as a standard without any problem on the new CombiMAX, says Faymonville, and thus this gives customers greater flexibly and the ability to meet the most diverse transport requirements, even after the initial purchase.
Another key aspect of the one neck technology that gives the combination such flexibility is the uniform basic steering system, as Alain Faymonville, managing director, explained: “There is only one steering transducer for all steering receivers used so far in the various units. This means,” he continued, “that all steering systems can be controlled by the newly developed, universally usable gooseneck, regardless of whether it involves vehicles with 4-tyred or 8-tyred pendle axles, vehicles with knuckle-steering axles (hydraulic or air suspension), or vehicles with independent suspension from the Twin Axle II series.”
Furthermore the new system interface also enables the direct combination of vehicles with different heights and widths, but with the same axle load in the overall combination.
As well as the gooseneck being modular and having a three-in-one coupling capability, other components of the chassis modules are modular too, thus further extending the flexibility. For instance, the trailer can have a single, double or triple beam extension with the beam or beams disappearing within the chassis – this is particularly important, Faymonville pointed out, for the operator to reduce the length to a minimum for empty runs in
Faymonville unveils CombiMAX - a new modular approach to heavy-duty trailer transport
Product
order to avoid additional costs for permits or escort vehicles. This is also made achievable due to the use of its universal coupling head as it provides greater possibilities to adapt the trailer to a specific transport application. It can also be used, for instance, to combine different bogie combinations with different axle sets such as pendle axles with standard knuckle steer axles or independent hydraulic steer axles.
A final tool to enable absolute flexibility is the ‘Joker’ - so named reflecting its use in game of cards, where it increases the value of the combination in which it is being used. The Joker is a single bogie that can be added to the combination to ensure the axle load is not exceeded. For instance, transporting three cranes (60kg, 70kg and 100kg for example), the low loader would need to be specified to meet the crane with the highest weight, whereas now, an additional joker bogie can be added and removed when the 100kg crane does not required to be transported, giving greater flexibility and saving the operator money.
Commenting on the impact and importance of CombiMax, Faymonville said in a statement: “Faymonville can produce models ‘ad infinitum’ from now on with a manageable number of components. With its virtually limitless combinability the CombiMAX is opening the door to the market of unlimited possibilities. Alain Faymonville said: “With the CombiMAX, we will be able to turn customer-specific requests faster, more flexibly and more economically into individual vehicle solutions. We are not really inventing anything new,” he continued, “as all the individual solutions already exist, but, with the CombiMAX, however, we are creating a common platform with which we can combine the advantages of the existing series (MegaMAX, MultiMAX, GigaMAX, VarioMAX and ModulMAX) in a variety of ways.”
The first prototypes of the CombiMAX are currently undergoing trials, said Faymonville, partly through its in-house testing programme and partly with customers in the field. The goal, which Faymonville says it has set out for itself, is to establish production of CombiMax from the early autumn. Initial production is to be in Büllingen, Belgium before transferring production next year to its premises in Lentzweiler, Luxemburg. Steelwork is to be undertaken at its premises in Goleniow, Poland.
It is worth pointing out that the majority of the components are designed, tested and built by Faymonville, and for the first time it will be building the complete pendle axle other than metal forming the leg. It its standard step-frame trailers it will continue to use either BPW or SAF.
USA / The Netherlands – With the exception of a few countries, where historically Paccar’s other brands are well known and established namely Mexico, Australia and parts of South America, the brand of DAF Trucks is the one of choice by its parent, Paccar Inc of Bellevue, Washington, USA, for global expansion.
According to Ray Ashworth, managing director, DAF Trucks Ltd of Thame, UK, speaking at a ride and drive event at the Millbrook Proving Ground, last month, exports by DAF Trucks to non-EU countries increased by 185% to some 6,600 units last year. Half of which or some 3,500 CF and XF trucks were sold to Russia. Taiwan accounted for some 1,000 trucks although these were mainly LFs and CF models. The Middle East accounted for some 700 units and the remainder were to countries like South Africa and Brazil.
Paccar to grow globally with DAF brand
Strategy
Germany - Schmitz Cargobull AG of Horstmar is celebrating ten years of in-house (ROTOS) axle production at its Altenberge plant, with the 500,000th axle being completed since production began in 2004. Rotos axles are now fitted in 80% of trailers built by Schmitz Cargobull. Over the course of the last ten years, added Schmitz, it has extended its range of axles; starting with the 22.5in disc brake axle, which was followed by the MEGA axle with a 19.5in disc brake and, most recently, it has introduced a self-steering axle.
In addition to fitment of Rotos axles in its curtainsided and platform trailers made in Altenberge, it also supplies axles on a daily basis to the company’s other German plants in Vreden (focus - refrigerated trailers), Gotha (focus - tippers) and Toddin (special types), as well as to its two remaining non-German regional factories located in Panevežys, Lithuania and Zaragossa, Spain.
Schmitz produces 500,000th Rotos axle
Manufacture
USA / China – Through its Asia Pacific regional HQ in Shanghai, American vehicle component and power management systems giant, Eaton Corporation of Cleveland, Ohio, has announced the opening of its Vehicle Group Asia PacificTechnical Center in Shanghai.
The new technical centre has been established at a cost of USD3.3m to develop a strategy of energy-efficient vehicle power management solutions for the Chinese and regional markets. It is the sixth R&D centre to be established in China by Eaton.
Eaton opens technical centre in Shanghai
Investment / R&D
Germany / Italy / Belgium – As part of its strategy to expand sales in Italy and South Eastern Europe, Europe’s third biggest trailer builder, Burtenbach-based Kögel Trailer GmbH & Co KG has just opened a new specialist sales facility in Cremona, Italy.
The company has appointed, Massimo Dodoni, a native Italian with many years of experience in the sales and distribution of commercial vehicles; most recently he has been sales manager in Italy for a European trailer axle builder. Together with
Kögel opens specialist sales office in ItalyAppointment / Distribution
colleagues, Mauro Denti and Anna Olmi, Dodoni is taking over the responsibility not only for key accounts and customers in Italy, but also for the entire distribution structure in South-East Europe.
