The minibus sector was out in force at this year’s CV Show. James Day reports on what suppliers had on display for 2018
While most vehicle manufacturers chose not to bring a passenger-spec van to their stands at this year’s Commercial Vehicle (CV) Show, there were lots of the usual top quality conversions and builds on display to show what the industry has to offer.
In particular, this year saw a good number of patient transport vehicles on display. It seems to be a market that more and more companies are looking to develop into or revisit, and converters were keen to show what they can do.
What follows are some of the highlights from the event from a minibus perspective. [wlm_nonmember][…]
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Blue Light Services
Ambulance converter Blue Light Services was displaying a Renault Master conversion destined for Arriva’s patient transport wing. This is the first time the company has provided vehicles for a major bus operator, having previously worked mostly in the ambulance sector.
Darren Sharman, National Sales Manager at Blue Light Services, explained that the company uses three or four main suppliers for onboard equipment to keep vehicles as simple as possible for the end user. The Renault Master is often the vehicle of choice because Blue Light has Whole EU Vehicle Type Approval for it.
Blue Light Services is a relatively new company, having produced rapid response, 4×4, accident and emergency and non-emergency ambulances for the last six years. Many of its customers are from London, though it has sold vehicles to operators as far away as Scotland.
“We’re looking at branching into other markets,” Darren added. “The internal design of the vehicle we have on display at the show can be adapted for the special educational needs market, for example.”
Ford
From a minibus perspective, the Ford Tourneo Custom was of interest on the company’s stand. The product has been updated to offer a conference seating layout to the rear, complete with USB ports.
Ford is targeting a more premium market with the vehicle, which is intended to be a direct competitor for the Mercedes-Benz Vito and VW Caravelle. It is available with three different engine options and either six-speed manual or automatic transmission.
The seating layout of the vehicle is quite flexible. The rear-facing seats can be rotated back to form rows if the conference layout is not needed, and the middle row of seats form table surfaces when folded down.
GM Coachwork
On the Webasto stand, GM Coachwork displayed a Peugeot Boxer patient transport conversion. While the market is something the company has dabbled in in the past, it said it was now something which it wanted to get a greater presence in.
While GM builds on just about every type of base vehicle available, the majority of its conversions are based on the Boxer. The company said it is also considering building on the Ford Transit with a flat floor, using a cab entrance with a re-engineered stepwell. The company has also recently been nominated by Renault to build its standard minibus – another vehicle it is now approved to supply.
The company also highlighted its new Ford Custom taxi, which it has launched through its FlexiCab division. It is designed as a wheelchair accessible taxi, but still retains three rows of seats. The rearmost row folds down to make space.
Gowrings Mobility
Gowrings Mobility also featured on the Webasto stand, bringing along an eight-seater Vauxhall Movano conversion. The base vehicle is identical to the Renault Master.
The vehicle is designed to be a good all-rounder. It can carry eight seated passengers or three wheelchairs, and can be driven under a B licence as its weight has been kept below 3.5 tonnes.
A choice of two Ricon taillifts are available, while seating is a combination of Phoenix and Cogent. Four Phoenix seats with NMI quick release securements are towards the front, secured to an Unwin tracked floor, while Cogent’s tip and turn seats are installed towards the rear, neatly folding away to the side of the vehicle.
Paul Dedman, Regional Sales Manager for Gowrings Mobility, said: “We’re getting a lot of orders for this vehicle. It’s a sturdy, well built minibus and we can’t build them quickly enough. We’re looking at expanding our production soon.”
London Hire
The London Hire brand was a common site across the show floor this year, appearing on many vehicles.
On the Eberspächer stand was a Treka Van representing one of seven 22-seaters destined to operate in Croydon, along with non-emergency patient transport vehicles from Blue Light Services of Wembley. This was present to help promote a major contract with Arriva in the East Midlands, to which London Hire has just supplied 70 minibuses. The company has also supplied some vehicles for the ArrivaClick service in Sittingbourne.
The vehicle was specified with medical equipment, but was also fully accessible with a PLS ramp installed at the rear. NMI quick release seat restraints were installed onboard, along with a winch and side step also supplied by PLS.
“We know there are cheaper suppliers out there, but we like to pass on reliability and good aftermarket servicing to our clients,” said John Shier, London Hire Area Sales Manager.
“Even though the PTS vehicles were supplied brand new, we still inspect them and have organised handover events. We’ve organised training days with all our suppliers in attendance, where we help train the ambulance staff to use the equipment. It has been very well received.”
A coachbuilt Treka 16 in London Hire livery was also on display over at the Treka Bus stand, promoting a recent contract win with Milton Keynes Council. London Hire successfully won a tender to provide all of the council’s accessible vehicles for the next four years. The tender begins later this year, and London Hire expects to provide 35 vehicles of various makes and models.
