Busworld Kortrijk spreads the Bus word globally

Allison Transmission recently realigned its Torqmatic product portfolio to include additional transmission models, each reflecting hardware and software developments that offer fleets increased fuel efficiency. The newly introduced T1000, T2100 and T2200 fully automatic transmission models replace existing 1000, 2100 and 2200 models available for mini-bus, midibus and coach applications across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Australia and Latin America. The expansion of the Torqmatic product family provides customers with a complete range of Allison transmissions featuring the latest product enhancements including 5th Generation Electronic Controls and FuelSense fuel-efficiency software. Allison displayed the T2100 transmission during Busworld at Stand 202.

Completing the transmission line-up on the Allison stand was an H 50 EP system. Since 2003, Allison has delivered over 6,900 hybrid propulsion systems which have accumulated nearly 1.1 billion kilometers (682 million miles), saving an estimated 137 million liters (36 million gallons) of fuel and preventing almost 360 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Allison Hybrid EP systems have demonstrated real, bottom-line operating benefits to municipalities and fleet operators in many European cities including Duesseldorf, Hannover and Oslo.

BITZER: Bitzer, the world’s largest independent manufacturer of refrigeration compressors, presented its new Speedlite scroll compressors for mobile applications at the Busworld. The company driving innovation in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector brought two new

series of scroll compressors along to the trade fair. One special feature is that the ELV21 and the ELV51 are significantly more compact and more lightweight while providing at least as much or even more performance than previous models. At the same time they offer outstanding efficiency and versatility. This is made possible by their modern aluminium design and the ideal combination of scroll spiral, electric motor and frequency inverter. All three of these components have now been brought together in one compact system.

GRAYSON: Grayson, a leading UK manufacturer celebrated its biggest ever presence at Busworld Kortrijk Europe by unveiling two new products for the bus and coach market. Grayson Thermal Systems showcased the lightest ever E-Drive pack and a new 24v electric water pump for use on hybrid and electric vehicles. It also showcased its new battery thermal management system for full

electric vehicles and updated HVAC range, including a heat and AC front box that promises to offer improved maintenance and – thanks to its lightweight aluminum frame – considerable weight savings. The company, which employs 245 people across plants in Birmingham, Poland and North America, also announced a new strategic distribution agreement during the show. The lightest ever E-Drive cooling system was for a Cummins 6.7 litre, 280 HP Euro 6 engine.

ZIEHL-ABEGG:  Vehicles fitted with ZAwheel from Ziehl-Abegg were put on show by bus manufacturers at Busworld. “Electromobility protects the environment, is quiet and works” says Ralf Arnold, Managing Director of Ziehl-Abegg Automotive, making a reference to a number of city bus manufacturers in Europe who are successfully incorporating the ZAwheel gearless in wheel hub drive. Electric buses from various manufacturers were on show at Busworld in Kortrijk (Belgium).

The gearless in wheel hub drive from Ziehl-Abegg is now fitted as standard by several European bus manufacturers: VDL Bus & Coach (The Netherlands), Hybricon Bus Systems (Sweden), Ekova Electric (Czech Republic), Troliga (Slovakia), Lider Trading (Poland), ebe Europa (Germany).

In the spring, Eckhard Schläfke, Operations Manager Public Utilities Department Münster (Germany) commissioned five electric buses into operation as part of the ZeEUS Project. How can a local authority integrate five electric vehicles into an existing fleet of diesel vehicles? The Public Utilities Department has installed quick charge stations in the Public Utilities Department depot as well as at the two bus termini. These stations use the quick charge process to recharge the batteries on the roof of the vehicles during the normal scheduled waiting period. Referring to the battery reserve, Schläfke says that “even if there is no time to charge the battery, e.g. because of delays, the bus can continue operating". Thanks to the charging stations being located at the termini and the efficient ZAwheel drive, the dimensions of the batteries have been kept to a minimum; the vehicle weighs hardly any more than a conventional bus

Does electromobility work in cold regions? For CEO Jonas Hansson, this is not a problem. His company Hybricon Bus Systems AB builds electric city buses especially for cold regions: with extra insulated cabin and floor, heat regeneration, air curtains at the entrance, specially insulated windows, and also with the gearless in wheel hub drive from Ziehl-Abegg. “We don’t even use the Stroco heater”, says Hansson. The buses can be heated 100 percent with electricity at minus 25 degrees Celsius. “Our technology is so good and the positive experience in the north of Sweden has prompted the City of Umea to order 8 more city buses”, emphasizes Jonas Hansson.

