New products undergoing trial in India
Volvo Buses has revolutionized public transportation in India since its entry a decade ago. Having entered the market at a time when premium air-conditioned buses were unheard of, the company has established its dominance in the premium segment through highly efficient products to suit the needs of the local market.
Ten years back, Indian roads were dominated by front-engine, non air-conditioned buses built on truck chasses. The largest fleet operator had a fleet size of around 20 to 30 vehicles. Today, the change is evident – rear engine buses built on bus chasses are common. Semi low-floor, low-floor and ultra low-floor have become part of many State Transport Corporation (STC) fleets, and the demand for air-conditioned buses is growing fast. There are many fleet operators with a fleet strength of over 200 vehicles.
Volvo has been instrumental in bringing about this change. It follows a public-private partnership (PPP) model in which private operators supply buses to STCs on five-year contracts, as a result of which around 25 STCs in the country offer premium Volvo services much to the delight of commuters.
Latest products under trial
Following the success of its intra-city and inter-city buses launched till date, trials of the Volvo 7400 XL multi-axle city bus with BMTC were completed recently. The vehicle can carry more people on key routes at a lower operating cost per passenger km and has received excellent feedback.
Trials of the 14.5 m long Volvo 9400 PX coach are also in progress with KSRTC, and the company is confident that the product will be a big success, owing to the inputs that have gone into its development.
The company has grown steadily despite sluggish market conditions as it lines up a next round of investments for expansion. Mr. Akash Passey, Senior Vice President, Business Region International, Volvo Bus Corporation, says: “We are maintaining a growth of around 25 to 30 per cent despite challenges.
We look forward to the next JnNurm scheme before which we hope the economy would return back to normal. Our investment plans are on track and will be ready by early next year.”
The first JnNurm scheme came as a shot in the arm for Volvo in the Indian market when its products were the preferred choice of many STCs. A second scheme, likely to be implemented next year, would hopefully provide the much-needed boost to the bus market.
Volvo is known for its world-class product quality in the premium segment. However, the company is looking to cater to the transportation needs of tier II Indian cities with its 9100 Asia Bus which has been tailor-made for the Asian market. The company has thoroughly studied the requirements in tier II markets and is quite optimistic that the Asia Bus will be a perfect solution to decongest cities and improve the standards of public transportation. The vehicle model is likely to hit the roads by early 2013.
Focus on Asia
By 2020, 80 per cent of the global bus market’s volume will be in Asia with China and India accounting for over 50 per cent of the figure. In China, infrastructure development has almost transformed the bus industry which, from being smaller than the Indian bus market, has grown to over double the Indian market size. A similar growth pattern could be expected in India, especially with rapid growth in the middle class population ready to pay for better quality and comfort. Infrastructure development still remains the key factor to drive the growth of the Indian bus industry.
With Europe heading towards Euro VI, the global focus on emission is at its peak. Volvo has always been on par with market requirements in terms of emission standards, but when it comes to emission-less transportation, the company has led the way with its range of hybrid vehicles. It has already sold over 1,000 hybrid buses which are running successfully in 20 countries across the globe. Hybrids would certainly be the way forward, driven by European emission requirements, while countries such as India and China cannot do away with the emission-less solution if they are to grow in a sustainable way.
All-new engine range
Volvo Buses is now launching an all-new series of right-sized engines that meet the new Euro VI requirements. “In general Euro VI means higher fuel consumption, but thanks to engines with lower weight, smart new alternators and electrification of various components, we’ve been able to improve fuel efficiency in virtually all our bus models,” says Mr. Johnny Lidman, Product Manager City buses, Europe, Volvo Buses.
Volvo’s new engine range consists of three models – 5-, 8- and 11-litre engines. All of them were developed to achieve maximum fuel efficiency while meeting the new Euro VI norms.
“The new 8-litre engine, the D8, is the first off the mark and it replaces our current 7- and 9-litre Euro V engines. Our 7-litre Euro V engine is world-leading as regards fuel economy. The new 8-litre engine maintains that position and at the same time delivers better performance. Compared with the 9-litre engine, it also has far lower fuel consumption and a lower noise level,” adds Mr. Lidman.