John Shier also said that the company was close to formally completing its move to new premises, which are several times the size of its previous base. The company first moved in at the beginning of January 2018, and once finalised it is expected to house several companies in the London Hire family. The location is closer to the Dartford Bridge than the previous base and aims to house as much as possible under one roof. London Hire expects to hold an open day to launch the site soon.
John also said that London Hire is beginning to look into electric vehicles: “We’re talking to various manufacturers to produce both accessible and non-accessible electric vehicles. It’s a case of finding the right fit. We’re looking to have a vehicle on contract within the next 12 months.
“It’s important to be looking at this technology. With Mayor Khan’s work in London and ULEZ, we don’t know how it will pan out. We have to be ready for it.”
Mellor
This year’s show was relatively quiet by Mellor’s standards, which has launched many new vehicles over the last few years. It brought an Orion minibus to the event this year, which appeared on the Eberspächer stand, though Managing Director John Randerson hinted at more new developments for Euro Bus Expo later in the year.
This isn’t to say that the company hasn’t been busy. Since its last major event, has acquired Treka Bus and expanded its Rochdale manufacturing capacity by acquiring the premises next door to its original factory. The two facilities now share a yard, although the buildings themselves are not linked.
The £1m investment is expected to double capacity once the facility is fully up and running in three-four weeks.
Explaining the reason for bringing the Orion to the event, John said: “We thought we would bring a standard product to remind people of the virtues of the diesel Orion. We produce about 100 per year and want that figure to grow further. Although we have innovated a lot recently, we want to show that our bread and butter is still successful. The Strata is also continuing to sell strongly.”
John added that Mellor is working with a customer on a natural gas project in London.
O&H Vehicle Conversions
O&H Vehicle Conversions brought a Renault Master wheelchair accessible conversion to the Webasto stand. The example on display could carry up to seven seated passengers or be reconfigured to offer wheelchair spaces.
ide rear twin doors allow space for an electric tail lift, with a sliding side door with step giving access to other passengers. Webasto supplied the vehicle’s heating and air-conditioning systems.
The company offers a range of WAVs, from small van conversions with a rear ramp, to larger vehicles with a capacity for 17 passengers or six wheelchairs. The company is also well-known for its welfare vehicles and ambulances.
Stanford Coachworks
Stanford Coachworks’ Monaco conversion featured on Webasto’s stand. The VIP Mercedes-Benz V Class was as highly specified as ever, with a four-seat conference layout, multiple TV screens and various other luxury features aimed to provide a ‘jet set lifestyle’ experience.
The company also brought a more standard Mercedes-Benz Sprinter conversion, which appeared on Eberspächer’s stand in an Enterprise Flex-e-Rent livery.
Treka Bus
The first major show since Treka Bus’ acquisition by Mellor Coachcraft parent company Woodall Nicholson saw the company out in force, with a pair of vehicles on a stand of its own alongside another on Eberspächer’s stand.
The company, which is retaining autonomy under the new ownership, was primarily promoting its 22-seater Treka Van. One such example was the Sprinter on Eberspächer’s stand, which was to London Hire’s specification.
The vehicle had been brought to the event with a conference seating layout towards the rear, resulting in less seats to allow more space for meetings over the course of the event, though the specification was otherwise the same.
Morgan Clissett, Treka Bus Managing Director, explained that despite the increased capacity and the long wheel base of the vehicles, its weight has still been kept below 3.5 tonnes.
“We’ve managed to have 22 seats with no modification of the base vehicle, which means we had to shave some 500kg off the conversion weight,” he explained. “We actually ended up taking off 575kg in the end.”
Weight savings were made by assessing every component as the vehicles were put together and deciding whether it was required or could be provided in a lighter form. For example, the moquette lining on the ceiling of the vehicle was weighed and found to be seven kilograms. This was replaced with a light fibreglass construction which saved six of these seven kilograms.
“We also worked with our suppliers to save weight on components, including Phoenix Seating and Eberspächer,” Morgan added. “We’ve also been working with London Hire for nine months to make this vehicle come to fruition.”
Morgan explained that the company’s maximum capacity on the Treka Van was 16 seats just three years ago. This was later raised to 20, which was thought to be the maximum at the time.
“The requirement for higher capacity minibuses is higher than ever,” he said. “In some instances, a 22-seater minibus allows school groups to travel on a single vehicle instead of two. This is great for local authorities on tight budgets.
“It might be seen as self-cannibalisation on our part, because at times we will be selling a single vehicle instead of two. However, I think it’s about being honest and not operating in a cynical manner. This approach keeps customers coming back time and again.”
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