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European on-line magazine Editor in chief
COLUMS
Marino Ginanneschi
marino.ginanneschi@bustocoach.com
Managing editor and International relations
Elena Prearo
elena.prearo@bustocoach.com
MARKET IBE RIMINI Coronavirus causes sales Safe business for the to decrease in Europe. exhibition in October.
SHANGHAI Fuel cell buses in the two airports.
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FLASH NEWS
BusToCoach on-line Magazine - June 2020
SOLARIS ELECTRIC BUSES IN ROMANIA
BYD ELECTRIC BUSES IN SWEDEN
obina has placed an order for further 13 BYD eBuses. The new he city of Craiova, south Romania, has opted for the SoT laris technology ordering 16 Urbino 18 electric buses. N12-metre models are destined for Piteå, a town in the north-east According to the contract, signed on April 28 worth EUR 12 Sweden where the new BYD fleet will go into service at their most
million, the vehicles will be delivered by July 2021. The articulated electric buses will be powered by a 240-kW central motor and fitted with Solaris High Energy batteries plus an inverted pantograph for fast charging. Along with the buses, Solaris will deliver 20 charging devices. Throughout the day the Urbino electric buses will recharge their batteries through four pantograph chargers, whereas at night the recharging will be done using 16 plug connectors. Craiova is the next Romanian city, after Cluj-Napoca, to opt for Solaris electric buses.
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northerly location ever in Europe, close to the arctic circle at latitude 65.31º north. Delivery is scheduled in summer 2021. Manufactured at BYD’s production facility in Komárom, Hungary, Nobina’s latest order has been specified with optional luggage racks. With the new vehicles, Nobina’s BYD fleet in Sweden will total 125 vehicles in nine major Swedish towns and cities. Moreover, Nobina has for some time been the largest BYD bus fleet customer throughout the Nordic region, with over 160 BYD eBuses now on order or in operation, including 44 vehicles in service in Norway and Denmark. Over 1,300 BYD eBuses are now in funciont or on order with public transport operators in Europe.
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VDL ELECTRIC BUSES IN LEIPZIG
BUSWORLD INDIA IN OCTOBER
O
riginally scheduled in August, the 2020 edition of Busworld India will now take place from 6 to 8 October 2020. The postponement has been decided by Busworld and Messe Frankfurt India due to the global trade and travel restrictions in the current pandemic situation. «We have been in constant dialogue with industry players who are strongly in favour of this decision. The environment has to be conducive for business, and more importantly for the health of our exhibitors, visitors, employees and all stakeholders», stated the organisers. Busworld India will be held at the same venue, the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC) in Bengaluru, the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka.
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he municipal company Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe T (LVB) is involved in the development of the first three electric bus lines in Leipzig, East Germany. LVB
has awarded VDL Bus & Coach for the delivery of 21 Citea SLF-120 Electric buses and the related charging infrastructure. The 12-m VDL ebuses will have a 3-door configuration and will be fitted with a 216 kWh battery pack. They will be quickly recharged during the day through a pantograph on the roof. At night, the buses will be charged at the depot. The vehicles will be delivered since the end of 2020 and will run on lines 74, 76 and 89. Line 60 will also be equipped with electric buses at a later date. «As early as 2018, the Supervisory Board of LVB decided to phase in the purchase of electric buses. We are pleased that we can now take this important step and, together with VDL Bus & Coach bv, make a further active contribution to the environmental objectives of the city of Leipzig», says Ronald Juhrs, Managing Director Technology and Operations at LVB.
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FUEL CELL BUSES IN GERMANY
aetanoBus, part of the Salvador Caetano Group and Mitsui C & Co, will deliver later this year, two H2.City Gold buses to Niebüll, Germany. The 12-meter hydrogen-powered buses
will be employed within the eFarm project, one of the largest green hydrogen mobility schemes in Germany, providing an hydrogen infrastructure from production and processing to fleet use. The two vehicles will be operated flexibly on several scheduled service lines by Autokraft GmbH, the group company of Deutsche Bahn AG. They are fitted with a Toyota fuel cell system and they offer, as stated by the Portuguese manufacturer, a range of 400 km on a single refill. The power supply components, such as hydrogen tanks, batteries and fuel cell stack are placed on the roof and contribute to a low-floor design.
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YUTONG E12 IN KAZAKHSTAN
ur-Sultan, Kazakhstan’s capital. Here recently arrived the N first 20 Yutong E12 full electric buses. This batch is part of an order for 100 vehicles that will be put into service step
by step. It’s the largest single order of full electric buses in Kazakhstan and even in the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries. In order to cope with the cold weather in the Kazakhstan’s winters, Yutong has taken a variety of measures on the thermal resistant performance of these full electric buses, which can meet the full-day operational demand after being fully charged. Read the complete news on: https://bustocoach.com/en/
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FLASH NEWS
BusToCoach on-line Magazine - June 2020
SOLARIS URBINO E12 IN POLAND
IAA HANNOVER HAS BEEN CANCELED
he Polish manufacturer signed a contract with the Munihe IAA Commercial Vehicle 2020 has been cancelled due T cipal Transport Authority (ZTM) in Lublin, Poland, for Tto the new coronavirus pandemic. For the most important the delivery of twelve Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses. The international transport, logistics and mobility exhibition (pre-
contract also includes seven charging stations and the aftersale service. The vehicles are to be delivered from November 2021 to April 2022. The ebuses will be fitted with 116-kWh Solaris High Power batteries, adapted to frequent and fast charging. They will be charged through a traditional plug-in system, as well as a roof-mounted pantograph. The roofs of the buses will be also fitted with photovoltaic panels, optimising the use of electric power in the bus. Along with the buses, Solaris will also deliver seven charging devices. Depending on customer needs, dual mode chargers will enable the concurrent recharging of two buses with a charging power of 40 kW or of a one bus with a charging power of 80 kW.
