ScaniaTransit The newsletter for bus and coach customers of Scania Australia
July 2018
TOURING AUSTRALIA Scania’s alternative fuel solutions drive Small is beautiful. Coach Concepts progress for Europe’s bus operators. delivers neat charter bus for Popes.
Terry and Lynne celebrate 20 years of success with Scania on the Gold Coast. ScaniaTransit ScaniaTransit July 2018 1
Change is the only constant
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ook back 10 years and consider how much change has been visited on your business. Quite a lot I would bet! For government bus fleets, 10 years is barely 40% of the expected working life of the vehicle, but the reality of global awareness and concern over emissions and energy use have been turned almost upside down in just one decade. The difference is that now all operators are able to turn to an alternative fuel to drive down their emissions, which for city-based bus operators, should be a key driving force. You only have to look at the wave of cities across Europe pledging to make life difficult for diesel-powered transport in the very near future, and that’s in an environment where Euro 6 is mandated. Anyone travelling through any of our five metropolitan capitals will attest to the growth in congestion, extended travel times and as a result the increasing damage caused by gross exhaust pollution, and with the Australian
Population estimated to reach over 33.5 million people by 2050 the pressure on our environment will only get bigger. As our urban populations continue to grow towards this figure by 2050, greater reliance on high frequency, high capacity public transport will become a political and practical requirement if our cities are to avoid grinding to a halt because of congestion. And Scania is ready to help fix this problem with a range of alternative fuels for buses that produce vastly lower noxious emissions than regular diesel-powered solutions. You only have to ask. This edition of Scania Transit underlines where we are going. Our electric buses are on test in Europe. Our hybrid buses are in service in Europe. Our gas buses and biodiesel buses are old hat, comparatively speaking, but in Australia, even Euro 6 emission regulations for diesel is still some time away from being mandated. But we’re not waiting for regulation. We have been offering Euro 6 since
2014, and the number of operators willing to give it a go is increasing. We’re bringing a hybrid bus to Australia to assess its performance in real world local conditions. We’re in the midst of a transport revolution. When you look at the age of our city bus fleets across the country and consider the poor level of emissions control on many of them, still in 2018, it is a little embarrassing – particularly when we promote ourselves to the public as “industry leaders”. The power to clean up our act as an industry is now in your hands. At Scania, we’re keen, willing and able to partner with you to forge a clean path for public transport, to present our industry as the correct and sustainable solution for mass transit in the 21st century. You only have to ask.
Julian Gurney National Manager, Sales Bus & Coach
Scania Transit is produced by Scania Public Relations. e: pr@scania.com.au t: 9217 3300 2 ScaniaTransit July 2018
accommodating and the benefit to our customers is that when they have a sudden need for a vehicle or win new work, we can have a high-quality new vehicle in their hands very quickly,” he said. According to Daniel Castro, Commercial Managing Director at IRIZAR Asia Pacific, the joint stock holding strategy was a win-win for both Scania and IRIZAR.
“We identified that the Scania K 310 and K 360 4x2 chassis and the 3700 mm and 3900 mm IRIZAR i6 bodies were the perfect combinations for this programme, and so we ensured last year that we had plenty of stock-on-hand. We also kept several sets of seats available so that operators could acquire the seats they wanted, even at short notice. “Instead of waiting five months for a bus to come off the line in Brazil, or up to nine months for a bespoke specification, this programme allowed us to offer an order-to-delivery turnaround measured in weeks, not months. For some customers we were able to fulfil their order within a fortnight,” Daniel said. “We determined that unfunded charter bus operators and funded school bus operators would be the most likely candidates for this stock bus programme, and so it turned out. “The programme allowed us a great deal of flexibility to provide a great design, made to a high quality and with a proven, reliable and durable chassis and powertrain;ß exactly what the customer wanted, but delivered much more quickly than before,” Daniel said. “As a result of the success with the Scania stock programme we’ll be continuing this throughout 2018 and continuing to work closely with Scania in Australia as well as Scania in Latin America,” he said.
the competitive tender process our vehicles were identified as being the clear leaders thanks to our focus on providing Total Operating Economy. It was this which enabled us to secure the deal.”
The new buses will be powered by a combination of the proven 310 hp 5-cylinder SCR Euro 5 engine and the 360 hp 5-cylinder SCR Euro 6 engine, with the first deliveries expected late in 2018.