He reports directly to managing director, Thomas Heckel, who said: “This new distribution structure in Italy will ensure that our customers get the best possible local support. With our new team in Italy, headed up by Massimo Dodoni, we have acquired three specialised experts to take on this task.”
It is also worth mentioning that since the start of the year Kögel has strengthened its presence in Belgium and Northern France with the appointment of Turbo’s Hoet Belgium nv of Hooglede, Belgium, as its distribution partner for these two areas. Turbo’s Hoet is a 40-year experienced commercial vehicle distribution specialist and bespoke trailer builder in Belgium. Since the beginning of 2014, Kögel customers have been able to buy, rent or lease Kögel trailers through Turbo’s Hoet, who, in addition, is also responsible for repair and service maintenance.
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Belgium – Faymonville AG of Bullingen, Belgium, one of Europe’s oldest specialist trailer builders, has announced plans to expand its capacity and production processes at all three of its plants in Belgium, Luxemburg and Poland, as part of its introduction of CombiMAX, its revolutionary on-road heavy duty modular platform system for trailers and step-frame semi-trailers for payloads of between 60 and 250 tonnes (see separate article about CombiMAX in this issue).
The importance attached to the CombiMAX project within Faymonville is emphasised by the planned investment sum of EUR30m that it expects to spend by the end of next year (2015).
Alain Faymonville, speaking at the company’s headquarters in Bullingen said that an additional workspace of some 21,000 sq m would be added to its various production and service locations in Europe.
The floor area of the steel work factory in Goleniow, Poland, for example, already had been enlarged by a further 6,300 square metres and the workforce had also been increased. The factory in Poland was established in 2006 for steel and chassis welding to take advantage of the high skill base in welding in this region. Last year, Faymonville announced that its standard range of MAX trailer ie step frames with three to five axle set combinations with gross weights of up to 50 tonnes would all be built there.
A new assembly plant for the CombiMAX, he added, was under construction at its Lentzweiler plant in Luxemburg – there Faymonville is building a workshop with a floor area of 10,000 square metres for assembly and surface treatment on an area of 7.5 hectares. The buildings, production equipment and production processes were being guided by an optimisation process developed internally by Faymonville. Subsequently, with regard to productivity, said Faymonville, an even higher level is to be achieved. (A possible subsequent doubling of the capacity is accounted for in the planning).
A new training and distribution centre is also being
Faymonville to expand production and service centre capacities by a third
Investment / Expansion
added in Luxemburg - not only for the CombiMAX, said the manufacturer, but for all Faymonville products that are manufactured in Lentzweiler.
Not only is it investing in new production capacity, it is investing in new pre-delivery, spare part and service workshops in Russia and France. Faymonville said that a new 2,550 sq m service centre would open in Noginsk, near Moscow. The facility would enable it to carry out service and repairs including sand-blasting, painting and welding. Details on the new service centre in France are to be announced at a later date.
2014 suggested, Alain Faymonville, would take the company back to a similar levels of employment and turnover achieved before the crisis. In fact, in the 14 years between 1994 and 2007, the Faymonville Group managed to increase turnover every year, with exponential rises in the five years up to 2007. The global financial crisis, however, caused a significant to turnover and only since 2010 has there been a recovery with turnover returning to similar pre-crisis levels this year.
Faymonville: Current facilities, extensions and projects
Activity Location Area (m²)Current production and service facilitiesProduction Bulligen, BE 20,700
Production Lentzweiler, Lu 20,000
Production Goleniow, PL 14,000
Service Goleniow PL 560
Service Bulligen, BE 7,400
Sub-total 62,660
Current production and service facilitiesProduction Lentzweiler, Lu 11,520
Production Goleniow, PL 6,730
Service Noginsk, Ru 2,550
Service France 1,000
Sub-total 21,800
Total 84,460
Faymonville – History of group turnover and employment levels
Year 1988 1997 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014Employees 30 67 296 330 456 590 654 524 497 489 521 570 600Turnover (€m) 3.15 18.8 55.7 81.9 107.8 164.6 185.4 140.5 120 149 155 170 185
Germany - Three years after its successful reintroduction of the Kögel two-axle or three-axle tipper 24 cu m and 27 cu m load volume trailer range, the Burtenbach-based trailer builder, has made some improvements to its 3-xle unit as standard and as part of its launch in Munich last March of its Version 2014 tipping trailer range.
To achieve even better load distribution, better handling and manoeuvring, the wheelbase of all new Kögel 3-axle tipper trailers has been reduced by 165mm to 4,435mm. This means, Kögel explained that more pressure is exerted on the kingpin and the drive axle of the tractor unit.
The 2014 version of the tipper trailer subsequently
Modifications improve stability and load distribution of Kögel’s latest 3-axle tip-trailer
Product
also has an extra 170mm in overhang of the tipper body and makes the option of an extra chute no longer necessary, which saves on weight. Another standard new enhancement, especially relevant for road construction, is the redeveloped folding locking device for the under-ride bumper that can be swung upwards to substantially reduce soiling by bitumen. The tailgate lock too has been completely redesigned to ensure that loose stones cannot cause an obstruction when closing and allows the side walls to join up with the tail gate in an optimum manner.
Other improvements include better brake protection against damage, the air and electrical
lines now being routed inside the frame, there are reinforcements in the frame above the axle brackets and there is improved stability due to the new connection between the side walls and the tipper trough.
Alongside the existing special optional equipment, such as additional steel supports, toolboxes, ladders, water tanks, various different combinations of wall thicknesses, there are now more sliding roof options available from two sliding roof manufacturers to choose from; each offer both manual and electrically operated roofing systems with the option of an extendible ladder to the bulkhead. By simply releasing a rotating bolt and butterfly nut you can climb down into, and up out of, the tipper trough more easily and safely.