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HESS TROLLEYBUSES FOR ZURICH
VBZ
Zurich is converting line 83 with the Hess trolleybus instead of the diesel buses used so far. The eight new vehicles are the latest generation battery-powered trolleybuses based on Hess ‘SwissTrolley plus’ technology. Thanks to the powerful traction batteries, these vehicles are able to cover longer sections without catenary. According to the Swiss transport company, the move to the trolleybus would save over 200 liters of diesel and about 540 tons of CO2 per year. The new vehicles offer large multifunctional areas with space for prams and two wheelchairs, USB sockets, eco-leather seat covers.
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AUTONOMOUS DRIVE IN NORWAY
A
fter the first trials of self-driving public transport in Oslo last year, the local public transport authority Ruter and the mobility company Holo signed an agreement with Toyota Motor Europe and Finnish technology company Sensible 4 to test autonomous vehicle in the suburban environments outside Oslo, more precisely towards the town of Ski in Nordre Follo municipality. The Toyota vehicles retrofitted with Sensible 4’s autonomous driving software will be operated by Holo in a new pilot project that will be launched this autumn. The new international partnership marks a new chapter of Ruter’s and Holo’s self-driving vehicle trials that tests out autonomous public transportation in Norway. In the previous phases of the trials, shuttle buses from the French company NAVYA have been on the routes of Akershusstranda and Ormøya. Holo has transported more than 40,000 passengers in autonomous vehicles to this day in pilot projects in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Denmark.  
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viously scheduled on September 24-30) we will have to wait for the 2022 edition. «It was a difficult decision to make» admit the organizers of the VDA. «Yet in view of the overall situation in Europe and around the world, we do not see any possibility of holding the IAA this year in its familiar form as a platform for exhibitors and visitors. Many countries have travel restrictions that will remain in force for several months to come. Large events have been prohibited over the coming months in nearly all European countries. Given the situation with the corona pandemic, face-to-face meetings can no longer be held at a trade fair and particularly at the IAA».
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A CITARO FOR COVID PATIENTS
aimler Buses has converted an intercity bus from the D Mercedes Citaro range into a special vehicle for transferring Covid patients. After just two weeks of work at
the Neu Ulm plant, the Citaro has now become the largest intensive care ambulance in Germany. The vehicle will be used by the German Red Cross (DRK) for six months to transfer Covid patients in other hospitals. The trips are followed by two intensive-care doctors from the University Hospital of Ulm. On board there are also three paramedics and two ambulance officers provided by DRK. The idea was by David Richter, CEO of DRK, in response to the need to increase of Covid transport capacity. The joint project was supported by the university hospital in Ulm which provides specialized medical personnel and by the public service company SWU Stadtwerke Ulm which provides drivers and maintenance staff. The internal layout also takes into account the fact that patients can be transported in various positions.
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ORLEANS CHOOSES THE IRIZAR ie TRAMS
he city lying on the banks of the Loire river chooses the IriT zar technology for the energy conversion of its fleet by 2025 with full electric vehicles. And so the first order for 29 Irizar
ie trams starts. 12 meters long, the vehicles have components, batteries, electronics, communications and main systems developed by the Irizar Group. Around 220 km the range declared by the manufacturer. Intended for the operator Keolis Métropole, the 29 Irizar ie trams will arrive from mid 2021. With this new contract, which also includes an after-sales service managed by technicians and local staff, Irizar consolidates its presence in France, where the last year has carried out three BRT projects for the cities of Amiens, Aix-en-Provence and Bayonne. Other Irizar electric buses are in regular service in Marseille and Le Havre. Read the complete news on: https://bustocoach.com/en/
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BusToCoach on-line Magazine - June 2020
THE EU MARKET IN FREE FALL
NEW REGISTRATION IN APRIL 2020 0VER 3.5 T (source ACEA)
COUNTRY
There has been a 20% decrease in the first four months. The number of registered buses in Europe has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic
T
he ‘tsunami’ also overwhelmed the bus market which, at European level, decreased by 20% in the first four months of 2020. It reached a vertical collapse of 67% in April alone during the lockdown of most of Europe due to the Covid-19 pandemic. According to data provided by the European Automotive Manufacturers Association (ACEA), buses with a GVW of over 3.5 tons registered between January and April amounted to 8,551 units compared to 10,706 in the same period in 2019. The numbers then collapsed in April with 993 vehicles ccompared to 2,995 in April 2019. In this first quarter, the most affected markets
ITALIAN BUS MARKET OVER 3.5 T
Buses type
Jan-april 2020
Jan-april 2019
Citybus
298
390
Intercityi
241
222
Coach
375
313
Minibus
277
174
Schoolbus
111
185
1,3’2
1,284
TOTAL Source: ANFIA
were those of Central and Eastern Europe with decreases between 40 and 50 percent. The western basin defended itself better: Germany and France limited the decrease to one figure (-6.7% the former, -8.6% the latter). Italy was even among the positive performances (+1.4%). According to data collected by ANFIA (National Association of the Automotive Industry Sector), it is due to the good performance of touring coaches (+19.8%) and, above all, of minibuses (+59%). The performance of the Iberian market was particularly negative (-48%). Estonia stood out, against the trend, with an increase in the registrations of 257 percent. Outside the EU, in the United Kingdom the decrease was reD% strained (-6.7%) while in the EFTA area, Norway increased by 23.2% unlike Iceland which -23.6% recorded a heavy decrease of 8.6% 77.4%. 19.8% In April, the decrease was stronger for everyone, with peaks of 59.2% 100% in Croatia, Slovenia and -40.0% Cyprus. The only positive performance was the one of Hunga1.4% ry (+250%), Sweden (+43.5%) and Norway (+52%).
