‘Times they are a-changin’

Despite facing one of the most challenging business environments for decades, the industry’s spirit remained undiminished at Euro Bus Expo. As the old saying goes, the show must go on and CBW reports on what the vehicle manufacturers and dealers had to show and say [wlm_nonmember][…]

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Arriva Bus & Coach forward with Van Hool
It was announced just before Euro Bus Expo started that Van Hool had concluded an exclusive distributorship for the UK market with Arriva Bus & Coach at Cleckheaton.
“It’s a reward for the team’s collective hard work – for their dedication, drive and commitment,” explained Andrew Cullen, Managing Director of Arriva Bus & Coach. “It feels like we’re one seamless organisation now moving forward.

“When I joined in March 2017, I and the people I brought with me spent six months analysing the market and the business to find out what we did really well and what we didn’t do so well. As a subsidiary of a major group, we can’t be as agile as an independent dealership, but there other things we can do better. There is knowledge within the business we can tap into and vice versa. We decided we wanted Arriva Bus & Coach to be more professional and approachable.

“Everyone is selling fewer coaches. Van Hool carried out a review of its models in the UK and whether there should be two dealerships. We worked hard to make ourselves the obvious choice and then talked to Van Hool about what we needed to do to secure an exclusive agreement. I think all parties felt they needed to do something different. What we have is an open and transparent relationship and our two businesses are really well aligned, as are our ambitions for the UK going forward.”

“The Van Hool TX is the best range of coaches available,” said Head of Product, Steve Fletcher. “They’re the Rolls Royces of coaching. There’s a pedigree that goes back decades and the build quality is as good as it has ever been. Yes, they’re expensive, but go to the factory and see how they’re built and you’ll understand why. Everything is built to go exactly where it needs to go. However, we see the Macedonian-built EX15, EX16 and EX11 that’s on the way as the natural replacement for the two-axle Alicron. The numbers being sold across Europe just didn’t justify it continuing.”

“The EX is not inferior in build quality or in terms of the materials used,” Andrew continued. “We wanted one on the stand in a customer’s livery which is why we’re showing an EX16M with rear mounted toilet for Woods of Tillicoultry. There’s also a Moseley-supplied team-specification TX21 Altano on display for Manchester-based Go-G VIP and a TDX27 Astromega, one of two we’ve sold to Ferris Holidays.

“A Van Hool holds its value and part of our job as the dealer is to do everything we can to keep residual values up. I think that for the EX it will be as good as it is for the twin-axle Alicron now.”

Talking about the 12.2m Temsa Safari HD12 and MD9 midi coach, which Arriva Bus & Coach also sells, Andrew said: “We have a great relationship with Temsa. It listens to us, especially Steve. When it comes to customer feedback, it incorporates refinements in the next batch of vehicles coming through and I don’t think there are many manufacturers that respond so quickly. Updated styling for both models will be in the third quarter next year. The plan is it launch both at next year’s show.

“There are no plans to offer the Maraton because we don’t want crossover on what we already offer with Van Hool although we are in early discussions with Temsa about two potential additions to the range.

“When we take customers to the factory in Turkey, they’re always really pleasantly surprised by what they see. It’s state of the art and the workforce is really motivated.

“Likewise, when people drive the product, it’s a really pleasant surprise. Our job as a dealer is to give the brand more credibility. We want Temsa to be recognised as a top manufacturer. The Safari and MD9 we have on display have really nice specifications because we want to show what’s possible. They’re models that can be specified however customers want.

“New vehicle sales have been better this year than last in what is quite a stunted market. We took a significant step forward in terms of volume. However, I think operators are holding off because of the uncertainty created by the proposed clean air zones (CAZ) and Brexit, but next year they’ll start to do something. The key to meeting that is having vehicles available and we will have Van Hool EX15Ms, EX16Ms, Temsa Safaris and MD9s in stock. The TX range we will continue to build to order.

“We’re called Arriva Bus & Coach, but we don’t sell bus. It’s not always been that way. We have been considering having bus product, but have been too busy on other projects. However, I think we’re now in a position where we can give it the attention it needs. Clearly that makes sense as we’re part of the Arriva bus division us. We already work closely together, but recognise it’s a big project and needs to be right.