Germany – Automotive driveline and chassis component supplier, ZF Friedrichshafen AG of Friedrichshafen, Germany reported group sales revenue increased by 8% to EUR16.8bn in 2013 from EUR15.5bn in the previous year. The workforce at ZF grew by 6% (4,200 people) to approximately 72,600 worldwide in 2013, of who 41,900 were based at the company’s German locations. Operating profit increased from EUR597m to EUR756m, an increase of 27% and return on sales increased from 3.8% to 4.5%.
North America and Asia-Pacific were the most important foreign markets for the company; with both regions contributing some EUR3bn in sales revenues. In the Asia-Pacific region, where ZF opened new (passenger car) axle assembly plants in China and Malaysia, it secured new orders and revenue rise by 15%. Sales increased by 5% in North America and by 8% in Europe.
When looking at the sales increase according to product segments, its Car Driveline Technology and Car Chassis Technology experienced growth of 15% and 11%, respectively. Sales by its Commercial Vehicle Technology division increased by 7%; while the Electronic Systems and ZF Services saw increases of 4% and 6%, respectively.
As in previous years, ZF spent approximately 5% or EUR836m of its sales on research and development in 2013 and some EUR954m or 7% on investments in property, plant and equipment.
Dr Stefan Sommer, ZF’s CEO said: “This year, ZF will benefit from the positive market development in the majority of market regions and industries.” He also expects the locations that were put into operation during 2013 to increase production significantly, growth in 2014 to be the “high single-digit percentage range” and that some 2,000 more jobs to be created worldwide.
ZF Ecomid production milestonesA highlight achieved at the end of 2013 was the
announcement ZF had produced around 750,000, ZF-Ecomid transmission systems - the 9-speed manual transmission for commercial vehicles - of this type worldwide. The ZF plant in Bouthéon has mainly contributed to this success, said the company – at the beginning of December the 500,000th unit of the transmission came off the line in Bouthéon. ZF also produces the Ecomid transmission at three other locations in Sorocaba (Brazil), Pune (India) and Naberezhnye Chelny (Russia). ZF launched the first ZF-Ecomid manual commercial vehicle transmission in 1985. The current version with nine gears has been designed for medium-duty and heavy trucks with a torque range of between 1,100 and 1,300Nm.
Performance
Strong year for ZF
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UK / The Netherlands – DAF Trucks Ltd of Thame, UK, has linked up with a major UK provider of transport management software and hardware solutions provider, Microlise Ltd of Nottingham, to provide a proven telematics package that is focused on vehicle uptime and vehicle long term ‘health’.
Phil Moon, UK Marketing Manager at DAF Trucks Ltd commenting on the strategic focus for DAF of its telematics package and why it has chosen to partner with Microlise, said: “Our aim has been to provide a tool which enables easy analysis of essential data about the vehicle and its operation from a maintenance and fuel consumption perspective while allowing operators to add tailor made packages to assist their own individual requirements and thus enhance overall fleet efficiency.”
“We decided to work with Microlise,” Moon continued, “since their system is fully proven and already in use with some of our customers. The experts at Microlise have been able to specifically tailor the system’s usability in a unique way for DAF customers while retaining its capability to handle a vast range of additional logistics tools.”
DAF Telematics is to be offered as an integral part of all new DAF Repair and Maintenance (R&M) contracts, thereby offering its customers a unique but fully proven telematics solution at no additional cost. The system, which is to be pre-installed on new trucks says DAF, has
DAF UK links with Microlise to offer new telematic solution
Telematics
been tailored specifically for DAF by Microlise.Ray Ashworth Ray Ashworth, managing director
DAF Trucks Ltd, speaking at the company’s own ride and drive event at Millbrook Proving Ground, near Milton Keynes last month, said that the DAF Telematics solution has been developed in conjunction with the parent company, DAF Trucks NV in Eindhoven where, for the past two years, Euro 6 trucks have been monitored in real time to help alert the operator to a potential issue or fault in order to carry out preventative maintenance to improve operator uptime. In fact, the monitoring system, in the longer term, Ashworth suggested, would also help DAF to gather knowledge and assess where it could make improvements to the components in the trucks at the design stage in respect of durability, reliability and performance.
The new system is being introduced in the UK because of its high level of R&M packages, Ashworth explained. In fact, DAF states that 35% of all new DAFs and 100% of all new DAF tractors sold in the UK are on R&M contracts. Ashworth explained that DAF’s area of expertise is truck manufacture and maintenance and so it has developed a telematics package to help pre-empt problems and to provide preventative maintenance to maximise uptime and truck availability. Its expertise is not in tracking, logistics planning and management, which is the expertise of Microlise – so by using Microlise’s
proven platform, this will enable operators to specify their own customised packages to enhance their logistics management, all of which can be priced separately.
DAF says that it will also be possible to specify the telematics system for DAF vehicles that are not maintained through a DAF MultiSupport contract. This can even include older vehicles and is available for other brands too, something that many operators need to give them visibility across their fleet.
In practice, through DAF Telematics operators will get a weekly fleet summary report for their vehicles, and they will be able to also upgrade to access live data for their fleet, including being able to track and trace vehicles and monitor driving style and fleet utilisation, via a dedicated web portal and a comprehensive suite of reports.
DAF pointed out that driver behaviour remains the biggest potential for saving fuel: A key benefit of the technology is to provide insights into driver behaviour, enabling operators to better understand how safely and economically their vehicles are being driven. This information can be used to put in place driver training programmes, where required, as well as fully analysing vehicle fuel consumption under all operational conditions. Coupled with the ability to spot developing vehicle issues which may require attention before becoming mission critical, the system has the potential to transform vehicle fleet management.
Currently, DAF Telematics is only available in the UK and there are no immediate plans to introduce it to the left hand drive markets of Europe, despite the involvement of the European’s head office in monitoring vehicles.
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Sweden – In an appraisal of the European truck market in 2014, Scania comments that the market has started a little better than expected. There were, it says, concerns before 2014 about how demand would be affected by last year’s pre-buys of Euro 5 trucks, but the pre-buy effect was shorter than expected. “We are now seeing a gradual return to more ‘normal’ levels of demand,” says Bengt Thorsson, Scania’s executive regional director, European region.