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April 2020
April 2019
D% Apr. 2020/19
Jan-Apr 2020
Jan-Apr 2019
D% Jan-Apr
AUSTRIA
2
54
-96.3%
226
292
-22.6%
BELGIUM
60
162
-63%
286
437
-34.6%
BULGARIA
16
52
-69.2%
71
143
-50.3%
CROATIA
0
71
-100%
26
118
-78%
CYPRUS
0
5
-100%
8
12
-33.3%
CZECH REPUBLIC
34
111
-69.4%
260
305
-14.8%
DENMARK
15
47
-68.1%
123
211
-41.7%
ESTONIA
3
7
-57.1%
75
21
257.1%
2020-2019
FINLAND
6
19
-68.4%
67
100
-33%
FRANCE
112
343
-67.3%
1,504
1,646
-8.6%
GERMANY
237
547
-56.7%
1,845
1,977
-6.7%
GREECE
7
40
-82.5%
120
154
-22.1%
HUNGARY
10
35
250
257
237
8.4%
4
74
-94.6%
97
202
-52%
157
231
-32%
1,302
1,284
1.4%
IRELAND ITALY LATVIA
3
3
0%
23
34
-32.4%
LITHUANIA
5
57
-92.1%
78
193
-59.6%
LUXEMBURG
3
42
-92.9%
103
121
-14,9%
NETHERLAND
23
76
-69,7%
251
247
1.6%
POLAND
64
272
-76.5%
456
804
-43.3%
PORTUGAL
16
43
-62.8%
212
271
-21.8%
ROMANIA
21
314
-93.3%
207
284
-27.1%
SLOVAKIA
15
33
-54.5%
80
85
-5.9%
SLOVENIA
0
8
-100%
19
37
-48.6%
56
305
-81.6%
648
1,247
-48%
SPAIN SWEDEN
99
69
43.5%
207
244
-15.2%
EUROPEAN UNION
993
2,995
-66.8%
8,551
10,706
-20.1%
ICELAND
0
2
-100%
7
31
-77.4%
NORWAY
114
75
52%
281
228
23.2%
SWITZERLAND
25
59
-57.6%
140
155
-9.7%
EFTA
139
136
2.2%
428
414
3.4%
99
491
-79.8%
1,814
1,944
-6.7%
1,231
3,622
-66%
10,793
13,064
-17.4%
UNITED KINGDOM EU+EFTA+UK
BusToCoach on-line Magazine - June 2020
SAFE BUSINESS PROJECT FOR IBE The regulatory and organizational protocol for the safety of Italian Exhibition Group trade fair events, including the IBE Rimini scheduled for October, is really strict ehicles will be displayed in complete saV fety, in full compliance with health rules and protocols. This is the goal of the #safebu-
sinessproject launched by the Italian Exhibition Group (IEG) for the Ecomondo, Key Energy, and International Bus Expo (IBE) trade fairs. The project provides over fifty guidelines with a strict regulatory and organizational protocol upstream. Among the various measures, entries planned according to the capacity of the pavilions and extended trade show opening times, desks for the distribution of face masks (mandatory), multiple entrances, safety aisles and distancing signage, dematerialized entry tickets, controls on visitors carried out with thermoscanner and a sanitization route. The entire outfitting supply chain will be organised and managed in safety, the flows of visitors will be monitored with centralized digital tracking and on-site controls by remotely guided stewards. There will also be a continuous sanitization cycle for all areas, rooms and facilities, and sanitization for the air conditioning channel
filters. As for catering the measures provided for are: temperature control of employees, gloves, face masks, disposable overalls, payments with skipthe-line app, single-portion lunch and coffee box, and coded delivery system to the stands. A strict ‘crisis management’ protocol has also been established which defines on-site behaviour in case of suspected cases. IEG employees and event staff will be trained to guarantee the safe execution of their duties, the use of PPE, compliance with strict procedures for personal hygiene and disinfection, and distancing. As for employees, the president of IEG, Lorenzo Cagnoni, announced that the company has decided on mass serological screening, on a voluntary basis. «We are adopting it to protect our collaborators, employees of affiliates and our entire relational system. Operating in different regions, we will carry it out according to the already issued and further protocols. The related instance has already been presented to the Emilia Romagna Region». Other articles about International events: https://bustocoach.com/en/event-ads/
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BusToCoach on-line Magazine - June 2020
FUEL CELL BUSES IN SHANGHAI
The use of fuel cell buses in the two international airports was also evaluated in the agreement between SAIC Motor Corporation and the Shanghai Airport Authority he Chinese metropolis plans to use hydroT gen for the two international airports of Hongquiao and Pudong. In the strategic co-
operation framework agreement recently signed by the Shanghai Airport Authority and the Chinese automotive manufacturer SAIC Motor Corporation Limited, was evaluated the possibility of introducing hydrogen shuttle buses for the transport of passengers on the runways of the respective airports, as well as cars for ground and road maintenance services. The agreement provides for collaboration in various sectors, such as the promotion of new energy vehicles, touring services, car sales and the construction of green airports with a reduced environmental impact. The two partners will also examine the possibility of jointly constructing the related
infrastructure, such as hydrogen refueling stations and charging stations. Shanghai is one of the busiest centers for air travel. Last year, the volume of passengers transiting through Hongquiao and Pudong airports had exceeded 120 million people while cargo transport capacity had exceeded 4 million tons. SAIC Motor is one of the leading five Chinese automotive manufacturers. Thanks to the joint-ventures with General Motors, Volkswagen, and CNH Industrial, it also sells vehicles under brands such as Baojun, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Iveco, Škoda, Volkswagen, and Wuling. Currently, SAIC Motor has already sold various models of passenger cars and commercial vehicles with hydrogen fuel cells in nine cities in China.