Ready-to-roll success
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cania and long-term bus and coach body partner IRIZAR last year embarked on a strategy to hold readybuilt stock in Australia, in order to be able to meet spot demand as effectively as possible. “The strategy was a success,” said Julian Gurney, Scania Australia National Manager, Sales for Bus and Coach. “We were able to provide around 50 vehicles to customers with very minimal order-to-delivery times, and the programme was so successful we’re continuing with it. “IRIZAR Australia was very
Ventura signs on
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cania has been selected to supply Melbourne-based Ventura Bus Lines with a significant number of new bus chassis over the next four years, for deployment around a wide array of suburban routes. The majority of the order is for low floor rigid chassis but includes a small number of articulated vehicles as well. “We are very pleased to have been selected to supply these chassis to Ventura,” said Julian Gurney, National Manager, Sales for Scania Australia Bus and Coach. “Scania has been a dedicated business partner of Ventura’s for more than 30 years, and this new order serves to continue to strengthen our relationship. “Our offer of cost-effective and reliable chassis and powertrains will give Ventura consistent and predictable uptime,” Julian said. “We are very pleased that through
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Short and Sweet S
cania has just delivered its first 10.8 m school and charter bus with a Coach Concepts body, and already a second order for a similar specification 10.8 m bus has been received. Operator Popes Consolidated Bus Lines of Timboon, in south-west Victoria took delivery of the first unit in April, a K 310 IB 4x2, 3.7 m high 41-seater, fitted with seat belts. “Popes said they didn’t need a big bus but wanted the heavy-duty quality and durability that a Scania chassis and drivetrain delivers,” said Dean Cash, Scania Account Manager for Victoria and Western Australia. “Comfort was another key quality they were looking for, and with three Scania chassis already powering some of their fleet, they had a good idea what they would be getting. The new vehicle will travel to remote locations, so reliability is very important,” Dean said. “The new vehicle is powered by Scania’s proven 310 hp five-cylinder 9-litre SCR Euro 5 engine that will return excellent fuel and low running costs.
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“The Popes bus is the first 10.8 m Coach Concepts body on a Scania chassis. We are confident the 11 m size will prove very attractive to operators in regional areas who don’t need a high number of seats but who want to invest in big bus quality and reliability, not to mention the outstanding backup support provided by the Scania network,” Dean said. “We are also soon to deliver a second 10.8 m bus, this one to Wimmera Roadways in Horsham. It has a similar technical specification, but with a wheelchair-lift fitted that will allow it to do public transport services. This has a very similar body by Coach Design and it will replace the operator’s older, smaller bus that needed to tow a trailer. “With the additional luggage space, the operator can abandon the trailer, which will save on fuel, improve manoeuvrability and reduce wear and tear on the chassis, not to mention making the job easier for the driver,” Dean said.
Leggy 11: The new Coach Concepts body has 41 seats with plenty of legroom. Dramatic styling touches and roomy driver station are just two of the attractions, in addition to the Scania chassis and driveline, of course.
CDC Victoria grows with Scania C
DC Victoria continues to purchase Scania buses for regional centre route work with multiple vehicles set for delivery through the second half of the year. “This order of Scania K 310 buses builds on a prior order, which demonstrates our confidence in the reliability and fuel efficiency of the product,” said CDC Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer, Nick Yapp. “We’ve also partnered with Scania to deliver their Optimise driver coaching program to improve the overall outcome for our customers, which is a smooth, safe and sustainable journey.” The newly ordered buses will be distributed between Melbourne metropolitan, Ballarat and Geelong depots.
Currently, Scania makes up more than 30% of the CDC Victoria fleet. With CDC Victoria activating the Scania Optimise programme it will be able to further develop its drivers’ skills and through more efficient driving, will reduce its vehicles’ environmental impact in line with its pre-existing environmental policy, as well as improving customer comfort levels. “Scania is very pleased to be able to build on its solid foundations as a supplier to CDC Victoria with this new tranche of vehicles,” said Julian Gurney, National Manager, Sales, for Scania Australia Bus & Coach. “We are also pleased to be able to welcome CDC Victoria to the growing number of operators using Scania Optimise to gain a greater understanding
of how their operational costs are influenced by their drivers, and to pinpoint where efficiencies can be made,” he said. The ComfortDelGro Group is one of the largest land transport companies in the world, operating in seven countries with a working fleet of over 44,000 vehicles. The Group is active within bus, taxi, rail, car rental and leasing, automotive engineering services, testing services, driving centres, insurance broking services, outdoor advertising and car dealerships. The Group’s operations currently extend from the United Kingdom and Ireland to Singapore, Australia, Vietnam, Malaysia, as well as across 11 cities in China.