Thorsson points out that during the second and third quarters of last year, many European hauliers took their final chance to order trucks before the transition to the new Euro 6 emission standard, which went into effect at year-end. This contributed to a 38% surge in European deliveries during the fourth quarter of 2013 compared with the same quarter of 2012.
“After this pre-buy effect, we expected a period of lower demand, which we have also noticed – although it has not been as lengthy as initially feared,” says Thorsson. “The ‘blip in the trend’ caused by pre-buys in 2013 may now have passed. The European market has performed better than we expected, due to a more stable economic situation with improved GDP growth and a pent-up replacement need. Our conclusion is that we are now already seeing a gradual return to more ‘normal’ levels of demand, which bodes well for the rest of 2014.”
Appraising the market performance in different regions of Europe, he remarks: “Northern and central Europe generally look stronger than southern Europe. In Germany, with its strong exports, freight volume has been relatively unaffected in recent years, unlike many other markets in Europe. Great Britain – which is usually early in the economic cycle and where we have some major deliveries in progress – has recovered well.”
Scania’s Thorsson comments on European truck market
Performance / Forecasts
“A structural transformation is also under way, driving growth for transport companies in central Europe. The trend is that hauliers in Denmark and the Benelux countries are relocating operations to Poland, Romania and Slovakia. The downward trend in southern Europe has levelled out. A recovery is under way, but from very low levels.”
Of the shift to Euro 6 vehicles, he says, as far as Scania is concerned: “We have a strong position, since we offered Euro 6 vehicles earlier than most of our competitors, so we have a large reserve of goodwill to build on. Today we have a broader Euro 6 range than our competitors – with robust, tried and tested, cost-efficient trucks. We also recently received the Green Truck 2014 award from the respected German transport trade magazines, VerkehrsRundschau and Trucker for one of our Euro 6 models, a great acknowledgement that we offer the truck with the lowest environmental impact in the heavy tractor class.”
Appraising European replacement needs due to the ageing vehicle population, Thorsson says: “During the peak years 2006 to 2008, we delivered very high truck volume. These vehicles are now late in their service life, which means there is an underlying replacement need. The average age increased from 4.1 to 5.3 years between 2001 and 2013, which means that quite a lot of vehicles will be gradually replaced in the next few years.
“The trend we have seen is that many hauliers are letting their vehicles operate for longer than normal in long-haulage – normally they used to shift trucks from long-haulage to regional traffic a few years into their life cycle. Meanwhile, this means service needs are increasing. Scania has shown a stable and positive trend there in recent years.”
Sweden – With sales of the Volvo FH16 Euro 6 tractor units well under way since March, the first units of the new Euro 6 variants are expected to be delivered and on the road from next month.
The FH16 is to be fitted with Volvo’s new Euro 6 16-litre engine, the Volvo D16K – an in-line, six-cylinder diesel engine with dual-stage turbo, overhead camshaft, four valves per cylinder and common rail injection. It is available in three output levels: 750hp (3,550Nm),
Volvo to begin deliveries of the Euro 6 FH16 in Europe next month
Product
650hp (3,150Nm) and 550hp (2,900Nm). All the engines are equipped with Volvo’s
automated transmission, I-Shift, although the 550hp version is available with a 14-speed manual gearbox option, and all engine versions can be specified with Volvo’s VEB+ engine brake. Maximum braking effect has been raised from 425kW to 470kW at 2200 rev/min, further improving safety and reducing wear on the foundation brakes.
Volvo Trucks Euro 6 FH16 driveline variantsEngine Power Torque Gearbox Top Gear ModelD16K750 750 hp 3550 Nm I-Shift Overdrive ATO3512ED16K650 650 hp 3150 Nm I-Shift Overdrive ATO3112ED16K550 550 hp 2900 Nm I-Shift Direct top AT2812D16K550 550 hp 2800 Nm 14-speed Direct top VT2814B
Source: Volvo Trucks
Sweden – The Volvo Group set up an industry first in April by establishing its own university in Arendal, Gothenburg. It is designed to as a centre of further
Volvo forms own university
Industry Educationeducation and competency activities for the Group’s 110,000 employees in its entire global operation.
Volvo comments that with employees in more than 190 markets working on everything from product development and assembly to finances, marketing and sales, the competency level and further education of all employees is a crucial success factor for the Group; hence the founding of the university.
The Netherlands – DAF Trucks NV is actively looking to step up its sales activities of its LF truck model range across Europe to match the success it has in the heavy truck segment, suggested Ray Ashworth, managing director, DAF Trucks Ltd of Thame last month.
Since the turn of the millennium, DAF Trucks has doubled its share of the heavy truck (>16t gvw) segment in the EU countries (28+2) from 8/9% then to 16.2% in 2013; slightly behind Volvo trucks in second spot and Mercedes-Benz as leader with close to 22% market share. Ashworth pointed out that its growth in market share in heavy trucks over the last 13 years has resembled a straight line and that its target in 2020 is 20%. In tractors, it has been even more successful and market leader in the EU for three year in a row. Whilst it will remain focused on maintaining and expanding its market share with the CF and XF truck and tractor range, the market potential is greatest in the LF medium truck (6 to 15.9t) sector, wheregrowth, in terms of market share, has lagged its heavier-duty models from around 8% at the Millennium to 11.8% last year - its recent launch of the full-bodied aerodynamic LF in mainland Europe forms part of this growth initiative, said Ashworth.
DAF looks to expand LF truck share in Europe
Strategy
Italy - A third generation of the Iveco Daily makes its debut next month.
The Daily is manufactured at plants in Suzzara, Italy and Valladolid, Spain, facilities where Iveco has recently made significant investments in upgrading its production line technology.
The latest Daily retains its ladder frame chassis structure, but the van’s capacity has been improved through the reassessment of the relationship between wheelbase, overall length, and the length of the cargo bed. The result is new 18 cu m, 20 cu m and 11 cu m models.
All models up to 3.5 tonnes gross are equipped with new front suspensions and a new rear suspension layout has been designed for single wheel drive models that decreases the height of the loading platform by approximately 55mm.