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EVEN VIENNA WILL FEATURE H2 BUSES Next year, Wiener Linien will launch a tender for about sixty battery electric buses as well as a dozen hydrogen buses
he Austrian capital is getting ready to T purchase electric and hydrogen buses. In 2021, the public transport company Wiener
Linien will launch a tender for 62 battery electric buses plus ten more hydrogen fuel cell buses. The first vehicles are expected to be operational in 2023. By 2027, a total of 82 buses are expected to feature alternative driving systems. Currently, Wiener Linien is trialing a Mercedes eCitaro for passenger service on the line 57A on weekdays: the test vehicle is free for customers. A similar vehicle was already on the road of Wien in 2019 for testing purposes. Wiener Linien will initially rely on charge depot. A Competence Center for electric buses in the south of Wien and a depot for ebuses in Siebenhirten are under construction. Later, however, intermediate charge
via pantograph will also be available. In Wien, the first electric buses entered regular service in autumn 2012. They are a dozen 7.7-meter Alè manufactured by the Italian Rampini. As for hydrogen, the first vehicle to be tested should be operational from June of this year. However, Wiener Linien has not specified which model will be used. The test will be carried out by the Leopoldau depot, in the north of Wien, where a hydrogen fueling station will also be installed. «Public transport operators are making a very important contribution to Wien’s status as a climate city model» said Ulli Sima, City Councilor for public transport and the environment. «In addition to electric mobility, our plan includes also hydrogen technology. Wiener Linien is once again doing pioneering work for climate-friendly mobility in our city».
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BusToCoach on-line Magazine - June 2020
TEMSA CHANGES OWNER AGAIN
The Turkish manufacturer returns to the orbit of the Sabanci Group which signed a letter of intent with PPF, an affiliate of Skoda, for the repurchase of the company new chapter is opening in the Temsa A business. The Turkish holding company Sabancı and the Czech investment group PPF, an affiliate of Skoda Transportation, have agreed and signed a letter of intent to acquire it with a respective 50% stake. Temsa returns to the orbit of Sabanci Holding which in May 2019 had sold it to the Swiss company True Value Capital Partners. In December of the same year, however, Temsa officially announced the stop of the production due to financial debt. As a result of the negotiations made after the foreclosure proceedings initiated by the banks, the company was set to declare bankruptcy, but the process was not completed. The goal of the two suitors is to restart Temsa’s production activities. The process is expected to be completed after ‘due diligence’, partnership discussions and regulatory approval. Temsa is the leading bus manufacturer in
Turkey. Established in 1968 in Adana, in the south of Turkey, the company was founded as a dealer for the distribution of cars and construction machinery. In 1984, the production of buses started on the domestic market thanks to the agreement with Mitsubishi, of which it was the dealership for Turkey. In 2001 the first bus branded Temsa was launched: the Safari. It was the model that led to expand sales in Europe. In 2008 the company won the “Bus Builder of the Year 2008” award at Busworld Europe. The first electric-powered Temsa bus made its debut in 2016: the Avenue EV. At the beginning of 2019, a branch was opened in North America. Temsa has an annual production capacity of over 10,000 vehicles including buses, midibuses and light-duty trucks with more than 3,000 employees. The company exports its vehicles to 70 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.
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Other articles about Temsa: https://bustocoach.com/en/costruttore/temsa-ulasim-araclari-sanayi-ve-ticaret-a-s-tr/
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HIGH TECH STORE
BusToCoach on-line Magazine - June 2020
OXIS ENERGY
battery specialist Oxis Energy has concrete plans for the series producLthenithium-sulfur tion of Li-S cells in Brazil. After announcing it for the first time in May 2018, and reaffirming it in February 2019, there is a current statement of a scheduled start
of production in 2023. The company has rented a production plant in Juiz de Fora, in the state of Minas Gerais, from Mercedes-Benz Brazil. The first phase involves the lease of approximately 20 thousand squa-re meters for the production of 5 million Li-S cells per year. In a second phase, the capacity of the plant and the cells will be doubled. The plant is cur-rently being modernized with the aim of digitalizing the manufacturing processes. The precursors for the cathodes and electrolytes will be produced in Port Talbot, Wales (UK). The company intends to start up the plant in Wales as early as 2021 and initially pro-duce electrolyte and cathode material for 500 thousand Li-S cells, and then eventually expand production later. Talking about the plant in Brazil, Huw Hampson-Jones, CEO of OXIS Energy, said: «Within five years, this factory will be a center of excellence worldwide in the production of Lithium-sulfur battery cells and systems. By exporting worldwide to a wide range of markets such as aviation, defence, heavy electric vehicles, light commercial vehicles and large marine vessels, our goal is to help the Brazilian Government to eliminate all internal combustion engine (ICE) buses over a 25-year period, which is equivalent to the production of over 4 billion cells. Brazil has the third largest bus market in the world, with 700 thousand ICE buses currently in circulation». Lithium-sulfur batteries are expected to offer higher energy densities at moderate costs. Un-like lithium metal ones, they have the advantage of operating at room temperature. Al-though there has been no commercial breakthrough so far since Li-S cells lose storage capaci-ty after a few charging cycles, research on lithium-sulfur cells is increasing with several suc-cessful stories, including multiple charging cycles.