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ith 20 years of experience running school touring excursions, Greg and Heidi Turton of Macquarie Educational Tours in Newcastle, NSW, know what works for their business and what is important to keep the wheels turning. “We’re a full-service touring and excursion business,” says Greg, who took delivery of his first brand new Scania in more than 10 years in mid-2017, and who has just ordered two more vehicles for delivery in 2019. “Despite being based in Newcastle, our vehicles spend most of their time in Canberra and the Scania agent in Canberra, Ben Glover is fabulous. Service is the key element and Ben always looks after me, not that there have been any issues with the new coach,” he says. “From my perspective, what happens in the workshop is critical.” As a travel agent, the company relied on sub-contractors to do the driving. It owned some of its own coaches early on, but then disposed of them, but returned to buying its own vehicles in recent times. Having bought Scania coaches new in 2003 and 2004, it had been a while between new Scanias for the business when the Express-bodied K 310 4x2 entered service last May. This 48-seater (plus driver) has clocked up 53,000 km to date and has performed exactly as intended. Greg was very specific in his requirements for the new vehicle informed by his experience on the road over many years. He added several features to the standard Express body including lockers for snow chains and tools, as the coach spends a lot of time taking school kids to the NSW ski fields. 6 ScaniaTransit July 2018
Macquarie sold on service The K 310 also has three on-board TVs and a DVD system, as well as a toilet, and a bunk for the driver, while Greg specified a larger fuel and AdBlue tanks for increased range. Greg also signed up for the Scania Monitor package, so he could keep a close eye on running costs and driver performance. Following on from the success with the K 310, Greg has placed an order for two new K 450 6x2 Euro 6 emissions compliant 12.5 m coaches with fixed tag axles, which will be bodied by Coach Concepts. The coaches will be used for extended school tours where the students are away for one night or more, visiting places of educational interest across the country. “Scania is very pleased to be able to provide Greg and Heidi with two more new vehicles to help continue the growth of their business,” says Warren Young, Scania New Account Manager for Bus
and Coach Sales in New South Wales. “The experience they have had with the K 310 has been true to the Scania promise of looking after our customers throughout the ownership experience and ensuring the highest possible uptime and greatest operating efficiency. “We look forward to the business adding these two new coaches early next year,” he said. Greg and Heidi have several decades of experience running touring companies and Greg’s early claim to fame was he was the first coach driver to successfully take a touring party down the Gun Barrel Highway in 1980 (or so the local police told him). Macquarie Educational Tours provides well researched, thoroughly organised, outcome focused excursions conducted by friendly coach drivers to schools across Australia. It continuously researches new destinations and programs to suit the Australian curriculum.
Transdev Euro 6 trial a success S
cania provided Sydney operators Transdev with a demonstration Euro 6 bus to experience the real-world benefits of the advanced emissions reduction system. The body is a Volgren Optiumus and was specified in association with Greg Reichelt and John Allen from Volgren. Over two months the bus clocked up almost 10,000 km in the hands of two drivers, Rod Bird and Carlo Di Cesare, running 7-8 hours daily between midFebruary and Mid-April “The demonstrator vehicle gave us the ability to assess the Euro 6 drivetrain against the current members of the Transdev fleet,” says Bruno Martino, Transdev’s Fleet Performance and Compliance Manager. “From a corporate perspective we were very happy with the vehicle’s performance, thanks to positive feedback from our drivers and the support we received from Scania,” he said. “We have adopted Euro 6 as a company policy as of 2016-2017,” Bruno said. “Compared with similar buses on the same routes, the Scania Euro 6 bus returned lower fuel use per 100 km, but we expected this especially as the drivers had received driver training from Scania prior to the trial.
“Some of the Euro 6 benefits are higher horsepower outputs and improved fuel economy, but with the body that was on the bus we also gained a better customer layout with room for wheelchair users, as well as a new dash layout for the drivers.” According to Carlo Di Cesare, the Scania demonstrator performed really well. “The bus had very stable handling with minimum body roll on corners. At high speed, between 80-100 km/h it felt stable and sure-footed around sweeping bends giving a reassuring degree of confidence on the road. Braking performance was excellent, with smooth stopping, especially in conjunction with the Retarder,” Carlo said. “The generous engine torque gave excellent smooth, effortless acceleration, easily tackling long, steep hill climbs with minimal depression of the accelerator pedal. “It was very smooth and quiet with the
engine matched to an equally smoothchanging gearbox. This gave excellent fuel economy and it easily kept up with traffic,” he said. “From a cold start there was minimal time required for air pressure to build up and excellent engine response while relatively cold during the warm-up period. “Some of my customers commented on the quietness and smoothness of the bus. Many customers commented favourably on the extra room for the elderly, for wheelchairs and prams. The accessibility was due to the extra width of the doors, aisle and extra-large wheelchair bay. “I was surprised by the number of comments and the praise from the customers,” Carlo said. Driver Rod Bird commented: “The Scania Euro 6 demonstrator bus was very nice to drive, with excellent performance and smoothness. It was also easier to pull away from a stop thanks to the power available. “Some of our customers commented on the new interior of the bus and some commented on the smooth ride and the power, but there was generally little awareness of the Euro 6 technology (despite the bus being wrapped with a Euro 6 theme).” ScaniaTransit July 2018 7
New Scania Touring is a proven fuel meister
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he Scania Touring has swept the board in the leading Italybased European newsletter ‘BusToCoach’s’ comparative test of eleven 2-axle coaches from six bus builders. The Touring recorded an impressive and unbeatable 18.2 litres/100 km, comprehensively out-pacing its rivals in terms of fuel efficiency. Indeed, the Scania Touring’s thirst was an impressive 12-percent lower than the runner-up, and all of 31 percent better than the thirstiest coach in the test. BusToCoach lined up coaches with bodies by Irizar, Iveco, Mercedes, Setra and Temsa for a fuel duel that included 347 km of varied road conditions in Lombardy, Piacenza and Liguria. The results for the Scania Touring HD 12.1-metre coach surprised even
seasoned bus experts. “The results have exceeded all expectations in terms of consumption, plus a remarkably interesting purchase price,” the publication said. “The consumption turned out to be better than any optimistic prediction.” BusToCoach found that the low fuel consumption could primarily be attributed to Scania’s 13-litre SCR-only engine, the automated Scania Opticruise and Scania Active Prediction which provides topographical information to the on-board control system, allowing the vehicle to predict approaching hills or descents. In addition to impressive fuel consumption, the newsletter praised the Scania Touring for its “very good interior quietness for both passengers and the driver, and the well-finished trim.”