A wide choice of engines, transmissions and axle ratios is offered.
Iveco launches third generation Daily
Product
Germany - Vehicles are becoming steadily safer, more efficient and comfortable – not least due to advances in their electronic systems, says ZF Friedrichshafen AG of Friedrichshafen, Germany. In a first for ZF, the company has developed and produced both the hardware and software for the electronic control unit in the 9-speed automatic passenger car transmission. The project, says ZF, was a valuable learning experience – inevitably this knowledge and experience will be used increasingly in the CV sector to improve performance and reduce fuel cost.
Felix Kuhnert, of PWC in Germany is quoted by ZF as saying: “The car is evolving into a computer centre on wheels. The share of all electronic components in the average cost of production is currently around 30%; but this is expected to rise to 50% by 2030.”
Growth in vehicle electronics set to continue, says ZF
Technology trend
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UK – The forecast by CLEAR International in its latest report on the Western European Trailer market is that the demand for heavy goods trailers in Western Europe to 2018 will steadily grow. CLEAR International is the company which supplies trailer statistics for the European Truck-Trailer Report produced by Truck & Bus Builder every two years.
CLEAR points out the date for Europe’s economic recovery was put back continually with each quarterly economic forecast during 2012 and 2013. However, in 2014, the forecast, it says, is for solid recovery both in terms of the economic growth and new trailer demand: the latter is expected to increase by more than 10%. Several of the countries covered by the West European Report are forecast to have trailer market growth of over 15%.
Belgium, France and Germany have already regained their pre-recession level of GDP, and the UK will do so in 2014. However, the Netherlands won’t get there until 2017 and Italy and Spain will take even longer, contends CLEAR.
Even more importantly for trailer demand, says CLEAR, the investment level in these seven largest economies will recover more slowly than the GDP figure. Belgium, the UK and Germany, it says, will be the first countries to match their pre-recession investment levels but that will not be until 2016. Nevertheless, investment levels are expected to
Expect steady growth in Western European demand
Trailer market
strengthen from 2014 giving trailer demand a boost.Moreover, demand for road transport in Western
Europe, measured in tonne-km, which has been falling since 2008, may at last stabilise. The average fall for the Big 7 economies is 20% since 2006, CLEAR indicates.
CLEAR points to the fact that the trailer parc (fleet size) is forecast to stabilise at the 2013 level, having been falling since 2009. It must be emphasised that this has never happened since the heavy-duty trailer was invented. The size of the parc has always increased every year even through recessions and slowdowns.
The forecast for new trailer demand is that it will almost match the level of 2006 by 2016. CLEAR draws attention to the fact that trailer production, having fallen by 10.8% from the 2011 level, will also have a double digit increase in 2014.
CLEAR states: “Despite the positive outlook for the period from 2014 to 2016, inevitably there will be another slowdown in the European economy in the future. In the latest forecast this is assumed to occur in 2018, although the report acknowledges that it might come one or even two years later.”
The Western European Trailer Market Report can be obtained by e-mail: [email protected]. (Also a copy of the latest and sixth edition of The European Truck Trailer Report 2013 may be purchased for GBP725.00 at www.truckandbusbuilder.com).
UK - CLEAR International, the consulting group which produces the statistics for Truck & Bus Builder’s European Truck-Trailer Report, has issued its latest forecast for the East European trailer market. The outlook for the market has, says CLEAR, improved compared with the last report issued six months ago. Trailer demand, it is forecast, is to be higher for the 2015-17 period; 2014 would also have seen an improved outlook but for the conflict in the Crimea between the Ukraine and Russia. As a consequence of events there, both markets have been quite heavily marked down.
On the other hand, Poland and Turkey proved stronger in 2013 than anticipated, and this strength, says CLEAR, will continue throughout the forecast period. CLEAR points out that there is a feature of road transport in Eastern Europe that makes this market very different from Western
Growth forecast for East European trailer market
Trailer market
Europe and that is the demand for road transport is dominated by international journeys. By contrast, in Western Europe a higher proportion of the traffic is national in nature, as goods are moved around within a country’s borders. In the East up to 90% of goods movements are international in nature in some countries.
The good news is that for Eastern Europe trade in goods, both exports and imports, reached an all time high at the end of 2013. Also the economic forecast is for several years of GDP and investment growth, which will result in higher levels of trade and more demand for road transport.
The East European Trailer Market Report can be obtained from CLEAR by email: [email protected]. (Also a copy of The European Truck Trailer Report 2013 (Sixth edition) may be purchased for GBP725.00 at www.truckandbusbuilder.com).
UK – DAF Trucks’ complete range of new LF, CF and XF Euro 6 models from 6t to 44t gvws have now been released in the UK; DAF’s largest single market in Europe where in 2013 it held a market share for trucks 6t gvw and above of 28.2%.
Ray Ashworth, managing director, DAF Trucks Ltd of Thame, speaking at a ride and drive event held at the Millbrook Proving Ground, near Milton Keynes last month, where 500 UK operators were given the opportunity to test drive the entire DAF truck range said that Euro 6 tractor sales to date were predominantly being ordered with the MX 13 engine because it is the established engine. However, he is confident that sales of its tractors fitted with the new smaller engine, the MX 11, will increase given time for the industry to realise the advantages. For instance, the CF440 lightweight FTP 6x2 tractor unit is powered by the new MX-11 10.8 litre 440hp engine, which, DAF states, is 180kg lighter and three per cent more fuel efficient than the MX-13 12.9 litre engine in the same application; it has been designed for maximum payload making it ideal for tanker and bulk tipper applications. The MX 13 is available at ratings up to 510hp for heavier duty applications in its 2 and 3 axle tractor units from both the CF and XF families.