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ABB
LITIUM-SULFUR
battery chargers for the Swedish electric-powered city buses. They will be installed in the first half of 2021 and will be in operation by the middle of the year. The chargers use the standard OppCharge, an open interface for charging the bus, which enables charging via an automatic connection on the roof. According to ABB, a charge takes about 5-7 minutes. The battery chargers, which are included in the ABB AbilityTM portfolio of connected solu-tions, allow transportation companies to remotely monitor, configure charging points and proactively maintain the equipment to ensure maximum operating time. The new Jönköping’s electric lines will be managed by Vy Bus with around 45 electric buses. According to forecasts, the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions will be about 1,000 tons per year.
not last as long as lithium-ion ones, degrading over time. A group of researchers from the Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas in Austin has found a way to stabilize one of the most challenging parts of lithiumsulfur batteries, bringing this technology closer to commercialization. The team’s findings show that the creation of an artificial layer containing tellurium inside the battery in-situ, on top of lithium methal, can make it last four times longer. «Sulfur is abundant and environmentally friendly with no supply chain problems in the United States» said Arumugam Manthiram, a professor of the Texas Materials Institute. «But there are engineering challenges. We have reduced a problem to extend the life of these batteries».
hey promise greater performance for any use, from cellphofter the pilot project for the electrification of the first elecA tric bus line in Jönköping, Sweden, ABB has received an Tnes to electric vehicles, and are more environmentally suadditional order for the supply of ten 450 kW panthograph stainable to produce. However, lithium-sulfur batteries do
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BusToCoach on-line Magazine - June 2020
SAVE THE PASSENGER TRANSPORT
INAIL RECOMMENDATIONS
he National Institute for Insurance T against Accidents at Works (INAIL) has compiled, in partnership with the He-
The sector calls for urgent measures at local and European level claiming its role in both economic recovery and environmental sustainability
ardly affected by the Covid-19 pandeH mic, the world of passenger transport is mobilising to ask for greater consideration
in the recovery plans of Local Governments and European Institutions, claiming its role in the economic context and in terms of en-
COACH TOURISM ‘FORGOTTEN’
the list of disappointed people by IN the Italian government decree of 55 billion euros for the economic recovery of
Italy, better known as the “revival decree”, there are also the managers of touring coach transport. This sector has been “completely forgotten”, according to the Italian Tourist Bus Committee. «Our sector», was stated by the Committee, «is an integral part of tourism, moves hundreds of thousands of guests towards vacation spots and art Cities, as well as contributing decisively to the chain of congresses and events. The Government seems to realize this only in words, refers to tourism as a fundamental sector for the economy of our country, but then doesn’t do anything concrete to support it. Indeed, it gives money and aid to public companies, effectively creating unfair competition and the death of thousands of small and medium-sized enterprises ». «Grant funding of 120 million euros are nee-
ded to allocate to the devaluation of vehicles», pointed out Riccardo Verona, President of the Committee, «a figure that is not impossibile to raise with a concrete political willingness. In addition, it has been disposed the reversal of taxes for the whole of 2020 and specific measures on labor costs, such as the cancellation for 2020 and 2021 of the contributions for seasonal workers and the halving for permanent employees. Funds are therefore needed to compensate for losses and re-capitalize companies. Finally, minimum-rate financing are needed to maintain a workforce of 40 thousand families destined, at current level, to be unemployed ». Flixbus, the European long-distance bus operator, joins the complaints. «Rather than DL Recovery for us is ‘DL Failure’» argued Andrea Incondi, Managing Director of FlixBus Italia. «This measure is a disaster: the Government has chosen to let private companies that operate on long distances to die».
