Eberspaecher unveiled its all-new 5th generation AC353 roof top AC system for large buses & coaches that is more efficient, lighter in weight, consumes less refrigerant.
Mr. K.P. Singh, Director, Eberspaecher Suetrak Bus Climate Control Systems India, said: “This system will be more efficient & lighter, thanks to the innovative design by our German colleagues, this has fewer number of moving parts which means the servicing cost of the unit is even lesser in comparison. The New Generation of will be called as AC353 – 500 series going by our new global product naming strategy.”
Mr. Rainer Kolodzie, Director – Sales & Marketing, Eberspaecher Suetrak GmbH, shared: “Globally, we strive to bring comfort to people besides keeping them safe while travelling. India is an emerging market and is unlike any other market.
We cannot have one solution to fit all. So here we have to be ready with answers for local request. In India, we have a fine production facility and we are expanding to other regions having this as a hub. Our customers are showing genuine interest in our new product.
In fact, they are waiting for us to start producing and developing the new generation of A353.”
The new version of A353 is soon to get into trials at the consumer end and will be available to the customers from the first quarter of next year, shared the officials.
Mr. Singh also said: “We will soon be expanding our production footprint in India while doubling our size and capacity. We will have more new products coming up in the next year. And the best part is that we see the market is moving in the right direction.”
Eberspaecher India is not only catering to the domestic market but is also exporting to the Middle Eastern and South East Asian markets.
Sensing the industry getting more positive and the growth on the upswing, Eberspaecher wishes to further build-up on their reputation of being ‘a strong brand and a reliable product’.
Going electric
Globally, Eberspaecher is answering the need of the market that is going electric or hybrid in the city bus segment.
Mr. Kolodzie explained: “Currently, Asian cities have more than 100,000 electric buses whereas Europe has just a handful. It means 98.5 per cent of the electric market is outside of Europe. So, that is another new platform for us.”
Giving the Indian perspective, Mr. Singh shared: “In India, we have OEM projects running and we are gearing up to handle the market shift to all electric vehicles when it happens. It is important to be ready to support the customers in terms of application and aftermarket. We will play a major role in providing thermal solutions when the market transition takes place.”
Mr. Kolodzie added: “There are more than 25 OE’s testing different city-bus prototype versions, just in Europe. It means we have now electrical ACs, and their compressors are electrical because we consider not only to have a product instead we wish to build a complete thermal management system which will be electrical through and through. And this is the market which is growing and the future looks great to us.”
Eberspaecher, worldwide, is already delivering AC systems for electric city buses in Europe, Israel & North America.
“That is the market readiness we are talking about. Consider this – one of the leading global bus OEM is not any more delivering city buses without batteries because they have decided that from Euro 6 onwards they will only make hybrid or electric city buses,” Mr. Kolodzie said with a smile.
Eberspaecher – whether globally or in India – has been working with major bus manufacturers, bus operators, and fleet owners and are sharing their USP of making light products which can cover more range giving the efficiency required for the air-conditioning.