Prime time for Touring 8 ScaniaTransit July 2018
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cania Australia is to launch its first new fully-built coach product line since the arrival of the Scania-Higer A30 almost a decade ago, in the fourth quarter of 2018. The European-designed Scania Touring 4x2 will be powered by a choice of 5-or 6-cylinder Scania engines and is a Scania from bumper-to-bumper. It has been a hugely successful product line since its European debut. The Touring for Australia will be assembled in a purposebuilt factory in China by staff trained to Scania’s global standards, working under the watchful eye of Scania’s quality assurance team. The 3.9 m high Touring will be ideally suited to operators who like the idea of the ready-made, rapid order-to-delivery concept, as pioneered successfully by the A30, but who need additional luggage space for school & charter operations. The standard offer will be a 9.0-litre, 5-cylinder Euro 6, 360 hp/1700 Nm K 360 4x2 IB chassis with significant underfloor accommodation for luggage, plus up to 57 seats inside (53, if reclining seats are specified), to operators’ individual requirements. Dura-Bright alloy wheels are standard across the range. As an option, operators looking for more torque can specify the 13.0-litre, 6-cylinder Euro 5, 360 hp Scania engine with 1800 Nm of torque, or for ultimate performance, the 13.0-litre 410 hp Euro 6 engine with 2150 Nm of torque. This specification of Touring recently competed in a European bus test and was judged to be the most fuel efficient of its 11 direct competitors, which indicates it will be yet another Scania model to deliver strong operating economy for customers (see breakout, left). Five-cylinder engines are mated either to the 8-speed Scania Opticruise or to the 6-speed push button ZF automatic transmission. The 6-cylinder engine options will be hooked up to the Scania Opticruise automated gearbox. In addition to comfortable accommodation for passengers, the driver station is particularly appealing, with a large driver’s window and the standard Scania dashboard complete with information screen, which will be
able to offer driving efficiency tips typical of Scania’s fuel-saving focus aimed at maximising Total Operating Economy. Australian operators have been quick to see the appeal of the new Touring range, with many of the first batch of vehicles ordered by the Scania Australia Bus and Coach division already allocated; with the Dineen Group ordering four vehicles and independent operator, St Mary’s taking another. “The new Touring will be our flagship School and Charter Bus product,” said Julian Gurney, National Manager, Sales, for Scania Australia Bus and Coach. “The Touring will be a logical step up for operators of the Scania-Higer A30 looking for an even higher level of finish and additional luggage capacity. “We have many customers who operate only Scania vehicles in their fleet, so this new Touring will be of great interest to them. We also see the new Touring as being able to conquest sales from mixed fleets and those whom are yet to join the Scania family,” Julian says. “The fact that the Touring is a Scania from bumper-to-bumper is also very appealing to operators, as we provide a one-stop-shop for all their requirements from specification and delivery to warranty and maintenance work,” he said.
Scania Touring 2018MY Launch Specification Powertrain and chassis configuration K 360 4x2 IB 9 litre, 5-cylinder Euro 6, 6-speed ZF auto K 360 4x2 IB 13 litre, 6-cylinder Euro 5, 8-speed Scania Opticruise with hydraulic Retarder K 410 4x2 IB 13 litre, 6-cylinder Euro 6, 8-speed Scania Opticruise with hydraulic Retarder Opticruise versions have Power, Economy and Normal modes Suspension Electronic Kneeling front / Full Raise & Lower function Outer lobe rolling airbags front and rear Dimensions 12.3 m long 3.9 m high 2.5 m wide 2.5 m front overhang 3.3 m rear overhang 19500 kg GVM Fuel tank
465-l Diesel
Wheels and tyres Alcoa Dura Bright alloys 8.25 x 22.5 rims 295/80 R 22.5 R S Michelin tyres Rear axle ratio
2.92:1
Safety Systems ABS ESP Xenon headlights and LED DRLs Hill Hold Scania Communicator Interior Features/Options TV screens, Radio & CD player Leather steering wheel Electric windscreen blinds Electric sliding window for driver Exterior camera for reversing Flat floor Side curtains Luggage racks Crew luggage storage Driver fridge
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cania Australia is soon to welcome its first Hybrid bus chassis, to be bodied locally to demonstrate its suitability for Australian city operating conditions. Australia is late to the alternative fuels party for buses despite several operators diving in early many years ago. Gas and ethanol have been tried, and biodiesel when and where available, is under consideration or in use in small volumes. But the reality is in Australia, unless there’s a government incentive or new legislation, we look set to continue leaving the same emission signature from diesel across the skies of our increasingly densely populated cities, despite several viable options being available in Europe. Without Euro 6 legislation, Australia is slipping behind Europe in terms of emissions reduction. Thanks to Europe’s Euro 6 rules, noxious exhaust emissions are now significantly reduced compared with previous generations, so the emphasis has turned to carbon dioxide emissions reduction. As with NOx, one of the easiest ways to reduce CO2 emissions is to reduce fuel use. Scania offers a complete selection of alternative fuels in European markets and they are growing in popularity, and the
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Hybrid harmony latest is a diesel hybrid bus that teams a traditional (though biodiesel compatible) diesel engine with an electric motor and batteries mounted on the roof. This technological combination has been proven in tests and is now fully implemented in several locations, one of which is in Madrid, Spain’s capital, where the drive to cut emissions is at its peak (see breakout). So, what’s Madrid got that we haven’t? Madrid glories in being Europe’s highest capital city at 667 m above sea level and is already home to 51 Scania Hybrid Citywide buses. It swelters in 40-degree C summers and freezes through very cold winters, quite similar to Melbourne or Canberra in fact. The upside for Madrid’s route bus