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alth Superior Institute, a document that provides technical evaluation elements to political decision-makers about the adoption of system, organizational and prevention measures from Sars-CoV-2 on collective land transport, as well as simple rules for users. The identification of these measures, pointed out INAIL in the same document, took into consideration a benchmark analysis of the main containment measures adopted for the land transport sector at an international level and, as for the national context, the indications contained in the “Regulatory Protocol for the containment of the spread of Covid-19 in the transport and logistics sector” of 20 March 2020 of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Assuming that the entire public transport system should be considered “a context with medium-high risk of aggregation, with high risk at peak times, especially in metropolitan areas with high urbanization”, the Inail document, which has been approved by the Technical Scientific Committee (CTS) established at the Civil Protection, suggests that it is necessary to put into practice an effective reorganization of the public transport system to ensure, in addition to protecting passenger health, also the health and safety of employees in stations and on means of transport, and at the same time ensuring accessibility needs for people with disabilities. Among the measures proposed at system level for the reduction of peaks in the vironmental sustainability. The UITP, an association representing 450 operators and public transport authorities in Europe and 1,700 stakeholders all over the world, has launched repeated appeals to the European institutions expressing its concerns for the sector and asking for urgent and necessary measures to ensure
use of public transport following the resumption of work commute, there is the articulation of different working hours with large windows for starting/ending working activities in addition to differentiation and extension of business hours. Alternative forms of sustainable mobility should then be encouraged. As for city, Intercity and trams, the operators of LPT are recommended to carry out sanitation and, where possible, to install hydroalcoholic solution for hand hygiene and hydroalcoholic solution dispensers near push-button panels, for example when it is equipped with electronic ticketing. As for organizational measures, INAIL offers, for example, the purchase of tickets with automated or dematerialized modes, different access doors for boarding and deboarding, delimitation and protection of the driving position from the passenger area to protect drivers, automated opening of the doors, distanced seats with clear signs, and limited maximum capacity to avoid assembly risks. For the prevention and protection of employees, in addition to face masks for drivers, gloves are recommended for the control/service staff. INAIL ends its document with a handbook for users. Among the recommendations, the warning not to use public transport in case of symptoms of acute respiratory infections (fever, cough, cold), to use public transport only in the necessary cases, to prefer alternative forms of transport, to sit only in seats allowed while aleays keeping social distancing, and to avoid getting close to the driver and so on.
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continuity of transport services both during and after the period of freeze of economic activities. Already in March, in the midst of the pandemic, the UITP had compiled, together with the associations IRU, Polis, EuroCities and CER, an open letter addressed to the President of the European Commission,
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MERCEDES: PARTITION WALLS AND SANITIZATION mong the solutions offered accurate service at its BusWorld A by Mercedes-Benz for the Home and authorized workshops, Covid-19 health emergency, parcarried out with effective and tition walls for the protection of the driver and for the sanitization of the air conditioning system. Homologated by the parent company specifically for Mercedes Citaro buses, the partition walls can be installed from scratch or in place of any insufficient protections already in use. They are made up of 8 mm ESG safety glass, with high quality and high efficiency anti-reflection treatment. They are designed for convenient Ursula von der Leyen, to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and to the President of the European Parliament, David Maria Sassoli, asking for their support both in the lockdown phase and in the following one. That letter was followed by another one, sent during the meeting of the Council of
sanitation and to last over time. They are available on request by communicating the vehicle’s chassis number. As for the A/C system, which should be sanitized at least once a month, OMNIplus offers an
the European Union on last 23rd of April. Three issues have been addressed. First of all, concerns about the progressive recovery of services with the adoption of all the necessary measures to counter the spread of the epidemic in the post-lockdown phase. «Although the pandemic is still active, it
MAN TRUCK & BUS
AN Truck & Bus deveM loped three intervention plans for bus transport com-
panies. Partition walls: at the MAN Centers it is possible to install partition walls for the driver’s seat, which must comply with the provisions of EU Regulation n° 43. On these partition walls, flexible joints can also be mounted, always by the MAN
Centers, to increase insulation. These operations will also possible as a “retrofit” at the end of the emergency, even on Class III buses, and on completely open top buses. Interior sanitization: the MAN Service Network is equipped for interior ozone sanitization. Furthermore, among the velvets available for the MAN and Neoplan buses there are already some variants with self-cleaning and antibacterial treatments that exploit the principle of photocatalysis. Moreover, through the collaboration with third-party companies, it is possible to carry
out these treatments on seats and coating of vehicles already in operation. Finally, it is possible to install, near the access doors, specific dispensers for hand sanitizer. Air conditioning: in addition to being enabled for the maintenance of air conditioning systems, the MAN Centers can provide for the fixed installation of additional interior air sanitization devices through the principle of photocatalysis (for continuous use on the road) and/or misting devices for specific substances (for daily disinfection when the bus is empty).
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compliant products for city (class I), intercity (class II) and touring (class III) vehicles. The OMNIplus package consists of 3 steps: sanitization of the air grilles for the driver’s seat and passenger compartment with a microfibre cloth and alcohol-based disinfectant and detergent (70%); sanitization of cabin and driver evaporators with compressed air gun and sanitizing detergent for A/C systems; sanitization of the ducts by spraying inside the pas-
is important to anticipate the gradual easing of the lockdown and to prepare to resume activities quickly. However, many issues should be addressed before services can be fully managed to meet the mobility demand. These include rules on the use of face masks, social distancing, worker protection and communication with passengers.
senger compartment with the A/C running and recirculation activated for 30 minutes with a product whose active ingredient contains over 70% ethanol in compliance with the recommendation of the Ministry of Health.
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The entire ecosystem will have to struggle to survive this crisis, rebuild confidence in public transport and, finally, try to get out of it stronger». The UITP then reaffirmed the importance of urgent measures to be taken at Community level in order to preserve the public transport ecosystem.
