BusToCoach on-line Magazine - October 2016

IAA DRIVEN BY IDEAS

T he official figures of the 66th edition of the IAA Commercial Vehicles in Hannover substan-tially confirm the previous edition’s numbers (2014), with as many as 2,013 exhibitors from

52 countries, an exhibition area of 270 thousand square metres, the flow of 245 thousand visitors.In fact, the feeling to visit the Europe’s mega transport exhibition centre has not been convincing to the end. Starting from the amount of exhibitors, which scrolling the official catalog handed over to the reporters, has proven to confine itself to about 1,311 exhibitors. On the contrary, it is not disputed over the extension: 13 occupied halls were there to demonstrate it. But the air to breathe was not of a big event, perhaps because of the ‘sober’ presence of the big manufacturers who have lined up their vehicles without any great spectacular show, perhaps due to budget constraints, or mainly due to lack of true innovations to be presented.More generally, the IAA 2016 was a reflection of the transport sector economic situation that despite some signs of recovery is still struggling to recover.The bus industry is no exception being always under-represented at the IAA, which has its centre of interest on freight transport. In addition to the big brands (Daimler, Iveco, MAN, Scania and Volvo) that have put buses flanked with truck on their large stands in Hall 11 (only partly occupied), there were slightly less than 200 exhibitors specializing in components and passenger transport vehicles. 28 of the latter were manufacturers or bus dealers. Eight exhibitors more in comparison to the pre-vious edition. Among the absent ones there was King Long, probably rethinking its strategy towards Europe, while two other Chinese companies, namely, BYD and CRRC debuted in Hannover.

If are ideas to move the future developments, the IAA in Hannover was short of them, at least with regard to the bus industry. With few exceptions, the manufacturers have confined themselves to some range expansion

SOLARISIN Hanover Solaris got recognition of

its innovative efforts with the Urbi-no 12 Electric officially awarded ‘Bus of the Year 2017’. The vehicle debuted in 2015 at the Kortrijk Busworld, equipped with 240 kWh batteries and provided with charging systems using a pantograph and a plug-in (for more details refer to the article on the following pages).And there is more. Solaris has also introduced two new products: the New Urbino 12 Hybrid and the New Urbino 12 CNG. In the first case it is equipped with a serial hybrid drive by U.S. producer BAE Systems. This technolo-gy is based on an electric engine with a maximum output of 190 kW, fueled

with power of 11.6 kWh batteries, which in turn are charged with the help of a generator using a 210 hp Cummins diesel engine. The Start/Stop system and Arrive-and-Go system able to save up to 20% of the fuel are availa-ble. Soon 31.8 kWh lithium-ion batteries and super-condensers will be on offer. The New Urbino 12 CNG is powered by

the Cummins engine pro-ducing 320 horsepower and coupled with a VOI-TH Diwa6 gearbox. The-re are 5 composite tanks fitted transversally on the roof with total capacity of 1,575 litres (variants with greater or lesser volume are also possible). The internal layout remained unchanged compared to diesel version. •

I veco Bus unveiled a true premiere in ad-dition to the Magelys touring coach bea-

ring the colours of the prestigious rugby team, the New Zealand All Blacks and the 7.12-metre Daily Electric 50C H3 (introdu-ced to Busworld last year).This refers to the Evadys, which is back to position itself in the Iveco range between the Crossway and the Magelys in terms of operating versatility. Offered in the two-a-xles version from 12 and 13 metres, it has an interior floor raised to 1,142mm off the ground that gives way to a luggage com-partment with a capacity of 10.2 and 12 cubic metres respectively. It offers all the active and passive safety systems as well as a DMF (Dual Mass Flywheel) to reduce noise and vibration. There is a possibility to select the comfort

features such as seat and door configura-tion. The new Evadys is fitted with the Cursor 9 engine developing 400 hp and Hi-SCR technology to reduce harmful emis-sions. •