After years of waiting and testing Ralf Arnold believes the hour for electric city buses has now come: "The time is ripe, the political pressure is there - and we have the right drive solution to meet the need." In every comparison test the ZAwheel gearless in wheel hub drive is clearly the front runner in terms of noise characteristics, efficiency and operating costs. By not having any gears the ZAwheel also scores over diesel-powered vehicles and hybrid buses in terms of life-cycle costs

DAF: At Busworld Kortrijk, DAF extended its DAF Transport Efficiency programme to the bus and coach sector. This programme aims to further increase efficiency for operators. To achieve this goal, DAF Components not only supplies a complete range of reliable and economical PACCAR engines, but also a comprehensive package of services to ensure maximum vehicle availability. A key new addition to the DAF Components offering, is a DAF LF chassis module as a basis for compact buses. For decades, DAF has held a prominent position on the international market for buses and coaches as an independent supplier of engines. DAF Components provides a complete range of Euro 6 engines for the European market.

BOMBARDIER:  Bombardier Transportation’s e-mobility business unit Primove exhibited its latest technologies. PRIMOVE not only showcased their complete e-mobility portfolio, but also presented their projects in passenger operations. In March 2014, the innovative wireless PRIMOVE charging system and the compact PRIMOVE battery system made its debut on e-buses operating in Braunschweig, Germany. Since then, the German cities of Mannheim and Berlin have also introduced the technology on inner-city bus lines, not only allowing passengers to enjoy a quiet and zero-emission ride, but also proving the suitability and reliability of the system - even on demanding inner-city routes. Bombardier is also currently working on implementing its PRIMOVE system for electric buses in Bruges, Belgium.

For electric buses, the PRIMOVE package represents a major leap forward by creating a competitive alternative to diesel and hybrid systems. It offers a unique combination of fast inductive charging, light-weight batteries and a fully-integrated propulsion system. The PRIMOVE e-mobility portfolio is not limited to buses but can be also applied to a variety of electric rail and road vehicles.  For automobiles, the PRIMOVE system overcomes charging constraints with a fast, safe and automated charging process. The compact system fits into the underside of any car and requires no plugging, making e-mobility more convenient than ever. Bombardier recently announced that it has signed a nomination agreement with one of the world’s largest automobile manufacturers for the serial development of the PRIMOVE 3.6 kW inductive charging solution. This partnership marks a major breakthrough for Bombardier, growing beyond its traditional core business of public transportation into the private automobile sector.

CONTINENTAL: The international tyre manufacturer and automotive supplier Continental presented its portfolio of bus tyres, electronics, fleet management and instrumentation solutions, as well as ergonomics at Busworld in Kortrijk. Highlights included the fully configurable instrument cluster MultiViu Professional 12 and the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) ContiPressureCheck.

There is a growing trend toward networked vehicles that make the driver's life easier by displaying important information clearly, a trend which is supported by Continental’s Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket business unit with its innovative instrument cluster, MultiViu Professional 12. The fully configurable instrument cluster has a high-resolution, 12.3-inch color TFT display, real-time capable 2D graphics, and video imaging.

vehicle. Their recordings are transmitted to two displays on the right and left of the A-pillar. The technology considerably expands the visible area compared with conventional exterior mirrors, and maximizes driving safety while simultaneously cutting fuel consumption by up to 2pc. The camera system ProViu ASL360 extends these cost and  safety savings even further, by directly transferring a real-time image of objects immediately adjacent to the vehicle onto a display. As a result the risk of damage to both the vehicle itself and other objects around it is reduced since the driver’s blind spots are eliminated. This particularly facilitates cornering and turning in tight spaces.