“The second-hand market has been tough. It’s no secret we had a lot of used stock, but we have made good inroads selling around 60 vehicles in the year to date. Like other dealers, I have used coaches that potentially have lost tens of thousands of pounds because of the requirements of the CAZs. Apart from the Volvo B9R, there are no approved retrofit kits currently available and what will be the value of vehicles even if we can fit them? Currently the market is frozen by indecision, but I think the requirements of the CAZs will be watered down. We’re already seeing that with the one proposed for Leeds and that will give everyone more time to think through how they’re going to react.

“We do a lot of retrofit work on buses and it’s going really well. Nigel Clarke is our Head of Aftersales and Operations.”

“We have teams working primarily in the London area doing retrofits for a couple of partners,” explained Nigel. “Year on year, sales have doubled and our plan for 2019 is to double that again. I’m planning to establish a further small team further north because we’re now attracting work in Liverpool, Wakefield, Sheffield and Newcastle. Retrofit work will dry up when funding dries up, but the guys will continue to be occupied carrying out campaign service work on the kits they’ve installed.

“When it comes to coach, we’re working quite closely with our partners to offer a DAF solution. We will be their exclusive partner and they’re keen to offer something to the market place soon. My main focus since I joined Arriva Bus & Coach a year ago has been to tighten processes and ensure we’re delivering the right customer experience.”

“My job is to look at the bigger picture and keep us going in the right direction, to keep the team going,” said Andrew. ”We have to know about all those exterior influences whether it’s Brexit or the CAZs and within the group we have experts analysing what’s going on.

“Paul Gardner joined us two or three months ago as Senior General Manager Sales & Commercial filling the void I left when I stepped up to be Managing Director. We needed to expand the team with people who have the right experience, knowledge, drive and work ethic to take the business forward and Paul ticks those boxes. There have been a few changes in the sales team as well. What

we’ve changed within the business needed to be changed, but we’ve not done it for the sake of it.”

Said Steve: “I’m excited by what we’re doing. There’s a great mix of people working for Arriva Bus & Coach now. I love it which is why I’m still here.”

New markets for BASE

Leyland-based BASE showed a 12.42m Barbi Galileo-bodied MAN RR2 for Anthony’s Travel of Runcorn. The operator’s fourth, it was a 49-seater executive with a wheelchair lift and had the capacity to carry up to four wheelchair users. Also on the stand was a 9.1m MAN TGL-based MOBIpeople Midi Explorer 36-seater while in the demonstration park was a MAN RR8-based MOBIpeople Explorer for J&B Travel of Leeds. Wheelchair accessible, it was a 55-seater with a rear floor mounted toilet. However, taking centre stage inside the exhibition hall was a 74-seat MOBIpeople Explorer for RB Travel, Kettering, the first to be built on a Scania K320 underframe.

“We’ve had a longstanding relationship with Scania for many years,” explained BASE Director Mark Aspinall. “Before we started importing in 2003, it was our main new supplier and we’ve always maintained an excellent relationship. We’ve sold nearly 100 MAN-based MOBIpeople Explorers and nearly 50 of the little MAN TGL Midi Explorers so we thought it was time, with the growth we’ve had, to try and offer a second chassis brand that could give us more incremental volume.

“Initially, what we talked to Scania about was school bus, but as we continued the discussion, it was quite content that we considered all specifications so we’re entering the market on the basis of supplying school buses and executives.

“The highest seating capacity we can offer is 74 utilising Prime Passenger Seating product. In a two by two configuration, we can offer 59 seats, 57 with a centre sunken toilet or a rear floor-mounted toilet and 55 seats. Some operators prefer the floor mounted configuration because it saves the cubic metre of luggage capacity in the lockers. This vehicle has just short of nine cubic metres of luggage space, which is just slightly more than we achieve on the MAN, because it has a slightly longer wheelbase.

“The RB Travel vehicle is the prototype. We’ve ordered another four that will all be 74-seaters. As with MAN, the beauty is some of the enquiries are coming through Scania. MAN has been a loyal and good supplier to us and we remain loyal to it, but Scania is a good brand and we think there will be strong demand. People are already saying to us, now we’re offering it, they would like a price because they’re seriously interested. It appeals to a different list of potential buyers.