IVECO BUS

URBINO ELECTRIC

URBINO CNG URBINO HYBRID

EVADYS

DAILY ELECTRIC MAGELYS

T he anticipations regarding the Future Mer-cedes Bus in the foreground, published

by BusToCoach Magazine in the last issue of September, have proved to become true. A city bus with CityPilot partially automated driving, which foreshadows the local public transport of the future, even in interior desi-gn. Always branded Mercedes you might see the new Citaro NGT powered by a 7,7-litre M 936 G natural gas engine delivering 222

kW of power (302 horsepower) and composi-te cylinders, which contribute to reducing the overweight, together with the compactness of the engine. Take a closer look at Tourismo, which celebrates this year its 10th anniver-sary (M model with the latest news about the interior) and at the 10,000th Intouro delivered during the fair. At the entry to the Daimler pavilion, there was also the 9-metre OF 917 RFC school bus with front engine that Daim-

ler India proposes to Middle Eastern markets.Among the Mercedes minibuses, one could see the Sprinter City 65 with new retarder and devices for connectivity, and the Sprinter Tourer with 16 + 1 seats for 4.6 tonnes in weight in the Comby category.In the area reserved for the Setra buses there were the 13.3-metre TopClass S 516 HDH with 1+1 rotating seating and TopSky Pano-rama glass roof and the new 14.6-metre Mul-

tiClass S 418 LE Business, which can carry up to 100 passengers. Flanked with them there were the ComfortClass S 515 HD and S 516 MDE, the TopClass S 431 DT double-decker.Finally, in the Daimler space dedicated to the engines, there was the OM 470 of the latest generation, now also delivering a power of 335 kW (456 horsepower) available upon re-quest in Setra ComfortClass HD. •

DAIMLER BUSES

A large space was dedicated to Volkswagen Truck & Bus with its brands MAN, Sca-

nia and Volkswagen. They exclusively occupied the pavilion with 12 vehicles branded Volkswa-gen and MAN Truck & Bus. Volkswagen Com-mercial Vehicles presented the new version of the small Crafter along with the Crafter Kombi, with original chassis, driver assistance systems and renewed aesthetics.For passenger transport, MAN Truck & Bus put together as many as 10 buses branded MAN and Neoplan, in addition to those an-ticipated in July (refer to the article of Bu-sToCoach Magazine of September). In the city bus sector it was possible to touch an 18-metre modular concept vehicle belonging to the MAN Lion’s City series with fully electric drivetrain, offering the possibility to

select and combine the charging technologies (rapid, overnight or combined). The MAN e-mobility roadmap will offer the public a pre-series bus version of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) by 2018 and series produc-tion of a 100% electrically driven city bus before 2020.The 12.1-metre Neoplan Tourliner 44 seater, dedicated to the premium segment, is making its world debut. Propulsion is provided by a D 2676 LOH engine delivering 420 hp (309 kW) with the TipMatic 12-speed automatic transmission, with addition of a complete package of assistance systems.

For long distance services, there were the 13.8-metre MAN Lion’s Coach L and the 14-metre Neoplan Skyliner, the former with the wheelchair lift and adjustable seat headre-sts, the latter with a folding ramp at door 2. Both vehicles were fitted with the new Multi-Media Coach Advanced infotainment system, which also allows for simultaneous connec-tion of up to six cell phones via Bluetooth. The MAN and Neoplan touring coaches will gradually feature the MMC Advanced system starting from next year.The Intercity series is expanding with a new 13.25-metre Intercity C, which can carry up

to 63 passengers, while the 12.2-metre Neo-plan Cityliner with lounge for eight people, equipped kitchen, two electrically controlled folding tables, complete infotainment system and glass panorama roof demonstrates the possibilities of Vip production.The MAN Lion’s City L LE versions measu-ring 14.7 and 12 metres powered by natural gas engine complete the session.Finally, there is an area for MAN Latin Ameri-ca, which presented a very “Brazilian” solution: the VW Volksbus 18.280 OT LE is suitable for use with biofuel derived from sugarcane to reduce the emission of nitrogen oxides and

particulate by 30-70%. It is a 12.5-metre low entry bus with the Marcopolo bodywork, alre-ady seen at the IAA 2014. •

VOLKSWAGEN - MAN TRUCK & BUS

FUTURE BUS

S 418 LE Business S 431 DT CITARO NGT SPRINTER CITY 65

VOLKSWAGEN CRAFTER

MAN LION’S CITY 18 NEOPLAN TOURLINER

VW VOLKSBUS

SCANIAD isplaying completely separately (Hall

17), Scania had a selection of three models for passenger transport. The 12-me-tre Citywide LE with parallel hybrid drive system, suitable both for city centres and suburban and intercity routes, powered by a diesel engine delivering 320 hp (100% biodiesel or HVO either), 130 kW electric motor and lithium-ion batteries. The next one to follow is the 12.2-metre In-terlink LD CNG with a normal floor (pre-sented by BusToCoach Magazine December 2015), ideal for suburban and intercity rou-tes. Then, the 14-metre Interlink HD powe-red by a 13-litre Scania engine delivering 331 kW (450 hp) optimized for low fuel