In the field of vehicle electronics, Continental also exhibited a modular driver's workplace for urban and intercity buses that complies with VDV and EBSF standards. The modular design provides a workplace that is user-friendly and has a very flexible layout. Its components can be adapted to many different use cases. As the height and incline of the system can also be fully adapted, the new design offers bus drivers considerably more ergonomic working conditions.

ABB: ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, introduced an automated fast charging system which allows electric city buses to drive 24/7, thus enabling true zero emission bus transport in cities. With its automated rooftop connection and a typical charge time of 4–6 minutes, the system can easily be integrated in existing bus lines by installing fast chargers at end points, terminals, depots and/or intermediate stops. The modular design offering 150 kW, 300 kW or 450 kW of charging power provides any city bus with enough energy in only a few minutes to run its inner-city route continuously throughout the day. With increasing air pollution levels and a stronger public commitment to clean transportation, electric city buses offer a large opportunity to improve life in cities, while also reducing operational costs.

ABB’s automated fast charging system solves the key problems for large scale adoption of zero emission electric buses: long charging times and short driving range belong to the past. A practical solution based on international industry standards ABB’s automatic charging system is based on IEC 61851-23, the international standard for fast charging electric vehicles. This ensures the appropriate safety systems are in place, the electrical design is in accordance with regulations, and the systems architecture and working principle are supported by the wider automotive community in the future.

The robust automated connection is based on a pantograph: a proven system used commonly on trains, trams and metros, but mounted in inverted position on a stylish infrastructure pole. When a bus arrives at the charging stop, wireless communication will be established between bus and charger and the pantograph will come down automatically. After all safety checks are performed the system will provide the bus with a powerful fast recharge.

ABB’s fast charging system was shown to the public for the first time in Kortrijk, Belgium at the Busworld 2015 show, where ABB showcased multiple innovative technologies for public transport.

ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG: ZF Friedrichshafen AG presented its extensive product portfolio for midibuses, city buses, and coaches. The innovations included the reengineered ZF-EcoLife automatic transmission which now features the start/stop function. Fuel savings of up to ten percent can be achieved with this function alone in conventional diesel city buses. An additional electric motor in the driveline is not necessary and reduces thus costs and installation space. The further development of the AVE 130 electric portal axle is a suitable solution for electrically driven buses. With its product range, the technology company completely covers the demands of current and future bus applications. For ZF, automotive megatrends like efficiency, safety, and automated driving play an as important role as social and political long-term factors or the increase of comfort for drivers and passengers when developing new products.

VDL  BUS & COACH:  The new VDL Futura double-decker was introduced to the general public for the first time during Busworld 2015. With its sophisticated, streamlined, modern design, the VDL Futura FDD2 is the next milestone in the high-end VDL Futura family. With a capacity of up to 96 passengers, VDL Bus & Coach offers both the discerning holidaymaker and the intercity business passenger a comfortable and suitable transport solution. The fuel-efficient powertrain in combination with the aerodynamic styling guarantee low fuel consumption and thus low CO2 emissions. The VDL Futura FDD2 is the coach that not only optimally contributes to ‘Profit of Ownership’ but will also become the showpiece of many coach companies.

MAN: At the Busworld, MAN showcased its extensive expertise in the bus sector. Whether it is a luxury coach with a bistro upgrade or an application-optimised city bus and intercity bus - individuality, innovation and interactivity are reflected in the MAN product range. Following its premier at MAN BusDays 2015 in Ankara, the MAN Lion's Intercity was showcased for the first time at Busworld. The MAN Lion’s Intercity has been adapted without compromise for use in long distance transport and shuttle services and as a robust school bus, combining first class comfort with both a high level of functionality and outstanding safety in the very best MAN quality. The vehicle sets standards not just with its striking, aerodynamically-optimised design and its excellent driving characteristics, but above all with its efficient fuel consumption and low life-cycle costs. The concept behind the low total cost of ownership is the consistent use of light weight components. Good aerodynamics and ease of servicing and repair also contribute to the low operating costs. At the Busworld, MAN showcased the vehicle in the 12-metre and 13-metre long versions.