14 trucks were available for operators to drive. The new LF was represented with vehicles available at 7.5t, 12t and 18t gvw and fitted with PACCAR bodies, which are designed and built on-line at PACCAR’s UK production facility in Leyland. PACCAR bodies – these include box and curtainsiders, and the LF Aerobody, which has integrated aerodynamics that can cut fuel consumption by up to 8% when compared with conventional bodywork - are available across the LF weight range and on the CF at 18t GVW. “This one-stop-shop approach gives operators peace of mind that the complete vehicle is manufactured to the highest standards, supported by the DAF dealer network and is already type approved ahead of the deadline for European Whole Vehicle Type Approval which comes into effect for bodybuilders on the October 29th this year,” DAF stated.
The 8x4 CF tippers at Euro 6 are now available in two variants. As well as being available as an on-road version with the same looks as its distribution and haulage stable mates, the new CF Range now includes a construction variant in 6x4 rigid, 8x4 rigid and 6x4 tractor configurations. The new construction range has an approach angle of 25 degrees, straight front axle for an extra high ground clearance (400mm), graduated steps into the cab and a step on the side of the cab and practical handles on the roof, and a number of options including the ASTronic automated gearbox.
DAF full range of Euro 6 models now on sale
Product
UK / Japan - At this year’s CV Show, Isuzu Truck (UK) Ltd of Hatfield, UK, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Isuzu Motors Ltd in Tokyo, Japan since 2012, unveiled its Euro VI truck line up.
Keith Child, marketing director at Isuzu Truck said that it was offering two emission compliant versions of its light truck range; a Euro 5b version for trucks at 2.61t gvw (chassis and body) fitted with the 3-litre engine rated at 120hp and a Euro VI emissions compliant truck at 3.5t gvw, again with the 3-litre engine, but with an output of 150hp.
Moving up the weight segment, instead of the 5.2t
Isuzu adds power and gross weight at Euro VIProduct
and 6.2t gross vehicle weights offered at Euro V, it has increased the weight limits to 5.5t and 6.5t; both are also fitted with the 3-litre 150hp Euro VI engine.
Two models are offered in the 7.5t truck segment, a lightweight model with a 150hp engine for urban multi-drop applications and a 190hp version for longer distance operations.
The new lightweight model, the Euro VI N75.150 Urban 4x2 rigid truck model, features Isuzu’s turbocharged four-cylinder 3-litre 150ps Euro VI engine (instead of the four-cylinder, 5.2-litre, 190hp engine used at Euro V). This makes it 200kg lighter
than its other the Euro VI model, the N75.190 Forward model, and matches the weight of its Euro V predecessor. Both the 150hp Urban and 190hp Forward models can have either manual or Isuzu’s Easyshift transmissions; uptake of the latter in the UK is around 80% of its orders, said Child.
In addition to the 7.5t models, a Euro VI version of the company’s 11t gvw Isuzu Forward F110.210 is also available and this is fitted with it 5.2-litre Euro VI 210hp engine. Child said that Isuzu plans to re-enter the 12 tonne segment in the UK with an 11.99t gvw model being introduced by the end of the year – this will have a 240hp 5.2-litre engine.
All models for Europe at Euro VI are now being assembled at one location in Italy by Isuzu dealer, Midi Europe SLR of Verona. (Isuzu trucks are therefore no longer being assembled in Portugal or in Ireland).
April 2013 Truck & Bus Builder
www.truckandbusbuilder.com 15
T&BBMay 2014
Germany – Daimler Buses of Stuttgart celebrated a double manufacturing milestone last month with production reaching 40,000 units of its Mercedes-Benz Citaro city bus range and production exceeding 20,000 of its Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus range.
The Mercedes-Benz Citaro is produced in the modern bus plants of Mannheim and Neu-Ulm, as well as in Ligny, France for certain export markets. Mercedes-Benz first presented the Citaro at the 1997 UITP Congress in Stuttgart with series production commencing one year later.
The Citaro today is sold and operated in 40 countries worldwide. It was given an extensive model facelift in 2005/2006, together with further variations / additions to the model range in the form of the Citaro LE, the short Citaro K and the large-capacity articulated derivative, the CapaCity bus. Daimler states that it was the first regular urban service bus with the electronic stability control programme (ESP). It also claims to be first urban regular service bus in series production with engines meeting the Euro VI emissions standards – by April this year, Daimler said it would have delivered more than 1,000 buses meeting the Euro VI emissions standard.
Mercedes-Benz minibuses are produced by a separate company within the group, Mercedes-Benz Minibus GmbH in Dortmund, where around 330 personnel produce the minibuses with
Daimler attains production milestones in city buses and minibuses
Manufacture
three body-shells and using four assembly lines.It began in 1998, with a shareholding in the minibus
manufacturer Karl Koch in Mudersbach, near Siegen. In 2004, the Karl Koch company was taken over completely by Mercedes-Benz. Mercedes-Benz subsequently has built up a wide product portfolio based on company locations and Europe-wide cooperative arrangements.
Daimler says its minibuses are sold to more than 40 countries, but the largest market is Western Europe; however customers in Australia, South-East Asia and the Middle East are also part of the regular customer base. In 2013, Minibus GmbH sold 1,206 buses, coming close to the limits of its capacity.
The Mercedes-Benz minibus portfolio is based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It consists of 24 models with permissible gross vehicle weights from 3.5t to 6.8t, based on Sprinter panel vans and chassis. The model designations Sprinter Transfer, Sprinter Travel, Sprinter City and Sprinter Mobility indicate the different operating specialities of the 16 left-hand drive and 8 right-hand drive variants.
Following the Sprinter model changeover in mid-2013, all 24 models are now supplied with Euro VI drivelines – the minibus series Transfer and Travel were extensively modified at that time also, and the Mobility series was extended with the Mobility 35 and Mobility 45 models.
Turkey / Germany - Bode-Bogrusan of Bursa, Turkey, the joint venture partner of Bode, Germany, of 20 years, which focuses of supplying complete door systems to customers in Turkey and the Middle Eastern region, is working together of Bode on an all-electric door system – both powered and controlled – for a bus builder in Turkey.