“The aftersales support available will be the same customers would receive if they bought a Scania from Scania. We can price in packages such as extended warranties and R&M contracts. When a new customer takes a vehicle, we make sure, whether it’s MAN or Scania, they have all the contact details they need for their local dealer.

“The Scania MOBIpeople is going to Scania’s Loughborough training centre for product familiarisation. If any technical issues need to be discussed, they know who to contact and we can talk them through. Two of our staff have already been on a Scania training course and we have two more booked for later this year. We will also have the Scania diagnostic kit so we’ll be able to look after the chassis ourselves, but at the same time we will be supported through the dealer network.

“We launched the executive version of the Explorer in 2017 and over the past 12 months have sold eight. Double-tint side glass is now specified, as is a more modern rack design and we have upgraded the driver and courier seat trim. KB Coaches in Gloucestershire bought two while Mullanys of Watford, which has taken the 74-seat version, has two 55-seats with wheelchair access for two that are being used to carry Watford away fans. ABC Coach of Manchester is another to buy.

“It has been a busy year. We’ve sold around 40 new coaches and have a strong order book through to March and April. I expect we’ll sell around 65-70 used vehicles. We’ve started converting Scania OmniCity Double-deckers out of London into 78 seaters with three-point belts – the first to offer that. J&B Travel of Leeds has bought the first and its DDA compliant and has CCTV. With a tachograph and radio it’s a nice specification and we’ve just bought the last 10 unconverted OmniCity Double-deckers from Scania so we can convert more.

“We’re also still doing our 70-seater coach conversions and have some Caetano Levantes going through at the moment. We’ve just taken a couple of Volvo Plaxton Leopards in part exchange and up-seated those to 72. We do around 15-17 coach conversions a year.

“BASE is a small independent dealer focused on niche markets. We make sure we can provide parts availability so what our customers need is available when they need it. We provide, we believe, good customer service and support. That’s what we do.”

(Talking the Monday morning after the show, Mark said orders for four Scanias had been taken and he hoped to confirm orders for two MANs by the end of the day. “It’s been the best show we’ve had for years,” he said).

EvoBus exploring new opportunities

EvoBus UK’s Euro Bus Expo line up comprised entirely of product options that had not previously been exhibited in right-hand drive at a show. The most intriguing, given the dealer’s phenomenal success selling the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo integral, was an OC500RF tri-axle coach chassis.

“We’re talking to three European bodybuilders about bodying that chassis,” explained Director Mercedes-Benz Sales, Marcus Watts. “We want to strategically enter the chassis market because there is a gap in our integral solutions. We cannot currently supply a flat floor, accessible front entrance scheduled service coach and customer feedback tells us there’s a requirement for an additional supplier. If we can deliver a product that has the fuel consumption and reliability operators have come to expect from the Tourismo, so much the better.

“The chassis we’re exhibiting has been specifically designed for scheduled service. It has a front section with an increased overhang and extended steering shaft to accommodate a door with a wheelchair lift. We’ve moved the Webasto and a few other components such as the hydraulic steering reservoir to ensure we can achieve a completely flat floor. The design has been modified to make it very simple and economical to body as a 14m tri-axle scheduled coach and the complete vehicle will be retailed by the bodybuilder or bodybuilders.

“We’ve sold 300 Tourismos this year in a market that is slightly down – the highest market share we have ever had. We’ve achieved that by selling into the coach tourism market only because we’re not currently in the scheduled market. We’re diversifying into what we think will be a growing opportunity, but it’s not one that we’re dependent on.

“When we talk about TCO (Total Cost of Ownership), it’s a struggle sometimes to explain the benefits we can offer to a low mileage coach tourism operator. It’s difficult to say that over, say seven years they will get back that extra £10,000 they might have paid for their vehicle. However, when that vehicle is covering 200,000km a year and fuel consumption is 7% better, the benefit is huge. The OC500RF has the same running gear as a Tourismo and the next generation is coming with the same safety systems. Scheduled coaches are high mileage vehicles so that’s good for the aftermarket as well, whether it’s parts supply or servicing.