IRIZAR
protect passengers TO and the driver from the risks of contagion
from Covid-19, Irizar has developed a solution that includes the installation of a driver’s compartment partition element and dividing panels to be applied over the passenger seat headrests, tailored to Irizar i6S, i6, i4 and i3 low-entry buses. An Eco3 ozone purifier can also be easily applied/installed to the air conditioning system (Hispacold or other brand), with a disinfectant action against allergenic
It detects if the passenger wears the face mask togepollen, germs and bacteria. ther with a body temperaIt is also possible to install ture sensor that signals if an air nebulisation system the temperature exceeds 37 for the complete disinfec- degrees. tion of the vehicle with no passengers onboard. The procedure lasts 30 minutes and then 3 or 4 hours are needed before being able to access the bus. Finally, a camera system is available for access control.
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ELLAMP
educing microbiologiR cal risk and preserving the quality of the air inside
the means of transport is possible thanks to the Photocatalyst Module developed and patented by Ellamp.
Integrated into the air supply and recirculation devices, the system works with the air passing through a laminated plastic grid that acts as a mechanical support for the coating of the catalyst based on tungsten trioxide which releases electrons when hit by light of the traditional white LED strip. The hydroxides that are generated have a high ability to attack the surrounding pathogenic elements contained in the air at the molecular level.
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«The impact refers not only to the decrease in tariff revenue, but also to the additional costs for implementing the necessary measures in vehicles and public transport infrastructures. In order to limit these social, economic and financial consequences, exceptional targeted measures should be taken at EU level to be applied quickly. Significant funding and grants to the public transport sector are essential if we want to
VISION
ision Systems has deveV loped a protective partition for bus drivers and
SCIPIONI
ehicles are clean, saniV tized and self-cleaning. This is what is offered by
the Pureti Spagna-NanoAir system, of which Cav Vittorio Scipioni is the exclusive supplier for Italy. Thanks to the phenomenon of Photocatalysis, surfaces that are treated with Pureti, remain clean longer and use UV light, both solar and induced, to eliminate grime and bacteria up to 99.99%. Titanium dioxide, a nontoxic substance, is used to treat all components: pla-
overcome the looming recession and at least guarantee the levels of services before the crisis». As for the environment: «Public transport is, and will be, a key sector for both economic recovery and the achievement of the Green Deal objectives. The lesson from the Covid-19 crisis is that early action is essential. This lesson also applies to the fight against climate change and the other risks
passengers, which avoids the possible transmission of the Covid-19 virus. It consists of polycarbonate, resistant and not fragile, and can be installed on the door of the existing driver’s cabin. It does not generate additional vibrations and its fixing system does not cause any deterioration of the coating or of the door internal mechanisms. It is developed and assembled in France.
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stic, glass, rubber, textile and velvet. It clings perfectly to any surface and remains active for 2 years. Activated by light alone, it incorporates and decomposes noxious particles (virus, bacteria and COV) deactivating them and at the same time releasing oxygen into the air. The cockpits will thus be not only sanitized and clean, but active in the creation of clean air. One square meter of surface treated with Pureti, can generate the same clean air as a tree.
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VELDO
he system developed by T the Turkish company Veldo Teknoloji offers the
tracking of social distancing on board public transportation. It can be adapted to any type of seat and it features a software that works in wireless mode which signals via a display where the passengers are seated. The green light stands for enabled seats and the red light (plus buzzer) for those that should not be used. In addition to this, the system constantly tracks pas-
for sustainability. Given the economic consequences that the sustainable public transport sector is facing due to the crisis, it is essential that the European Union gives priority to political and financial support for sustainable city transport modes». In early May, the UITP came back involving more than 80 CEOs of transport companies and the automotive sector (including STIB Brussels, Wiener Linien, RATP
OVERSEAS
Brazil, the bus manufactuIN rer Marcopolo has developed a safety kit for city transport
drivers. It is a set of glass panels that isolate the driver’s area and therefore prevent the transmission of the Covid-19 virus. In April, the manufacturer had already presented FIP Onboard, for SMRT buses have been modified disinfection on buses. by completely separating the driIn Singapore, however, some ver and the passenger areas. These vehicles are called Comet Maxi and feature two independent climate systems, equipped with filters. On board there are also two seats for paramedics.
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sengers and informs the driver of the number of passengers who are allowed to board the vehicle for active protection of social distancing.
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Paris, GVB Amsterdam, TMB Barcelona, Transdev, Keolis, Metro Madrid, Irish Rail, SNCF, Metro Lisboa, Hamburger Hochbahn, Alstom, Volvo) as well as representatives of about twenty European cities. The request was unanimous: to include the public city transport sector among those covered by the recovery plan of the European Union. «The first available data from various European Member States show that the passenger transport ecosystem will continue to be heavily affected by the pandemic: across Europe the sector expects a € 40 billion euros in farebox revenue losses by the end of 2020». The financial damage has been huge and unprecedented and therefore needs extraordinary interventions. «The survival of public transport should be a priority for decision makers at European level. The importance of city, intercity and regional public transport for the European economy is essential. It plays, in fact, a key role in achieving many of the EU’s political and sustainable development goals». «This sector» concluded the UITP, «is a key accelerator in the economy, in job creation, social inclusion, health and environmental sustainability».
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BusToCoach on-line Magazine - June 2020
DESIGN IS ALSO IMPORTANT
From the Czech Republic, the city low floor NS series from SOR, is appealing and technological. Also in the 12-meter electric buses version
ith a production of 600-700 buses per W year, SOR is the second largest manufacturer in the Czech Republic offering a
complete range of vehicles (city, intercity and coach) with sizes from 9.5 to 18 meters, depending on the use.