consumption and the Opticruise 12-speed automated transmission. •

VOLVOA part from the ‘Special Edition’ of the

three-axle Volvo 9900, Volvo Buses exhibited three proposals for electromo-bility. Next to the 7900 Hybrid and 7900 Electric Hybrid, Hanover has seen the 7900 Electric (introduced to Busworld last year) operating in all-electric mode for about 70% of the route. The 12-metre

bus is fitted with 160-kW electric engine and lithium-ion batteries of 600 volts with total capacity of 76 kWh. Batteries can be recharged at the terminal stops in 3-6 minutes (operating range of 10 km). It can carry up to 105 passengers, 34 of them seated. •

VDL BUS & COACHIN the area of VDL Bus & Coach there

was a range expansion and a premiere. Let’s start with the Citea series and the new 9.9-metre LLE-99 put on display at the IAA powered by a 187 kW Cummins engine (225 horsepower) and able to carry up to 78 pas-sengers, in addition to the 10.7-metre LLE-107 and 12.7-metre LLE-127 versions. The 10.6-metre FHD2-106 fitted with 43 passen-ger seats, a luggage compartment of 7 cubic metres and a 320 kW DAF engine (440 hp) has been added to the Futura touring range.

The new MidBasic Electric takes side of electromobility. The base vehicle for it is a 3.5 tonne Mercedes Sprinter deve-loped in coo-peration with Austrian com-pany Kreisel. It is an 8 + 1 seater with an electric engine producing 120 or 150 kW, bat ter ies of 72 or 92 kWh and charging system. •

T here were only touring coaches on the stand of Van Hool that repeatedly pro-

posed the latest 12.5-metre EX 15 H and 13.4-metre EX 16 H, the 13.5-metre Altano TDX20 and the 14.1-metre Astromega TX 27 bearing the colors of the Autolinee Marino (Italy). All fitted with a Paccar DAF engine.•

VAN HOOL

EX 16H

TX 27

CITYWIDE LE HYBRID

INTERLINK LD CNG INTERLINK HD

7900 ELECTRIC 7900 ELECTRIC HYBRID

FUTURA FHD2-106 CITEA LLE-99

MID BASIC ELECTRIC

O tokar from Turkey was eager to emphasize the good results achieved in the first eight

months of 2016, especially exports which re-corded a sales increase of 35%. Available in 45 countries, in Europe the company has achieved the best results in France, Germany, Italy and Romania. In Turkey, despite the contraction of the market is undergoing, one of every four small-sized buses sold are branded Otokar.

Among the models measuring from 7 to 18,75 metres, Otokar brought to the IAA four mo-dels that have gained greater popularity with the foreign markets. There were, namely, the 7.7-metre touring Navigo T 31 + 1 + 1 seater powered by a Cummins engine producing 137 kW (180 hp) and an Eaton six-speed manual gearbox, flanked with the 10.1-metre T Vectio 43 + 1 +1 seater, powered by a MAN engine

producing 213 kW (310 horsepower) coupled with a ZF manual gearbox. For intercity servi-ces, there were the 12-metre Territo U, powered by a Cummins engine producing 213 kW (290 hp) and ZF automatic transmission. Finally, the-re was the 12-metre low floor city bus Kent C that can carry up to 37 seated passengers plus 62 standing and a wheelchair. In this case it is fitted with the 204 kW Cummins engine. •

OTOKAR

O thers ‘made in Turkey buses’ was presen-ted by Temsa confirming its 32% share of

the domestic market in the first eight months of 2016, with a total of 3,365 buses sold and 1,091 of them on foreign markets where it has set targets to obtain a 50% growth by the end of the year.In Hanover the company brought the Marathon super high decker offered in lengths of 12,36 and 13 metres per 3.9 metres in height, with a luggage capacity of 13 and 14 cubic metres respectively. Manufactured last year, it is fitted with a Paccard MX11 engine delivering 440 hp coupled with a ZF As-tronic. Among the showcased vehicles there were the MD 9 and MD 9 LE midibuses and the 13-metre HD tou-ring coach with VIP interior. •