operators using these Scania Hybrids is a consistent and reliable 23-25% reduction in diesel consumption, plus added driveability its drivers love. The smoothness of the drive is remarked upon not only by drivers, but by passengers as well. And they have proven to be exceptionally reliable in service. The routes used by these Madridbased Scania Hybrids are broadly similar to the sub-urban and peri-urban routes commonly found in Australia’s major conurbations, where there’s a decent gap between stops and the roads aren’t clogged all day, every day. This means the engines get up to speed and maintain speed, allowing the electric motor to assist the diesel, which for short periods can drive the bus entirely on battery power. Using the Scania system the diesel engine is employed to maintain battery charge as well as propel the bus, though a refined version (coming very soon to Australia) allows the bus to shut down the diesel motor and run silently through the city for a short distance. The refined version of the Class II bus is especially designed for suburban traffic where higher speeds can be obtained and more kinetic energy recuperated to take the full advantage of the hybrid system. The buses in Madrid comprise 34x12.7-metre 4x2s and 17x14.8-metre 6x2*4 vehicles. The new Class II specification Scania Hybrid Citywide can be operated at speeds of up to 100 km/h. The hybrid powertrain includes the traditional
high-performance Scania 9-litre engine with 320 hp on tap and SCR-only aftertreatment technology that can run on up to 100 percent biodiesel and Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO). The hybrid unit comprises an electric machine (motor and generator) and automatic clutch, and is located between the engine and gearbox. The electric machine is rated at 150 kW and 1,050 Nm. A total of 1.2 kWh of energy storage is provided by a lithium-ion battery integrated in the roof structure at the front of the bus and is housed in a neatly styled bulb together with a DC/DC voltage converter and a cooling unit. The use of a Scania Hybrid system together with a DC/ DC converter, stop-start function and ecoroll provides significant fuel savings. To clean the air even more, in Madrid they’re running the combustion engine on up to 100 percent biodiesel, providing CO2 savings of 60-65 percent. “Accelerating urban growth in the world is largely rapid suburbanisation rather than expanding city centres. That means longer commuter trips to work and, in fact, suburban public transport presently consumes three times more fuel than city centre transport. Thus we need a greater focus on finding non-fossil alternatives for these journeys,” says Karin Rådström, Head of Buses and Coaches at Scania. “This Scania Hybrid bus is ideally suited for combined city and suburban operations. It gives customers the opportunity to invest in carbon-saving operations with an estimated payback
of just over five years, including battery replacements during the lifespan. By comparison, payback is some two years later in purely inner-city operations,” Karin says. “We are excited to be bringing the Scania Hybrid chassis to Australia and we are very confident its on-road performance, its low fuel consumption and its drastically reduced emissions will spur a lot of interest from local operators in outer-urban areas,” says Julian Gurney, Scania Australia National Manager, Sales for Bus and Coach. “Hybrid offers extra passenger comfort at no extra cost, and the fuel savings go straight to the bottom line. And as for emissions, anything that helps clean up the air we’re all breathing has to be a step in the right direction,” he says.
Cleaning up the city The City of Madrid has devised tough temporary measures to tackle pollution, including speed limits and banning passenger car access to the city centre if nitrogen oxide levels exceed acceptable limits. In parallel, the Madrid transport authorities have required bus operators to gradually switch to greener technology. Conventional diesel has not been permitted in new bus acquisitions since 2010. The regional authorities are encouraging passenger transport companies to operate at least 20 percent of their fleets on gas, as hybrids or as electric buses. Restrictions on the use of gas vehicles in non-adapted underground bus depots have prompted operators to select hybrid technology. ScaniaTransit July 2018 11
Sustainable transport pioneers N
owhere is the journey towards sustainable transport systems more rapid than in cities. The social and economic impact of fast urbanisation puts a huge strain on transportation, making new ideas and technologies imperative for better living. Globally, Scania works as a partner with many cities, providing public transport and urban solutions that are viable, flexible and cost-effective. The intense effects that poorly planned urban transportation have — air and noise pollution, wasted energy resources, insufficient road safety and traffic congestion — harm their inhabitants’ 12 ScaniaTransit July 2018
health and constrain our economies. It is not just expanding city centres that is the problem but also a rapid suburbanisation, meaning longer commuter trips. In the effort to make the world’s transport systems fit for the future, cities are pioneers. They are fora for new public policy, designed to improve people’s quality of life. They are living laboratories for introducing new types of cleaner, smarter and safer transport. Multiple examples of city leadership and public policy approach to sustainability appear from cities such as Paris, Hamburg and Madrid, which are all planning restrictions on diesel
Hedvig Paradis, Development Engineer. Scania Citywide Electric Hybrid with inductive charger.
