BUILDING A NEW FRAMEWORK

Customers opt for products which provide good efficiency while carrying more passengers at once. Ashok Leyland displayed a new 13.5m bus chassis to meet this set of requirement. It also displayed the Oyster ZX bus. The BSV, four-cylinder, i-Gen6 engine powered 4x2 chassis is engineered for high speed intercity commute with larger saloon space. It offers 20 per cent additional passenger capacity (36 sleeper berths) against the 12m intercity chassis (30 sleeper berths), claimed to maximize per trip revenue. It can be offered in two seating configurations. A 2x2 layout, accommodating 52+D, and a 2x1 layout sufficient for 36+D (sleeper). The Oyster ZX comes with a seating capacity of 32-42 seats.

JBM showcased a nine-metre bus with a seating capacity of 37+D. The bus is offered in two configurations, a 2x2 and 2x1 (optional). Given the adequate length of the vehicle, the turning radius is relatively small, requiring a minimum of 20 metres. It is designed to take on congested and narrow city roads. The company also placed alongside the ‘Ecofuel’ charging tower, part of the overall sustainable e-mobility ecosystem. The tower offers dual charging connectors that can accommodate two buses at a time. Its application is targeted at the staff segment and STUs. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is known to have recently incorporated 97 new JBM buses in its fleet.

Dashboards have evolved from erstwhile wooden frames to FRP and now vacuum-formed components. Migma Packtron offers a complete solution, from concept to design to mass production. At Prawaas 3.0, the company displayed dashboards and door trims with a variety of cup holders of the same dimensions, manufactured using different materials. Depending on the needs, the vacuum form/process employs four types of plastics: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), High Impact Polystyrene Sheet (HIPS), and thermoplastic compounds. The manufacturing hub has a monthly capacity of producing components for over 2000 buses. The most recent advancement is a five-axis router and trimming robot that aids in the trimming of complex components. The product portfolio also includes dashboards, AC ducts, driver and emergency door trims, side panels, mudguards, and other accessories. Ashok Leyland, VECV, Volvo, Olectra, and JBM are among the company’s major clients.

Eberspächer Suetrak Bus Climate Control Systems India Pvt. Ltd. (Eberspaecher) presented efficient and eco-friendly air conditioning systems for buses and coaches. At Prawaas 3.0, the manufacturer displayed two products under roof-mounted HVAC systems.For long and mid-size hybrid and batterypowered buses, a new AC135 AE all-electric air-conditioning system, as well as the fifth generation of the AC353 for coaches and intercity buses, are also available. V-toothed belts, climate control controls, various types of blowers, a demister, and a condenser are additional HVAC parts. The cooling and heating capacities of the AC135 AE’s various versions range from 30 kW to 40 kW. A well-designed heat exchanger and an optimised condenser are features of the AC3535. As a result, the AC system is more efficient and has significant weight, refrigerant (up to 15 Per cent), power, and fuel consumption reductions are achieved. Eberspaecher offers its Clean Air solutions to purify the air inside buses thoroughly. Particulate filters and a polarised media electronic air cleaner in the bus AC system remove contaminated water droplets from the air. UV-C LED modules are one strategy for eliminating viruses.

Bitla Software Pvt. Ltd. one of the bus industry’s largest technology and solution providers, introduced GenX solutions. The Ticketsimply app allows users to book, cancel, or modify tickets while keeping them up to date on real-time passenger boarding status. The company has advanced to the point where all of the activities previously performed by the fleet operator on the system are now available at the touch of a button via a new app. Trackingo is a new app for tracking, halts, speed alerts, and communication with passengers via IVR. The shortroute app has complete cash flow visibility, preventing double seat bookings. A new accounting module for operators was also showcased for customers looking at optimising processes like handling cash, collection status, and cash flow in real-time. This module helps to avoid the hassle by providing customised access to financial details.