“The reason the chassis is here to raise awareness and create more customer demand. We’ve invited 10 key operators to come and have a look, but I also wanted to get it out in front of a wider audience. I don’t expect that we will sell high numbers, but it could be 50-60 units a year that we would not otherwise have had. If Flixbus was to come to the UK, for example, this could well be a product it might want to buy because it ticks all the boxes. We will see from here, how we move forward.

“The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based City 75 we’re exhibiting is left-hand drive and is here so we can define what UK customers want from a right-hand drive product. We’re running a customer clinic this week where they will be able to examine it in detail, drive it and tell us and the guys from the factory what they think.

“Citaro we sell to airports, for Park & Ride and to some bus operator that want a heavy-duty vehicle with a 15-year life. What we’re showing is the first right-hand drive with our hybrid system and it has generated a fair amount of interest, but until we get to zero emissions, I have to be realistic about what we can do in the city bus market.

“The silver Tourismo M2 55-seater with a toilet is one of 11 Edition 1 coaches to celebrate the first successful year of the new Tourismo. The livery is different and they have a bespoke interior. Two years full repair and maintenance is included as is two years of OMNIplus On including OMNIplus Uptime telematics bundled in.

“Edition 1 also marks the fifth year of record coach sales – the result of listening to customers and delivering on a clear strategy. Of over 1,500 Tourismos sold in the UK since 2007, more than 1,000 have been Euro VI. We delivered on our five year plan and the plan for the next five years is already laid down. The sales team is well established and we have worked strategically to grow our customer base. I think we have the clearest product strategy of any manufacturer in our segments.

“Completing the stand line up is a 14m Tourismo L which has 57 Luxline seats and a toilet. Outside the halls we have a 12m 55-seat Tourismo with no toilet powered by the smaller 7.9-litre OM936 engine rather than the 10.7-litre OM470. Externally it looks no different, but is lighter and more economical. The engine has good low down torque and we had a demonstrator driven empty up to Carlisle recently that returned 17.5mpg. In stock at the moment is a 13m, two-axle with the smaller engine that seats 59 without a toilet.

“We also brought along our new tri-axle Tourismo safety coach – a UK first – which has all the safety systems on it. We plan to make videos demonstrating those in the next few weeks. Also in the demonstration park is a 48-seat former Shearings Setra that we’ve up-seated to 57 with a toilet. It was sold on the first day of the show.”

Harris Auto range expanding 

Harris Auto had a significant presence at the show this year, bringing Higer, LDV and Anadolu Isuzu vehicles which were displayed across multiple stands.
From Isuzu, the AOS Visigo Hyper was the first of two vehicles. The nine-metre midicoach can contain a maximum of 39 seats, which can be reduced to 35 to accommodate a toilet. The vehicle is powered by a Cummins ISB6.7 320hp Euro VI engine, coupled to a ZF EcoLife fully automatic gearbox.

The example at the show was the first right-hand drive production vehicle, following a prototype built previously. Harris Auto General Manager & Brand Custodian, Chris Haughton, explained that the vehicle is slightly narrower than the Higer Super 9XL the company launched earlier this year, and is therefore suited to some routes which the Super 9XL cannot cover.

Harris Auto has deliberately gone with the same drivetrain as the Super 9XL for consistency with parts and diagnostics. The vehicle is expected to go into full production from February, with the first deliveries arriving in March.

A second vehicle at Euro Bus Expo under the Isuzu brand was the AOS Turquoise. The vehicle on display was left-hand drive and a number of changes are expected to be made to it before it is made available to order by Harris around June 2019.

Instead of the Cummins ISB6.7, the vehicle is driven by an Isuzu 190hp Euro VI engine, coupled to an Isuzu MZZ-6F transmission. It is eight metres in length, offering between 22 and 33 seats and up to five cubic metres of luggage space.

Two minibuses were on show on Harris Auto’s own stand – a 17-seater LDV and a 15-seater electric LDV. Harris claims the electric LDV offers a range of 190km and can be charged in two hours. The Harris stand also hosted two Super 9XL midicoaches – a 41-seater in an eye-catching Paddywagon livery and a 39-seater.

Chris said the company is working on bringing electric, gas and hydrogen vehicles to the UK and Ireland markets. A LHD fully electric 22-seater demonstrator is expected to arrive in late November, and Chris said it will offer a range of up to 300km.