Politicians, city planners, customers, customers’ customers and suppliers need to work together and Scania stands ready to play its part.
Electric buses charge in
vehicles. Municipal authorities are also responsive and generally have more room to manoeuvre than national governments because regulations are easier to enact on a limited, local scale. Having long recognised the importance of public transport, Scania has been investing heavily in what is now the broadest range of buses and coaches that run on alternative fuels for city and suburban applications, with the options of HVO, biodiesel-FAME, natural gas, biogas, ethanol, and hybrid drivetrains. We work in partnership with city planners to provide full-scale Bus Rapid Transit systems that can transport
50,000 passengers per hour. It means a lot of private transport can be substituted by bus systems with high capacity and efficiency, a cost-efficient way to significantly reduce pollution, CO2 emissions and traffic gridlock. Both city bus operators and retail distributors can also opt for Scania Fleet Care services, including Uptime Guarantee, which means Scania will guarantee that the vehicles keep running. Scania is dedicated to playing a leading role in providing urban transport solutions that are accessible, efficient and attractive — the kind of sustainable solutions we have available now.
You might be shocked to learn that bus operators in China add a London-sized electric bus fleet every five weeks. And while it is true that China currently operates 99% of the global electric bus fleet, and is adding thousands more each month, the commercial viability of electric battery powered buses in cities around the world is shifting closer, and probably faster than you may have thought. Aside from the reduced demand for fossil fuels to run their buses, the Chinese operators of electric buses are reducing emission pollution in their cities, an issue Australian urban operators can well understand given the extended 20-25 year working lives of our city route buses. Buses built in the early 1990s with early 1990s emissions technology are still plying our densely populated streets. In China there are said to be close to 400,000 electric buses on route work, a full 17% of the total fleet. Almost 2,000 new electric buses are added every week, according to research by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. As of December 2017, all of the 16,000 buses in Shenzhen were electric powered, some have been on the streets since 2011. As a result, air pollution in the city has declined, despite significant growth in the past seven years. “This segment is approaching the tipping point,” said Colin McKerracher, head of advanced transport at the London-based research unit of Bloomberg LP. “City councils all over the world are being taken to task over poor urban air quality. This pressure isn’t going away, and electric bus sales will benefit.” Paris, London, Mexico City and Los Angeles are among 13 authorities that have committed to only buying zero emissions transport by 2025. London plans to make significant investments to clean its public transport networks, including retrofitting 5,000 old diesel buses in a program to ensure all buses are emission-free by 2037. ScaniaTransit July 2018 13
Gold standard touring with Terry
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ravel agent, host, entertainer, guide, chief cook & bottle washer, problem solver, cleaner, fountain of knowledge, medico. It takes a special person to be a tour coach driver and Terry Sullivan owner of Terry’s Tours is just that. Buses have been Terry’s career since moving to Tweed Heads on the NSWQueensland border at age 19. There he met his wife Lynne, an apprentice hairdresser and soon after they married, started a family and bought their first home, which they still live in and operate the business from. As Lynne says, ‘I live in an office not a home’. Terry started cleaning coaches at the Surfside and Greyhound Bus Depots in Tweed Heads at age 19 and by 21 he was behind the wheel, driving one of the fleet of buses operating on the Gold Coast then driving the regular Greyhound service from Gold Coast to Brisbane. After many years driving the ‘hound’ he joined Deluxe Coaches, gaining long distance driving experience followed by a stint at a division of Tweed Bus Company named Coastliner Tours, where his tour coach driving began. His first trip was from Brisbane to Cairns and within a short time became their number one driver. Coastliner Tours was sold in 1997 and
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his brother-in-law suggested Terry buy his own coach, reasoning that he’d spent his life doing all the work for someone else, ‘so why not do it for yourself.’ From very humble beginnings, a note pad & pen on their kitchen bench, a few ads in local papers, Terry’s Tours began. Lynne, not only a hairdresser, became a secretary! It was a tough transition as neither had any experience in running a business. It didn’t take long for the word to get around. They registered the business name in January 1998 and undertook
their first one-day tour on Terry’s birthday – 10th February. They hired a coach for a few months before purchasing their first Scania coach. It was already five years old when they bought it and though it did the job, it was getting a little tired so in 1999 they acquired their first new Scania coach built by P & D Coaches in Murwillumbah. It served them well for many years but wasn’t up to scratch with the clientele they were attracting so they went to Scania and Coach Design in Brisbane and ordered their second new coach. Terry made the decision to replace his coaches
every three to three-and-a-half years and is now on his seventh. “I’ve never had a problem with Scania and the same goes for Coach Design. I am a very loyal person provided I get looked after, and both have done a good job for me,” Terry says. What sets Terry’s Tours apart from other operators, apart from his superb bronze Scania coach is their unique service. Catering to retirees on the Tweed and Gold Coast, Terry’s Tours provides door-to-door inclusive price tours on all its extended tours.