Temel Kalfa, responsible for project development
Bode-Bogrusan develops electronically controlled door system for e-buses and HE-buses
Product / Componentengineering at Bode-Bogrusan, said that it has been working closely with otokar, which has stated its specifications and requirements associated with a new electric midi-bus – the LM10 electric midi-bus. The advantage of an electric door, Kalfa explained, is that it requires little maintenance, it is easier to adjust compared with a pneumatically operated door, it requires only a small power accumulator or 12V battery that fits easily under a seat to operate the 24V doors and only a small air-tank is required as a legal backup system in the event of an accident to enable people to open the doors and exit. It offers a number of advantages such as lower noise of operation, notably fuel savings - when fitted on a
Turkey – Early in April, Turkey’s state fund said it was again postponing the sale of truck and bus maker, BMC of Izmir, seized a year ago from Çukurova Holding in an effort to gain the best bid.
The state fund involved, The Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) said it was asking a sale price of 958 million Turkish liras (USD454m).
The TMSF seized BMC, along with 11 other group companies, from Çukurova in May 2013, alleging that it had failed to make payment on USD455m worth of debts owed to the fund. Production, apart from a military vehicle contract has ceased.
TMSF postpones sale of BMC in effort to gain best bid
Bankruptcy / Administration
Germany – To expand and strengthen its focus further on the truck and bus fleet business, Continental AG of Hanover, Germany has created a global marketing department for its commercial vehicle tyres business.
Michael Neuheisel (41) - most recently the director of the Continental Technology Centre in Puchov, Slovakia - has been appointed as director global marketing at Continental, and reports directly to the head of the Commercial Vehicle Tires Business Unit, Dr Andreas Esser. Neuheisel is to coordinate the marketing activities of the different regions and segments within the business unit.
Continental reported sales of some EUR33.3bn in 2013, of which, the Tire division achieved sales of EUR9.6bn. Continental says the Commercial Vehicle Tire business is one of the largest manufacturers of truck, bus and commercial specialty tires worldwide.
Continental sets up dedicated global CV tyre marketing unit
Restructure / Appointment
The Netherlands - Valvoline Performance Products EMEA (Europe Middle East & Africa), a division of Ashland Nederland BV of Barendrecht, which has been supplying a range of water-based and solvent free coatings under the Tectyl brand name to many of the bus and coach builders (as well as other on-highway vehicle makers) in Europe since 2003, has invested in a new laboratory facility. Highest priority is to develop the next generation of one component water-based under-body coatings as alternative to the currently used two component polyurethane coating, while improving safety for the workers, ease of application, increasing productivity and reducing cost
The laboratory is located at the lubricant and body treatment coatings manufacturing facility in Dordrecht, The Netherlands, explained Remy De Bruijn, marketing manager at Valvoline Performance Products, EMEA. De Bruijn said that the new facility, which opens this month, splits the lubricants
New R &D facility for Valvoline to intensify development of surface protection coatings
Investment / Research
research and the Tectyl surface protection coatings research into two research premises. This move effectively doubles the amount of room available for research, said De Bruijn.
De Bruijn said that over the past decade, in response to market demand, Tectyl has improved its water-based and solvent free coating treatments, in terms of protection against abrasion, corrosion and chipping. De Bruijn added that expectations from the market have continued to intensify in terms of level of protection and length of protection. This has meant thicker applications of its coating in multiple layers, and whilst it’s water-based solution is better for the environment, quicker-drying than solvent-based coatings and lighter recent use by some companies of two component polyurethane treatments has taken market share in recent years.
Valvoline expects to bring the new one component alternative to two component polyurethane to market towards the end of this year.
conventional diesel bus, the size and number of air tanks can be reduced, Kalfa pointed out, saving weight and fuel that would otherwise be used to power the air compressors.
Kalfa said Bode-Bogrusan, together with technical assistance from Bode, designs and develops the control unit and software, which are then outsourced for production.
Russia / Japan - ZAo Sollers-Isuzu of Ulyanovsk, the joint venture owned 50% by OAO Sollers, 45% by Isuzu Motors Ltd of Tokyo, Japan and five per cent by Sojitz Corporation, has officially started full scale production of Isuzu light trucks at its premises within the oAo UAZ plant in Ulyanovsk. The switch to full scale output includes welding of cabs and cab production at the plant.
Sollers-Isuzu has an annual capacity for 5,000 vehicles. Currently the company assembles the Isuzu ELF-Series, also known as N-Series, with payloads ranging from 1.5 to 6.5 tonnes. It plans to add assembly of Isuzu Forward-Series trucks, which offers payloads with 8 to 12.5 tonnes later this year.
Currently, the JV has a target to assemble of more than 2,500 Isuzu trucks this year and to increase local content, which is currently around 30% to 40% by 2015.
Sollers-Isuzu start series production of N-Series trucks
Manufacture
DATES FOR THE DIARY 2014CHINAMay 14-16: Bus & Truck Expo 2014Venue: China National Convention Center, BeijingContact: Ms Zhao Juan.Email: [email protected]: +86-10-5827 8080/8081/8603Website: www.bustruckexpo.com/en
BRAZILMay 20 to 22: 4th Integer EmissionsSummit BrazilVenue: Sheraton Sao Paulo WTC Hotel,Sao Paulo, BrazilWebsite: http://www.integer-research.com
UKMay 29-31: Tip-Ex14Venue: Harrogate International CentreWebsite: www.tip-ex.co.uk/
AUSTRALIAJune 6-7: Australian Trucking ConventionVenue: Hamilton Island QldWebsite: www.atatruck.net.au/
FRANCEJune 10 to 12: Transport PublicsVenue: Paris-Expo, Porte de Versailles75015 Paris – FranceWebsite: www.transportpublics-expo.com
SoUTH AFRICASept 15-19: Transport Expo 2014Venue: Expo Centre Nasrec,JohannesburgWebsite: http://10times.com/transport-expo-johannesburg
GERMANYSeptember 25 to october 2: IAA CVs (65th)International Commercial Vehicle ShowVenue: Hannover Messe, HanoverWebsite: www.iaa.de
SPAINoctober 28 to 31: FIAA 2014Venue: Madrid Expo CentreWebsite: http://www.ifema.es/fiaa_06
CoLUMBIADecember 4-6: Busworld Latin AmericaVenue: International Business & ExhibitionCentre Bogota, ColumbiaWebsite: //latinamerica.busworld.org
China / Turkey – BYD Co Ltd of Shenzhen, China is working on an upgraded battery technology that will increase the power density / capacity for its ebus and other battery-powered vehicles, according to Isobrand Ho, managing director, auto export trade division of BYD Europe BV, headquartered in Rotterdam, in an interview with Truck & Bus Builder at Busworld Turkey, last month.
