Commercial Vehicle

Busworld India 2018

The eighth edition of Busworld India (2018) attracted CV OEMs, bus body builders and other stakeholde­rs in larger numbers.

- Story & Photos: Ashish Bhatia

The eighth edition of Busworld India (2018) attracted CV OEMs, bus body builders and other stakeholde­rs in larger numbers.

Opening to clear skies and a nice weather, the eighth-edition of Busworld India attracted OEMs, bus body builders and various other stakeholde­rs against a backdrop of sweeping changes taking place in almost all the bus segments. Organised by Busworld Internatio­nal with Tata Motors as the platinum sponsor, the exhibition, held at Bengaluru Internatio­nal Exhibition Centre, between August 29 and August

31, 2018, turned out to be a suitable platform for the Indian bus industry to come together and discuss and debate on the opportunit­ies and challenges they incur. Attracting 115 participan­ts from India as well as various other countries in the world, the show saw bus body builders, suppliers, service providers and various organisati­ons display their technologi­es, capabiliti­es, and talk about ways to collaborat­e.

Proving to be a good platform for discussion­s and debates on topical issues like pollution and efficiency of operations among others, Busworld India 2018, according to Didier Ramoudt, President, Busworld Internatio­nal Ltd., has come to attract the bus industry stakeholde­rs in big numbers. “Not because of the global pressure but because of the global demands for alternate fuel vehicles in public transporta­tion, we have gathered here. We face the same set of issues and challenges that the industry in the other parts of the world faces,” he said. Supported by

Bus Operators Confederat­ion of India (BOCI), Associatio­n of

Road Transport Undertakin­gs (ASRTU), ICAT and ARAI, the expo reflected trends like the rise of efficient public transporta­tion systems, focus on alternate fuel technology, electromob­ility, automation, comfort, convenienc­e and safety.

Tata Motors showcased five passenger commercial vehicles in the form of a 22-seater Starbus Ultra AC, 12-seater Starbus AC, 12-seater Winger, Tata 1515 MCV staff bus and Magna inter-city coach.

Announcing its foray into the midi-bus segment, Force Motors showcased the 33(41)-seater bus called the Traveller Monobus. Touted as India’s first monocoque bus, the Traveller is powered by a 115 hp, 3.2-litre common-rail diesel engine mated to a five-speed manual transmissi­on. The bus features disc brakes on all wheels with a uni-booster hydraulic braking technology, ABS, EBD and an engine drag torque control. MG Automotive­s displayed three luxury coaches in the form of a 43-seater ‘Glider’ and 30-berth ‘Glider Z’ sleeper bus on the BharatBenz 12 m front-engine chassis. The crowd puller was the 30-berth ‘Glider Z’ sleeper coach based on the Mercedes-

Benz SHD 2441 multi-axle chassis. Making its first big public appearance after changing its name from Goldstone Infratech to Olectra Greentech Ltd., the company showcased an electric 11-seater AC bus with premium interiors. A variant of eBuzz K6 city-bus that is doing duty at Mumbai with BEST, the 11-seater AC bus is aimed at corporate and tourist applicatio­ns. Olectra Greentech has been bagging many STU orders for electric buses, including an order to supply 80 ebuses (60 K9 and 20 K7) to Bengaluru Transport and 40 ebuses (K9) to Hyderabad.

Prakash Automobile­s launched a 45-seater bus ‘Vega’ based on a Ashok Leyland chassis. It also displayed a 30-berth ‘Capella’ sleeper bus based on the BharatBenz 12 m front-engine chassis. If the Prakash built ‘Capella’ and the MG Automotive­s built ‘Glider Z’ on BharatBenz and MercedesBe­nz bus chassis respective­ly, highlighte­d the trend of modernisat­ion that is sweeping through the Indian bus industry, the supplier displays seemed to endorse it like no other. A good number of bus HVAC system suppliers found their way to the show. These comprised of Valeo Motherson, Subros Ltd., Eberspaech­er Suetrak Bccs India Pvt. Ltd, Trans ACNR, Bitzer India Pvt. Ltd. and Emtech Songz. In the alternate fuel space, Agility Fuel Solutions and Neuton Auto Pvt. Ltd. displayed their products. These included CNG cylinders capable of supporting long-haul bus operations of up to 800 to 1000 kms.

Internatio­nal exhibitors from Germany, Belgium, Turkey, China, Belarus, Korea and Austria made their presence felt at Busworld India too. They put a strong display of products, pointing at the best and the most recent the industry has to offer. With most products at the event pointing in the direction of improving mobility, it did not come as a suprise when G Parameshwa­ra, Deputy Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, in his inaugural address expressed a need to build an efficient public transporta­tion system. “Over 70 lakh vehicles run in Bengaluru every day on roads that were not built to handle the density of traffic seen today. To address this issue, the requiremen­t is for an efficient public transport system that includes buses,” he mentioned. Parameshwa­ra hinted at a proposal to replace the current bus fleet in Karnataka with ebuses in about five years of time, and to lower the tax rate. Bigger than the earlier edition that was held two years ago at the same venue, the Busworld India 2018 managed to generate a good pull. A comprehens­ive article on Busworld India 2018 will follow in the next issue.

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 ??  ?? ⇦ The Magna inter-city coach is the flagship offering in the passenger commercial vehicle space from Tata Motors.
⇦ The Magna inter-city coach is the flagship offering in the passenger commercial vehicle space from Tata Motors.
 ??  ?? ⇩ Olectra’s K6.LuXe is an AC electric premium bus targeted at corporate and tourist applicatio­ns.
⇩ Olectra’s K6.LuXe is an AC electric premium bus targeted at corporate and tourist applicatio­ns.
 ??  ?? ⇦ The Traveller Monobus marks Force Motor’s foray into the midi-bus segment.
⇦ The Traveller Monobus marks Force Motor’s foray into the midi-bus segment.
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 ??  ?? ⇧ The MG Automotive­s built 30-berth ‘Glider Z’ sleeper coach is based on the Mercedes-Benz SHD 2441 multiaxle chassis.⇩ The Prakash built 45-seater bus ‘Vega’ is based on a Ashok Leyland chassis.
⇧ The MG Automotive­s built 30-berth ‘Glider Z’ sleeper coach is based on the Mercedes-Benz SHD 2441 multiaxle chassis.⇩ The Prakash built 45-seater bus ‘Vega’ is based on a Ashok Leyland chassis.

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