Using small buses Terry collects each ‘guest’ as he calls them - not passengers - from their homes to meet up with the coach, and at the end of the tour the small buses take them home. “It’s all part of the Terry’s Tours experience. The people I carry have got lovely homes and want to travel in style, stay in four and five-star motels and travel in something like my coach,” Terry says. “That’s the difference we provide, and our loyal travellers appreciate it. “Two weeks ago, I was in Cradle Mountain in Tasmania in the snow,
Terry at the wheel of his latest and greatest new coach.
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and last week I was in Longreach and it was 35 degrees. This job takes me everywhere. It’s wonderful.” A tight-knit team of long term employees, Terry credits his wife Lynne with keeping the business together. “I’ve got the easy bit, driving the coach and I guess being the face of the business, but if it wasn’t for Lynne we wouldn’t be where we are today.” Lynne’s sister, Susan, has worked in the business for the entire 20 years – it was her husband Lindsay who came up with the idea and there was Cheryl, who recently retired after 14 years. New to the team is Nikki who co-ordinates the extended tours and has the knowledge of a younger generation, so they are looking forward to her expertise. “Scania has been with me virtually all the way and they are a beautiful product. 16 ScaniaTransit July 2018
Having another chassis supplier for a short period reinforced not only the Scania brand but the excellent customer service they provide, which is why I have had them ever since,” say Terry. His newest coach, a 50-seater, K 450 EB 6x2*4, was delivered early February 2018, just in time for his birthday tour. Inside it’s more like a luxury aircraft and features super comfortable leather reclining seats, overhead lockers and drop-down TV screens. A year of touring racks up between 80-100,000 kilometres and Terry took advantage of the Scania Maintenance Program with his coach serviced by Scania at Pinkenba in Brisbane. Terry declares, “the staff are fantastic, very helpful and knowledgeable. “They do a great job and it’s the little things that I appreciate, like putting down floor
coverings so they don’t dirty or mark the carpet. You can tell they really care about their customers.” Terry believes that maintenance is better than repairing the coach and is a stickler when it comes to servicing the coach and keeping it in pristine condition. “If it’s going to go wrong it’s going to happen in the middle of nowhere so I do everything I can to prevent that,” he adds. Having been a long time Scania owner Terry claims the best thing about his coach is the magnificent way it drives, making touring a real pleasure. But he points out that his passengers are the most important judges and they tell him that riding in his coach is like sitting in a lounge chair going down the highway. Terry reckons his coach is more like a luxury car to drive than a 50-seat coach.
Terry and Lynne pose in front of their first Scania, top, and in a recent model, above.
“The performance is terrific with the 450-horsepower turbo diesel. It makes for effortless cruising even when we are full of guests, luggage and fuel, which takes us to around 21 tonnes.” But looks and comments aside Terry’s Tours is a business and has to make money and the Scania has never cost him more than he has estimated in diesel, consumables and maintenance. “I’ve never had any major problems with a Scania and I don’t skimp on anything, says Terry. “The fuel consumption is excellent. The only downside is that we have to carry about 80 litres of Ad-blue because, regardless of what people say, it isn’t available everywhere. I get it from my local station for a dollar a litre out of the pump. If I had to buy by the bottle it would cost me $27 for 10 litres.”
In addition to the Scania Maintenance Program, he also availed himself of the Driver Training Program, that he calls an ‘Education program,’ and found it beneficial, even with 45 years of experience under his belt. “The instructor came to see me and the first thing he said was I have more experience than he did, which we laughed about. “However I did learn a lot about the all new technology in the coach, how it works and how it benefits you as a driver. It’s more driver education than training and I think it’s a good thing to do, especially for inexperienced drivers or those moving into a Scania for the first time.” Lynne has said, “this is the last Coach”, but she has said that about the last three!! We will just have to see…
Terry’s Tours’ brand new vehicle, main picture, has replaced the similar model, above, and boasts high quality leather seats, below.
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Even after 25 years behind the wheel, Scania taught our bus and coach driver trainer, Peter Verbrugge, some new tricks. Q: What’s your background in buses? I joined the industry directly after leaving school 28 years ago. My Dad was an express and touring coach driver and I grew up in the industry, you could say. My first job was with McCafferty’s Coaches which provided me with a good grounding and knowledge. I have worked in extended touring, express driving, charter work, and I also spent time in Europe and Ireland. To this day I still do a bit of weekend driving to keep my hand in, driving for a company running Scania vehicles. This is a benefit as I get real world Scania experience which I can relate to in my training of other drivers.
Q: What’s your background in training?
I have worked as a driver trainer previously, including mentoring drivers new to the industry. With two seasons of work in Ireland I educated drivers and guides which was a great experience.