NS 12 ELECTRIC
Lenght mm 12,000 Width mm 2,550 Height mm 3,200 Wheelbase mm 5,900 Seats total max 35+1H Electric motor Pragoimex Power max kW 160 Battery NMC Capacity total 242-388 kWh GVW kg 19,000
As for city buses, the modernisation of the models began in 2017 with the launch at the IAA of Hanover of the NS series low floors featuring a clearly modern design, starting from the curved front and the glazed side segment on the front overhang, between the first pillar and the double door. The new NS series includes the full electric version which supports the EBN series of 8-, 9.5- and 11-meter electric buses. NS Electric is currently only available in the 12-meter size, with an interior layout that provides up to 35 seats plus a wheelchair area. It is powered by an asynchronous 160 kW Pragoimex motor, located in the rear left corner. It is electrically powered, and unlike what previously produced by the SOR electric buses, it is not branded by Cegelec but by the company Rail Electronics. NMC lithium-ion batteries are placed on the roof of the bus and can store 242 kWh or 388 kWh, depending on the number of modules required and therefore on the necessary service range.
As for the entire NS range, the structure of the bus is composed of stainless steel elements in the lower part, in the points that are
most subject to corrosion (under the vehicle floor, footboards, in the area around the wheels, etc.). It is fitted with axles branded by ZF with independent wheel suspensions on the front, Knorr disc brakes with EBS3 from Wabco and Bosh steering system. It features three double-leaf access doors with a width of 1,200 mm. The first 18 NS 12 electric buses were supplied to Bratislava (Slovakia) and another 20 units to the municipal transport company of Hradec Králové (Czech Republic), in this
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powered by FPT engine. The NS 12 is powered by the 6.7-liter NEF 67 with a power output of 286 hp and 1,000 Nm of maximum torque, while the NS 18 is powered by the 8.7-liter Cursor 9 with a power output case with a five-pole pantograph charging of 330 hp and 1,400 Nm of torque. In both cases, it is coupled to the six-speed ZF Ecosystem. In the diesel versions, the NS are available Life automatic transmission. in two sizes (12 and 18.75 meters), both SOR Libchavy is a company established in 1991 by the for NS 12 NS 18 mer Karosa employees who took over Lenght mm 12,000 18,750 the previous activity Width mm 2,550 2,550 in the field of agri Height mm 2,995 2,995 cultural machinery. Wheelbase mm 5,900 5,900+6,750 Two years later they Seats max 32+1H 47+1H developed the first Engine FPT NEF 67 FPT Cursor 9 bus prototype and in Displacement cc 6,700 8,700 1995 they started se Power cv (kW)/rpm 286 (210)/2,500 330 (243)/2,200 rial production. Torque max Nm/rpm 1,000/1,250-1,600 1,400/1,200 Up to now, about 9,000 buses have Transmission automatic ZF Ecolife automatic ZF Ecolife been manufactured GVW kg 19,000 30,000 (diesel, gas, electric
and trolleybuses), more than half of which have been absorbed by the internal market. Slovakia is the leading foreign market for exports, followed by Poland, Estonia, Rus-
sia, Germany and Denmark. It joned the EP Industries group in 2014 after having completed a series of financial investments in two phases for the innovation of production processes. It adopted advanced technologies such as glueing with polyurethane adhesives, laser cutting of metal sheets and robotic systems of welding, in order to meet more strict safety and strength requirements for vehicles, while preserving their reduced weight.
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BusToCoach on-line Magazine - Maggio 2020
NEW ELECTRIC BUSES
MAN Truck & Bus expands the Lion’s City Electric range with the 18-meter version. From Belarus, MAZ launches its first 12.4-meter low-floor electric bus
he development of eMobility in the EuT ropean continent pushed manufacturers to expand their vehicle range with full electric
solutions. Among the latest arrivals on the market, the 18-meter version of the MAN Lion’s City E and the MAZ 303E10 are remarkable. The first is the natural extension of the MAN electric range, inaugurated last year with the launch of the 12-meter Lion’s City E at the 2019 UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Stockholm. At least 15 units of this model will be put into operation by 2020 in some
European cities. The Lion’s City 18 E, on the other hand, is preparing to be trialed while in operation on the roads of Barcelona and Cologne, before the start of series production scheduled for the first half of 2021. The 18-meter bus is powered by two central engines placed on the second and third axles which develop a total continuous power of 320 kW (480 kW of peak). They are powered by eight battery packs placed on the roof, with a smart temperature management system, which ensure a capacity of 640 kWh.
The declared range is 200-270 km and charging is carried out in four hours (with an average input power of 100 kW). The two driving axles are electronically synchronized and to increase driving stability and safety, the 18-meter is equipped with anti-jackknifing and bend angle control system. In this way, it is possible to prevent critical situations in advance as the driving torque can be distributed selectively on the two driving axles in line with the specific road situation. In addition to this, the two driving axles increase the maximum energy recovered during braking.
The first electric bus from MAZ is manufactured in Belarus. It is the 12.4-meter 303E10 with low floor that can carry up to 70 passengers (30 seated) and boasts a range of 300 km guaranteed by accumulators capable of storing 412 Ah of electricity. It is coupled to the ZF CeTrax axle unit and is powered by a 300 kW central electric engine. A full charge of the batteries takes up to four hours and can be carried out via a 380 V socket or with a combined CCS2 socket. On-board equipment includes seats fitted with USB sockets, ECAS and EBS safety systems, air conditioning and electric heating.
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