Harris expects to launch two new Higer 12-metre coaches in February. The first will be called the Road King and offer 55 seats with no toilet, while the second – named the Low Rider, can be specified with 51 seats with a toilet, or 53 seats without. Gas and hydrogen drives are being trialled on both vehicles.

Irizar moving forward

Irizar UK showcased the latest range of Paccar-DAF MX11 and MX13 Euro VI engines installed in its integral coaches, which it says are optimised with ZF transmissions. Customers can look forward to greater fuel efficiency, longer service intervals, lower running costs and increased comfort levels for both drivers and passengers.

“We use MX11 and MX13 engines ranging from 340hp to 530hp,” said Head of Coach Sales Julie Hartley. “The new range of engines delivers fuel consumption improvements of up to 6%. The highest rated one that will go with a ZF EcoLife automatic is the 449hp MX11, but we now have the new TraXon automated gearbox which replaces the AS-Tronic. The new engines can have predictive cruise control. TraXon has predictive shifting control and both work with GPS technology to read local topography and select the right gear for what’s about to happen. TraXon also has a creeping function which AS-Tronic didn’t have and a rolling function so it can effectively go into coasting mode which again saves fuel.

“All the vehicles we’re exhibiting at Euro Bus Expo have the new engine and gearbox configurations including both TraXon and EcoLife. This is the launch, but we have already been taking orders.

The i6S on show is 10.78m, the first in this country, and is for Whites of St Albans. It seats 33 with a rear saloon toilet and feature three tables in pullman style.

 

“Next to that is what I regard as our workhorse – a 12.92m i6 with 57 seats and a toilet. It has a upgraded 449hp MX11 engine coupled to an EcoLife gearbox and is a stock vehicle. Then we have a 530hp 14.07m 55-seat i8 for Ellisons Travel. The i8 Plus seats have been specially developed for the customer with extra padding normally found in the seats we install in two plus one i8 configurations.

“Outside the hall is our new demonstrator which is a 12.92m i6S with 53 i6 Plus seats. It has a 408hp MX11 engine and TraXon gearbox and will be registered on 12 November. We can do a 367hp TraXon combination. It’s a cheaper option than the EcoLife and should deliver better fuel consumption, but may be better suited to higher horsepower ratings.

“Prices have gone up around £5,000 with the latest powertrain technologies, but we believe that with the fuel savings, customers will more than get that money back. What is more, Irizar has taken the opportunity to revisit the whole vehicle underneath, making improvements to some of the componentry so that they’re powered on demand. The steering pump, for example, now only engages when it’s required. Again it’s about saving fuel and lengthening service life. Components don’t work so hard.

“We’re working towards a European Commission regulation called VECTO (Vehicle Energy Consumption Calculation Tool). It’s all about making the vehicles more efficient, cost effective and reducing emissions. All our engines work on HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) and DAF Irizar say that CO2 emissions could be cut by up to 80% by using that fuel.

“Our new vehicles also have a new virtual dashboard with a digital display that’s very clear and concise. Menu functions are also better and there’s a little more adaptability for the driver. It’s very car like.

“The big seller in 2018 has been i6, but we’re moving more towards i6S now. The price differential is minimal and the i6S has multiplex wiring, all LED lighting including headlamps, upgraded i6 Plus seats and different body styling that’s closer to the i8 in terms of looks. With the latest engine and gearbox enhancements, it’s the way forward and I think will become our core product.”

As well as the latest i6S demonstrator, Irizar UK also had its ie electric demonstrator on display outside the exhibition hall. “We’re busy exploring quite a few opportunities,” said Strategic Advisor e-mobility, Mike Weston about the bus.

“Irizar is offering both depot and opportunity charging so we can offer a whole range of options. We think there’s a lot of scope for opportunity charging in smaller towns and we’re promoting that when we’re talking to councils and smaller operators.

“The London market is exceedingly competitive and very price driven, but we’re making progress with niche customers outside of London. Irizar is a quality product and there will always be a premium for that. We need to work with operators, authorities and airports that want something a little bit different and understand the business case for the vehicle over its whole life.