The new 8-litre engine will be installed in the Volvo 8900 intercity bus and the Volvo 9500 tourist coach. It will also be supplied in chassis for selected bodybuilders.
Volvo’s new 5-litre engine, the D5, is a more powerful diesel engine for Volvo’s hybrid driveline, offering 240 hp (215 hp). This engine will also be used in the new hybrid articulated bus that Volvo will be launching with Euro VI. “With the existing Euro V engine, our hybrid is already better than a standard diesel-powered Euro VI bus. With the new 5-litre Euro VI engine, it’s even ‘greener’ and meets all Euro VI requirements,” says Mr. Lidman.
The new 5-litre engine will also be used in Volvo’s new double-decker, the B5TL, which would be launched in the UK. In the B5TL, the new engine will provide a significant fuel and weight saving compared with the current Euro V B9TL. The new 5- and 8-litre engines Euro VI will be available in versions that can run on biodiesel.
Volvo Buses uses selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems in the new engine range. This technology has been used for several years by Volvo in the US and Japan, and it has now been further developed for Europe. The new engines also feature diesel particulate filters, essential in order to meet the Euro 6 norms.
Furthermore, Volvo is introducing a new 11-litre engine for tourist coaches, which will be both more economical and lighter compared with today’s 13-litre engine. The new engines will be available on the market in the second half of 2013.
Thrust on hybrids
Volvo Buses is focusing firmly on hybrid buses for city traffic in Europe. As of 2014 Volvo will only offer its complete, low-floor city buses as hybrids on the European market. It is also expanding its hybrid model range with an articulated bus.
“We are convinced that our hybrid bus is the best alternative for our customers, passengers and for society in general as we work to improve the environment in our cities. With a fuel saving of 39 per cent – and thus also an equally large reduction in carbon dioxide emissions – it is better than all other solutions for urban traffic available on the market today,” observes Mr. Noël Reculet, Senior Vice President, Volvo Buses Europe.
“Volvo is set to take the lead when it comes to the switch to a more energy-efficient, quieter and cleaner public transport system. That is why we are focusing so firmly on further developing our hybrid technology. In fact, as of 2014 we will stop offering our complete, diesel-only city buses of low-floor type in Europe,” he adds.
Volvo’s hybrid bus is being launched as of Euro VI in articulated configuration too. This model will serve as an important reinforcement for the product portfolio. “We know there is considerable demand for hybrid articulated buses. The new 18- metre bus will give fuel savings on a par with that of the Volvo 7900 Hybrid and will be able to carry at least 150 passengers. This means that operators will be able to even further reduce fuel consumption and emissions per passenger,” explains Mr. Reculet.
At the same time, as Volvo continues to optimise hybrid technology in today’s buses, the company is also working on a plug-in hybrid where the bus batteries are recharged via the mains grid.
This technology, which permits energy savings of up to 60 per cent, will undergo field trials in Gothenburg in spring 2013. Volvo buses powered entirely by electricity are already in service in China and are being tested in Canada.
“Hybrid technology is a first and important step on the road to entirely fossil fuel-free bus traffic. As more and more customers see that the technology delivers on its promises, we expect demand to continue growing.
Hybrids and all-electric vehicles will constitute an increasingly large part of our product range going forward,” says Mr. Reculet.
Since Volvo Buses started commercial production of hybrid buses in 2010, demand has increased steadily. More than 800 buses have so far been sold in 20 countries. This makes the company the leading supplier of hybrid buses in Europe. This commercial success is explained by the hybrid’s excellent energy efficiency and its favourable environmental properties: the Volvo 7900 Hybrid offers up to 39 per cent lower fuel consumption and climate impact than a corresponding diesel version, and just half the emissions of nitrogen oxides and particles. What is more, the hybrid offers the same quality as Volvo’s diesel buses in terms of operating reliability and uptime.