K arsan celebrates its 50th anniversary and with the recent creation of Karsan Eu-

rope (with headquarters in Italy), the Turki-sh manufacturer reaffirms its willingness to conquer its own niche on the European bus market and now boasts a presence in ten sta-tes, through local dealers. In Hannover the company repeatedly proposed three models: the 5.8-metre Jest low floor minibus with an access for disabled and powered by a FPT Euro VI engine delivering 170 hp; the 8.15-metre Atak midi low floor powered by a FPT engine delivering 186 horsepower; the same engine for the 8.2-metre Star intercity with a capacity of 31 passengers, a lugga-ge compartment of 4.25 cubic metres and a possibility to install a wheelchair lift at the second door.The electric version of the small Jest, was al-ready introduced last year as preview at Kor-tijk Busworld. In this case the electric engine has an output of 125 kW and the lithium-ion batteries have a total capacity of 66 kWh. Carring up to 10 seated plus 5 standing pas-sengers and a wheelchair, it reaches 80 km/h and has a declared range of 165 km.

Among the showcased vehicles there was the 12-metre CityMood low floor city bus built under the license of BredaMenariniBus absorbed by Italian company IIA, in which Karsan entered in participation with a share of 5%. •

TEMSA KARSAN

ISUZUT he usual parade of already known mo-

dels (six) by Anadolu Isuzu. From the city buses such as Novociti (7.5 metres with the second door on the rear overhang and an Isuzu engine produ-cing 190 horsepower), Citibus (9.5 metres, a Cummins engine pro-ducing 215 horses), Citiport (12-metre to-tally low-floor bus, a Cummins engine delivering 280 hp) to the touring coaches Novo Ultra (7.3 metres, an Isuzu engine delivering 190 horsepower), Tourquase (7.7 metres, an Isuzu engine from 190 horsepower) and Visigo (9.5 metres, a 244-hp Cummins engine •

TERRITO U

NAVIGO T VECTIO T

KENT C

CITIPORT

MARATON

MD9 LE HD JEST ELECTRIC

CITYMOOD

MCV originating from Egypt brought to Hannover the new super-equipped

14-metre MCV 800 double decker built on Mercedes OC 500 RF, with an engine de-livering 310 kW (420 hp, Euro 3, 4 or 5), Mercedes GO 210 manual transmission and 16 seats on the lower deck plus 40 seats with 2 + 1 rows on the upper deck. In the outdoor area there were the new Ecli-pse of Spanish Ayats, a beautiful double deck

coach measuring 15 metres in length and 4.2 metres in height and two proposals from the Russian GAZ manufacturer: a 9.5-metre low floor city bus carrying up to 75 passengers, powered by a 4.4-litre YMZ diesel engine producing 150 kW (210 hp, Euro 5) and a ZF automatic transmission; then a 6.2-me-tre Gazelle Next minibus with 16 + 1 seats powered by a Cummins Euro 5 engine pro-ducing 110 kW / 150 hp). •

MCV - AYATS - GAZ IN the area reserved for test-driving the electric vehicles there were three

lined up buses, all with a ZAwheel VO.3 drive module of Ziehl-Abegg Automotive, powered by electric engines in the wheel hubs. The first vehicle branded Syntus Bus is the result of the collaboration between Polish Solbus and Technology Consortium, founded by Ziehl-Abegg (electric drivetra-in), HyMove (hydrogen fuel cell) and BMZ (batteries). Thus, it is a hydrogen electrical bus powered by two electric engines of 120 kW, with two sets of batteries producing 37 kWh each and two HyMove fuel cell mo-dules of 30 kW receiving hydrogen from a 30-kg tank.The same system is applied to the 12-me-tre City Smile bus by Polish Ursus Bus (ex AMZ), always manufactured in cooperation with Technology Consortium. The third vehicle was a 12-metre low floor city bus

by Ekova Electric (Czech Republic) that in addition to the motors on the Zawheel axle has got a central synchronous motor of 155 kW produced by the Canadian TM4 and li-thium-ion batteries of 190 or 265 kWh. •

ZIEHL-ABEGG

SOR (Czech Republic) presented two vehicles, putting in the foreground its

12-metre Electric Bus low floor with beau-tiful aesthetics fitted with a water-cooled asynchronous electric motor of 160 kW and lithium-ion batteries of 225 kWh. Next

to it there was the intercity CN 12 (11.8 metres) powered by a 6.7-litre FPT diesel engine producing 210 kW (285 hp) and a ZF manual gearbox. The transport capaci-ty is up to 80 passengers, 41 of them are seated. •

