On show at the Irizar UK stand (F1) is the i4H electric-hybrid coach. It is said to be the UK’s first, and set to go on trial in the fleet of the UK’s Travel de Courcey this autumn. The coach’s parallel hybrid drivetrain combines a Cummins ISBe 6.7-litre 296bhp diesel engine with an Eaton PHP hybrid transmission, incorporating an electric inverter and traction motor-generator, together with a conventional six-speed automated manual gearbox. Also launching at the show is the i6s coach with new body styling that sits between the i6 and three-axle i8.
In recent Volvo Group (stand N4) news, Irish coach operator Bernard Kavanagh & Sons has taken delivery of three new Volvo coaches to add to its fleet of more than 60. The Swedish manufacturer offers three coaches and seven bus models, including three electric options, the newest of which is the 7900E all-electric bus.
Yutong (stand E40) recently signed a long-term agreement with UK dealer Pelican Engineering of Castleford. Pelican offers the Yutong TC12 and TC9 touring coaches. A recent customer of the latter is Newcastle’s Bells Coaches.
EvoBus (stand G10), a Daimler subsidiary, offers Mercedes-Benz and Setra brands. The former recently launched a Citaro RHD bus and Tourismo coach. An OmniPlus online route planner (https://is.gd/ebucor) said to be specifically tailored for bus and coach needs is new.
Arriva Bus & Coach UK (stands J50 and M60) is the main dealer for Van Hool and Temsa vehicles in the UK, providing sales, service and rental.
Ayats (stand A5), a Spanish coachmaker, offers single- and double-deck coaches. Earlier this year it showed off an all-electric version of the Bravo IR City double-decker, currently being tested in Barcelona.
Caetano (stand A1) is a UK subsidiary of the Portugese bus and coach manufacturer of the same name. In recent years it has developed an electric bus, the e.City Gold, and new coach design, Winner. It also offers the Omega minibus based on an Iveco Daily chassis.
EVM (stand D1) is an Irish coachbuilder of bespoke Mercedes-Benz Sprinter minibus and minicoaches from 8 to 22 seats, in both low- and high-floor variants.
BASE Coach Sales (stand N1) offers conversions, belted deckers and wheelchair-accessible coaches in the Barbi Galileo and MOBIpeople coach bodies; both are on MAN chassis.
Moseley (stand K1) is a UK importer of VDL, Van Hool, Beulas, Sitcar and Indcar coaches.
Transport software firm TruTac (stand K4) will be launching a product for the PSV industry, but is keeping it under wraps until the show.
Debuting in its first UK exhibition is the VDO Digital Tachograph 3.0 from Continental Automotive (stand N3). Greater functionality and more integration with ‘app’ technology are said to be its main advantages.
Freeway fleet maintenance software (stand B11) reports that Reading Buses has replaced job cards and inspection reports in the workshop with a mobile system that is said to be not only saving time, but is also improving the accuracy and completeness of reporting.
Stratio (H23) is introducing a predictive maintenance system for heavy-duty vehicles that provides real-time data for maintenance collected from vehicle sensors. Proprietary artificial intelligence algorithms correlate and identify patterns in the data.
Society of Operations Engineers (J45) is the parent body of the IRTE.
JUST LIKE BUSES…
…two bus exhibitions have come along at once. Running only three weeks later – 20-25 October – is the Busworld Europe show in Kortrijk, Belgium, which is not too far from Lille, France, a direct stop on the Eurostar line from London. Some 350 exhibitors are expected. https://www.busworldeurope.org