“Interest in electric has just rocketed over the last year. It’s clear we’re starting to see the transition from diesel to electric, but the market is still heavily dependent on some subsidy initially. I think the industry will need that for a few more years to get the volumes up.”

“Our bus has demonstrated at Birmingham Airport and it’s going to Millbrook for ULEB (Ultra Low Emission Bus) certification next,” said Irizar Business Development Manager – Bus, Shaun Millar. “The announcement on ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) funding is what we’re waiting for now. “

Irizar UK’s i4 hybrid has run for around 10 operators over the past year. “It’s done everything from home to work contracts for Jaguar Land Rover to a long term project with The Kings Ferry that probably went on for around three months,” said Julie. “Centaur had it last. Its performance has been very route dependent. There are developments going forward that we’ll announce in due course.

“If someone wants to buy that vehicle, we’d be happy to sell it. It could have real promotion value for an operator and it’s a very comfortable coach. I think there is potentially a place for it with bus operators for interurban travel.

“In terms of the second-hand market, we’re in a nice position in that we don’t have a huge amount of stock. We’re running at 25-30 – an enviable position at the moment. Most of us selling coaches are faced with a very difficult exchange rate at the moment in terms of bringing product into the country. Brexit is also having an impact because of the uncertainty it has created. We don’t know what’s going to happen next year so it’s a very difficult environment.

“However, the main issue is clearly late registered Euro Vs and there needs to be some clarity in terms of Euro VI retrofit emissions equipment. We haven’t had our DAF PR265 Euro VI retrofit system created by Green Urban certified. However, we are fully committed to finding a solution that will comply.

“We’re trying very hard to keep prices down, but Euro Vs are haemorrhaging value and it’s crippling the whole vehicle replacement chain. Depreciation hasn’t caught up with residual values. In a year when we’ve been moving towards the ULEZ in London and we ought to have seen the market grow, but the opposite has happened.

“Other cities have not had the road map London has had and they’re jumping straight into Euro VI compliance, not recognising that the industry can’t respond that quickly. The difficulty for operators is the number of trips they would have to make into a clean air zone to justify spending £15,000-20,000 on such a system for a Euro V vehicle once it was CVRAS (Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme) accredited. It’s hamstringing the industry.”

“I’m pleased to say Irizar UK has hit its target for this year. We’ll finish on 80 new units, which is our best year to date. We have a growing team as well. Chris Mobbs has joined us as Area Sales Manager for the south east while Gavin Brown is our new Field Service Engineer for London and the South East.

“We do believe we have the best aftercare service in the industry. We’re not dependent on a truck network and we try very hard to make sure our customers’ vehicles are in the hands of a coach mechanic as much as possible. We think support before sales and that has helped us grow our business. ”

John Hill as Harris UK distributors

Exhibiting close to Harris Auto’s stand was its new UK distributor and family-run business, John Hill Coach Sales.

The company says it benefits from 40 years of experience in the coach and bus industry and sells more than 150 vehicles per year. Its used vehicles division will visit operator’s depots without any upfront fee to personally appraise vehicles and take full specifications before advertising them and dealing with prospective buyers, negotiating on the seller’s behalf. It also recently launched an online auction service in conjunction with BPI Auctions.

John Hill told CBW: “As a business we have got involved with Harris Auto to distribute its vehicles in the UK market, including the AOS Visigo Hyper and Turquoise. Feedback has been good so far.

“From my point of view it’s interesting to see that Harris has virtually every part in stock. It’s good to see that somebody has thought about aftersales – a real step in the right direction. Sometimes vehicles are launched without the right infrastructure in place first.”
The business is currently in its sixth year. John added: “We’re growing all the time. We like to think we do things properly, and the repeat business we receive shows that.”

King Long Europe
King Long Europe has secured another order from Airparks for city buses. Five 6127Js have been ordered for the car park company’s Luton Airport operation. King Long Europe Managing Director, Chris Cassar, said: “We have our designs and approvals ready for an electric bus and I hope to have some right-hand drive next year.

“King Long is ready to go into the market. We have a couple of leads for coach we’re following up at the moment. There is very strong interest in Ireland where operators want to save money. We have various second-hand King Longs available at our Garretts Green, Birmingham base because we’re continuing to buy in and sell. There’s always something in stock.