SOR

Ebusco repeatedly proposed its 12-metre version 2.1 full electric fitted with a wa-

ter-cooled asynchronous electric motor of 220 kW, a set of high-density batteries of 311 kWh and aluminum structure. It promises a top speed of 80 km/h and a range of 250-300 km. Different onboard power systems, exter-nal recharging stations with a power of up to 150 kW or pantograph systems are available for recharging the vehicle. •

EBUSCO

AYATS

CN 12 ELECTRIC BUS

ELECTRIC 2.1

MCV

GAZ

SOLBUS - SYNTUS

URSUS BUS - CITY SMILE

EKOVA

T wo new presences in Hannover were from Cina: BYD and CRRC. The former

showcased a 12-metre raised floor model with an electric drivetrain for tourist services in the city. It’s powered by two engines delivering 180 kW each and offers a room for 51 pas-sengers plus a luggage compartment of 4 cubic metres. Its range is 140 km. Fifteen vehicles of this type will come into service in Paris by the end of the year.Among the exhibited vehicles there was the classic 12-metre eBus city bus powered by two electric engines of 90 kW each, similar to the 35 units already supplied to the Airport of Amsterdam.

Electric models were also presented by CRRC, which sized up the European market on having sold two vehicles measuring 18 metres (the exposed CSR6180 model) to the Austrian city

of Graz. It is powered by an electric engine pro-ducing maximum power of 250 kW, fueled with supercapacitors plus LTO with a rapid charging system. Another showcased model was the

version measuring 12 metres (TEG6120BEV model) powered by an electric engine produ-cing 150 kW and LiFePO batteries (lithium-i-ron-phosphate) with a capacity of 201 kWh.•

T here were about ten bus construc-tion and conversion specialists

working on the basis of commercial vehicles in midi and small size. The German Probus with its Rapido mo-dels played on the home ground. The base vehicle for it is the Iveco Daily with advanced windscreen, presented by an 8.3-metre L version with touring interior pack accommodating 28 + 1 + 1 seats, an 8.5-metre LE with low flo-or in the central part accommodating 21 seats and an HNF with lowered rear overhang. Among the showcased vehicles there were a Maximo L 28 + 1 + 1 seater with the Daily series front and the Sprinter models.The transformations of Kutsenits are always interesting as it tries to use only the front part of the original vehi-

cle, stretching the cockpit to the maxi-mum with ad hoc solutions. The same principle one could see in case of two exposed vehicles: the Tourist 719 IC based on the Sprinter 519 with altering the second axle (now 5.5 tonnes with air suspension), bringing the total wei-ght to 7.5 tonnes and elongating the rear overhang to be able to carry up to 38 passengers. Same work was done for the City 719 that can carry up to 45 passengers.On Iveco Daily the proposals from the Slovak Rosero, which like two years ago, proposed the 8-metre First FLHI Travel 26 seater and the FCLLI city bus with a wheelchair room on the front lowered floor.The Mercedes Sprinter basic vehicle has generated the newcomers from

Lithuania branded Altas, which of-fered the 7.3-metre Tourline carrying 17 + 5 seats, flanked by the 7.6-metre Cityline with central low floor and right-hand drive, the 519 Streetline 9 seater and a Sprinter 316 with VIP layout.

On the stand of the Polish Auto-Cuby body manufacturer there were the City Line based on the Sprinter 519 with lowered central floor and 14 + 12 + 2 seats and a Tourist Line HD high roof with 19 + 1 + 1 seats. Polish layout was also applied to the vehi-cle for disabled by Carpol and to the Tourer Exclusiv (on Sprinter) by BusCentrum, brought to the IAA by the German FTPusvertrieb, which compete with the models displayed by Steiborn, imported from Turkey.Sprinter is also a basic vehicle for the models of the Spanish Integralia that showcased the city ‘in-urban’ 13 + 13 + 1 seater with a low floor in the cen-tral part; the ‘in-tourism’ 19 + 16 + 1 + 1 seater; and finally, the Integralia ‘in-vip’ 15 + 1 + 1 seater. •

MINIBUS FROM ALL OVER EUROPE

BYD - Electric Coach CRRC - 12 Electric CRRC - 18 Electric

BYD - CRRC

KUTSENITS - Tourist 719 IC

ROSERO - First Travel ALTAS - Cityline AUTO CUBY - City Line

CARPOL

INTEGRALIA - In Vip

BUS CENTRUM - Tourer

PROBUS - R/HNF