Indian bus manufacturer Ashok Leyland has launched the much-awaited Sunshine school bus. The new vehicle is an fine combination of safety and comfort, powered with features that makes it unique in the school bus segment. Its is, for example the only school bus in India which has a rollover compliant design and frontal crash protection.
Due to the continued shrinking of the Russian bus market in 2015, the sale of new vehicles fell below the psychological mark of 10,000 vehicles. The good news, on the other hand, is that the bus manufacturers not only avoided losses last year, but some of them also managed to update their model ranges.
Judging by the sales figures, the implementation of the government programme of subsidising the purchase of natural gas fuelled buses, has played an important role in this achievement. It’s not without reason that CNG modifications appeared in the products of all leading bus manufacturers.
It showcases doubled braking power at cruise speeds, 175 kg weight reduction and 3500 Euro lower total cost of ownership. This new Jacobs engine brake is available for heavy-duty drivelines. The HPD two-stroke technology has, for the first time, achieved 819 retarding horsepower (611 kW) setting a new power level and power density record of 63.98 HP/L (47.7 kW/L).
With plans to launch its first fully-electric heavy truck — and plenty of battery-electric passenger vehicles in the works — German automaker Daimler is in the early planning stages for an electrified medium-duty van, senior officials unveiled recently.
Mercedes-Benz is considering launching a battery-based Sprinter van around the end of the decade, approximately the same time it plans the next redesign of the large commercial van.
Richmond's Coaches of Hertfordshire has celebrated its 70th anniversary by acquiring three new Van Hool coaches, the first TX models fitted with Allison T 525 fully automatic transmissions to be delivered in the UK.