Q: What are the three key goals of the training you deliver? 18 ScaniaTransit July 2018
Understanding of functionality: To be familiar with how everything operates. Driving concepts: Educating drivers as to how the bus was designed to be driven. Highlighting training Benefits: Improving the passenger experience by providing increased passenger comfort.
about to start a new program with 100 drivers in our Optimise program over the next 6 months. Average improvements in fuel efficiency through the Scania Optimise programme can be around 10% on average, while individual drivers can achieve far greater improvements. Additional benefits are reduced wear and tear and less serious incidents or accidents, and a better passenger experience.
Q: What is the most common question you get asked and how do you answer it?
Q: What’s the biggest difference between a good driver and a below average driver?
Typically, drivers want a better understanding of their vehicle and how it operates. In the past it was all too common for a driver to be thrown the keys and have to figure out the best way to drive the bus or coach on their own. Today, drivers are keen to know more about their vehicle, in line with the growing professionalism of the industry. I do find most drivers have an open mind and are keen to hear what we have to say.
A good driver is willing to learn, adapt, and think of passengers. A below-average driver says, ‘there is nothing you can teach me, this is how I have always driven, why do I need to change?’ I have found my own driving has changed since starting with Scania, and I have always considered myself to be a good driver.
Q: How many drivers have you trained, and what is the average improvement in efficiency they have achieved? So far I have provided around 400 drivers with some efficiency training and I am
Raising the bottom line S
cania is dedicated to improving Total Operating Economy for its bus and coach customers, be they fleet or family operators. The Scania Driver and Connected Services Department has been rolling out access to the Scania Optimise fleet and driver monitoring and analysis tool over the past couple of years and the results continue to impress operators. A saving of around 10% on average in fuel burn is just the headline figure, and naturally any operator who is across his running costs will understand what a significant impact that can have on the bottom line. Reduced wear and tear on vehicles as well as a noticeable reduction in the severity and frequency of incidents and accidents is also notable. That can mean vehicles are off the road for shorter periods, again benefiting the bottom line. The Scania Driver and Connected Services offerings are available in a number of packages that starts with basic weekly reports on vehicle performance. The report is easy to read and absorb, so you don’t need to be a data analyst - that work is done by Scania. As the sophistication of the packages increase, so too do the services that are offered, including Scania’s unique followup coaching for drivers to ensure the efficiency tips they have learned remain front-of-mind. “Since we began rolling out Scania Optimise as a pilot scheme a couple of years ago the results have continued to improve,” says Scania Australia Driver
and Connected Services Manager, Richard Bain (pictured below). “At one operator we have seen average fuel economy improvements of 14.3% across the 20 drivers on the programme, driving Euro 6-compliant buses. Other operators are fitting the Scania Communicator data collection system to non-Scania buses in their fleet as well, in order to get a more complete picture of their drivers’ performance. “Drivers on the programme are running on congested city routes, longer regional hauls and everything in between, underlining the usefulness of a system that can be used across all bus applications,” Richard says. “We have run some significant training programmes with major metro and regional operators in Victoria, and the real-world results are impressive and consistent with our forecasts. The Optimise programme does deliver more motivated, focused, safer and fuel-efficient drivers and the weekly and monthly reports can assist in on-going driver training and assessment by our customers. “As a result of the experience we have
had with our early programmes we have adjusted the offer slightly in order to better meet the needs of our customers and their drivers. “We’re now grading drivers with a simplified A-to-E scale to identify how they are performing, and we have given drivers access to the Scania Fleet Monitoring mobile application so they can see in real time how they are doing, which is a very handy passive coaching tool,” Richard says. “Peter Verbrugge, our experienced driver trainer, has been visiting drivers for face-to-face catch-ups, which is certainly very popular, and we are presenting the best performing drivers with awards from Scania, for overall highest driving performance as well as most improved, across a variety of measurable parameters, such as coasting, fuel efficiency and the reduction of harsh braking and acceleration,” he says. “More than 95% of drivers on the Scania Optimise programme have been positive about it and the results they are able to achieve, and there’s certainly a lot of discussion about scores and techniques in the lunchroom, with drivers suddenly very competitive about their results. This enthusiasm will ensure longer-term maintenance of the best driving habits,” Richard says. “We are also working with the driver trainers at our customer fleets to help them to monitor drivers and provide assistance to those who the Optimise programme identifies as being in the bottom half of the table.” ScaniaTransit July 2018 19
YOU SCANIA HAVE IMMEDIATE DELIVERY. Scania has a selection of high quality locally manufactured and readybuilt buses to meet your school and charter requirements. Coupled with customised driver training and integrated fleet management system, Scania sets new standards for operating economy, driveability, handling and reliability.
Features include:• High quality body and interior • Available in 310hp • Built-in retarder • Choice of six-speed automatic transmission or eight-speed two pedal Opticruise Giving fleet operators a virtual off-the-shelf solution means rapid order-to-delivery times come as standard.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SCANIA-HIGER A30 CONTACT:QLD Brian Thompson: 0418 531 632 WA Dean Cash: 0478 310 518
*Delivery time may vary depending upon operators desired seat configuration or body choice.
NSW Warren Young: 0411 768 027
VIC / SA / TAS Dean Cash: 0478 310 518 Jamie Atkinson: 0408 059 501