“Aftersales is very important to us because I think a customer that has had a King Long will go for another. We supply all the parts needed and carry out servicing. We also undertake inspections and repairs.”

MAN committed to the UK 

A pair of Neoplan coaches were displayed on MAN’s stand this year – a Tourliner P10 and a Tourliner P20.

The P20 example was a 13.4m coach equipped with an MAN D26 12.4-litre Euro Vlc engine, developing 460bhp and coupled to a ZF AST transmission. The 53-seater coach made use of Kiel 1020 slide out seats trimmed in ‘Dorado style’ half leather.

The Neoplan Tourliner P10 13.1m coach is a recent design which was launched earlier this year following a change in legislation. MAN said that to offer a coach of this specification – with 57 seats, toilet and kitchen area, would have historically required a third axle. The vehicle is powered by an MAN Euro Vlc 12.4-litre engine developing 420bhp, and coupled to a ZF EcoLife automatic gearbox.

MAN also brought along a used Neoplan Starliner, which was displayed outside.

While MAN’s TGE minibus was not at the event this year, the company confirmed that it has approved six bodybuilders in the UK, with the first two units being converted by Stanford Coachworks. Operators of the TGE will benefit from the same backup MAN provides for trucks, coaches and buses for chassis and warranty issues.

MAN had a special deal in place for the duration of the show, where operators could sign an order for delivery before Christmas, and would not need to make payments (other than the initial deposit) until March 2019.

Speaking about the current state of the coach and bus industry in the UK, Wayne Ulph, General Manager Bus & Coach UK at MAN, said: “This year has been very tough for everybody. There have been numerous legislative changes regarding LEZs throughout the UK, which has made a lot of people cautious.

“We have taken a measured look at Brexit. Ahead of the UK leaving the EU on 29 March 2019, we have ordered all of our stock vehicles for 2019 to arrive by mid-March. This means we are not partial to exchange rate fluctuations after Brexit and are able to fix our 2018 prices on those stock vehicles for the whole of 2019.

“We will have stock in the region of 47 units, though some of those have already been converted into customer orders.

“We’re sending out a strong message that we are here to stay and want to remain a serious contender in the UK market.”

MAN is also committing resources to its customer care in the future, through a series of expansion improvements and an investment of £20m planned for the next five years. This will include expansion re-openings – such as in Broxburn near Edinburgh – and new greenfield developments in Gateshead and Stockton.

On the subject of buses, Wayne added: “I’m pushing very hard to bring the MAN Lion’s City E to the UK.

“The UK’s bodybuilders all have their own chassis solution now. We’re seeing clear movement away from chassis body partnerships. I think the easiest route to the bus market for us is to bring a right-hand drive Lion’s City bus over.

“The first electric units are expected to be tested in Europe in the final quarter of 2019.”

Mistral Group new developments
Mistral Group launched its new look websites for coach and bus, finance and Mistral Group, along with an asset finance calculator.
The company claims its asset finance calculator is a first for the market and allows the user to calculate the likely finance costs for their bus rental or purchase based on the parameters they enter into the calculator.

Steve Low, Group Managing Director, commented: “The asset finance calculator is something we have been working on for several months with the intention of launching it at Euro Bus Expo. We are extremely proud of our new product and believe it will make the decision on whether to purchase or lease a vehicle much easier.”

At the event, the Mistral stand was strategically located close to both long time partner ADL and John Hill Coach Sales, whom it has been working with more recently. The company also regularly finances Temsa coaches and said it is excited at the prospect of working with Noone.

Asked about the ongoing ADL relationship, Steve added: “We used to purely finance buses with ADL, but we have been working a lot more with Plaxton in the last 18 months. In the last week, we’ve sold 10 Plaxton Panthers, all to first tier quality operators, which is phenomenal.”

Moseley innovation

While the format of Euro Bus Expo is for vehicles to be displayed by manufacturer, Beulas, Indcar, VDL and Van Hool were all grouped together on adjacent stands underlining the important role of Moseley, the UK’s largest family-owned independent dealer of new and used coaches, in supplying all of them.