Ho explained that charging its 12m ebus would be three times faster. Currently, to provide an 80% charge takes three to four hours, whereas an 80% charge could be achieved in just 45 minutes with the new batteries. Furthermore, the 30% increase in power or energy density of the battery would allow a corresponding decrease in battery cell requirement, which would thereby enable BYD to lower the curb
BYD’s upgraded battery chemistry could offer 30% more capacity
Technology / Alternative Drive
weight of the bus so permitting increased payload ie more passengers. The range capacity of the bus would remain the same – currently it averages at 250km between charges. Alternatively, the same amount of batteries, as are currently in the e-bus, but with the new battery chemistry, could be used to increase its range capacity on a single charge.
The new batteries could also be used on smaller buses. The higher power density of the batteries would enable an increase the wheel hub motor power output from 90kWh to 150kWh in its 12m ebus and a potential total torque of 550Nm.
Ho pointed out that the upgraded battery was still being tested and undergoing trials, but that it could be commercially available within the next 12 to 18 months.
Spain / Turkey - Seville-based Spanish air conditioning specialist, Hispacold SA, at Busworld Turkey in Istanbul shared a stand with Istanbul-based Turkish mini-kitchen and dashboard refrigerator company, Eltesan, it’s new business partner for Turkey and the Middle East.
The cooperation, which was formed approximately a year ago and has been operating since the start of the year, has been established to provide sales and service support for Hispacold’s bus and coach air conditioning products in Turkey, but also the Middle East region.
Hispacold says that Eltesan – Elecktro Mekanik Sogutma San ve TIC AS, to give its full name - has a strong reputation in Turkey with all the OEMs in Turkey as well as coach builders in many of the Middle East countries. As well as providing a sales and support role for Hispacold’s product range in the region, the companies’ plan to look at Eltesan producing certain parts for Hispacold as well as parts sourcing for local assembly of roof top air conditioning systems
Hispacold links with Eltesan to offer air con in Turkey and Middle East
Cooperation
for customers in Turkey and the Middle East.Eltesan specialises in the production of dashboard
refrigerators and kitchen units for coaches, having been established in 1987. It has two manufacturing facilities, one in Gebze and the other in Kocaeli. It has a production capability for 5,000 mini-kitchens and up to 25,000 dashboard refrigerators. The company has grown steadily over the last 25-plus years with an emphasis on research and development and state of the art machinery investments. In 2013, its turnover exceeded EUR25m and it is forecasting growth of some 14% during 2014.
The group announced it has three new projects this year, air conditioning systems with Hispacold, design and manufacture of interior trim and dashboards under the name of Elteplast and the third, is a separate project diversifying its core business into water purification systems.
It says it has also resumed discussions to work with Dometic, the world’s largest producer of kitchen equipment and fridges for recreational vehicles, boats and caravans etc.
USA - Propulsion systems maker for electric, hybrid electric and fuel cell electric vehicle applications, UQM Technologies Inc of Longmont, Colorado, has announced it is collaborating with Kinetics Drive Solutions Inc to offer an integrated electric motor and multi-speed transmission system for commercial vehicle applications.
This full system approach, say the partners, is to provide commercial vehicle manufacturers with a powerful and efficient electric drive powertrain, while minimizing the development time and cost for integration, as well as fewer engineering variables.
Eric R Ridenour, president and CEO of UQM Technologies Inc, commenting on this collaboration initiative, said: “As we work with multiple partners in China and other regions of the world, it has become clear that for some the ability to offer a complete system will be a competitive advantage. By collaborating with Kinetics we are able to offer those customers a proven powertrain system. The combined strengths
UQM and Kinetics Drive Solutions collaborate on commercial vehicle electric drive systems
Alternative Drive / Technology
of our systems, our combined marketing power and our recent ISO/TS 16949 registration will expand our reach in these important markets.”
Proposed systems are to feature UQM PowerPhase HD electric motors and controllers combined with Kinetics NexDrive transmissions. The PowerPhase HD family of electric motors and controllers have been developed specifically for commercial vehicle applications. The range includes the HD 220 drive offering 700Nm of peak torque and 220kW of peak power; the HD 950T with 950Nm torque and 140kW power and the HD 250, a high-voltage variant with 250kW of peak power and 900Nm of torque
Kinetics Drive Solutions offers the NexDrive EV3-850 transmission, a 3-speed dual-clutch transmission that works efficiently with the electric motor to minimize torque interruption during gear shifting. The EV3-850 has been designed and developed by Kinetics specifically for medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicle applications.
16 www.truckandbusbuilder.com
USA / India – Meritor Inc of Troy, Michigan, USA and Brakes India Ltd of Chennai, India have announced the signing of a new licensing and technology assistance agreement for the manufacture and sale of Meritor ELSA air disc brakes in India.
The agreement, which expands on an existing licensing agreement for B-frame hydraulic disc brakes, air drum and air disc brakes, builds on the long-term, successful cooperation between both companies in the Indian market.
More than five million Meritor ELSA brakes have been sold globally, demonstrating the markets’ confidence in this technology, says Meritor. In India, ELSA 225H air disc brakes have been operating on major fleets for several years and have gained acceptance as a cost-effective and reliable safety improvement, particularly for buses and coaches.
Brakes India Ltd is the largest manufacturer of braking systems in India for the automotive industry with a sales turnover in excess of INR30bn (more than USD500m). Established in 1962 as a joint venture between the TVS group and Lucas Industries plc (now integrated with TRW) Brakes India has grown steadily to become a leading brake system supplier to global OEMs operating in India.
Meritor and Brakes India sign expanded brake agreement
Agreement