Making its show debut was the Beulas Cygnus-bodied VDL SB4000 with two examples on display – a 12.72m coach with 53 Sege Trend 410 seats for Kettering-based RB Travel and a 10.8m Andrew James, Malmesbury example with 34 Sege VIP Sultan seats, tables, a floor-mounted toilet and rear kitchen incorporating fridges, cupboards and hot and cold water supply. Both coaches were powered by DAF MX11 engines driving through ZF EcoLife automatic gearboxes and featured revised Cygnus front styling that is being carried across to the Aura.

Representing Indcar was a Mercedes-Benz Atego 1024L-based 33-Kiel Avance seat Next L8 and an Iveco Daily 70C18CCS Wing 29-seater. There were two VDL Futura 2s on display, both DAF MX11 ZF EcoLife-powered FHD2-129s. One for Leons Coaches of Stafford had 57 Class 300 seats while the other, a 53-seater, for Johnson Bros. Tours, Worksop featured a wheelchair lift above the rear axle minimising its impact on luggage capacity. Up to four wheelchair spaces could be created by demounting eight double seats on a quick-release flooring system.

Underlining a relationship between dealer and manufacturer that goes back almost 40 years, there was also a team-specification Van Hool TX21 Altano on display for Manchester-based Go-G VIP.

“Angela Coaches of Southampton and Slacks Travel of Matlock had the first Beulas Cygnus VDL SB4000s,” said Moseley PCV Managing Director Karl Moseley. “The vehicles on display would be number three and four so it’s a really new combination. The latest DAF MX engine is smoother and quieter and we know from the Futura 2 which uses the same, that it’s at least 3% more fuel efficient.

“We live in challenging times. The market is really tough and that makes putting numbers on volumes very difficult. I would hope we’ll sell at least a dozen Cygnus SB4000s in the year ahead and between 45 and 55 Futura 2s would be a reasonable volume. We have already started selling the Indcar Wing, first customer being Kendal-based Heron Travel and we hope to sell more of a product that retails at £119,000.

“I’m sad about losing the Van Hool distributorship on two levels. One is personal – the business relationship we had is one year shy of 40 years old and that does count for something. Nor does it make any sense to me commercially.

“We continue to place our emphasis on selling quality products. Residual value is more important than ever. It’s the value on an operator’s balance sheet and they shouldn’t forget the importance of that.”

Deeply concerned about the impact it’s having on the residual value of Euro V coaches, Karl has real concerns about the lack of clarity surrounding the CVRAS (Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme) accredited process for retrofitted Euro VI-compliant emission abatement systems.

“What’s missing is clear information on what’s happening,” he said. “Normally the market has a way of finding the least expensive solution. Currently, for operators that’s paying the fines. That may work for a vehicle they currently own, but it won’t help them or us sell a Euro V. We have to find a way of releasing the equity that’s tied up in those vehicles.”

Optare’s new electric drive

Optare launched the latest version of two electric buses – the Metrodecker EV and Metrocity EV.

While neither of the vehicles had received a styling update, Optare claims that a new battery chemistry allows both of them to have operating ranges in excess of 150 miles, with an electric heating system running.

The company did not disclose what the new battery chemistry is and did not name the battery manufacturer, though CBW understands that Magtec will no longer be producing Optare’s electric drives.

2F electric rear axles are also used on the new generation electric buses, rather than conventional axles. Optare also claimed they are the lightest vehicles in their class.

Optare said the Metrodecker can carry more than 94 passengers, with an unladen weight of just over 11 tonnes and a GVW of 18 tonnes. The Metrocity EV can carry up to 60 passengers with an unladen weight of 8.6 tonnes and a GVW of 13 tonnes.

Launching the vehicles, Richard Butler, Chief Executive of Optare, said: “Two years ago, we launched our electric double-decker. Over those two years, the business has gained substantial traction, developing its market share in the UK while also exploring export opportunities.

“We remain fully committed to working towards a zero emission environment, and at Euro Bus Expo this year we are launching new EV technology. This technology is not an evolution, but a revolution.

“Our electric vehicle technology is the culmination of 10 years of hard work. Optare launched its first electric product in 2009, and today we have probably the UK’s largest fleet of electric vehicles running. In the early days, an electric vehicle would run 60 miles on a single charge with diesel heating, and the electric double-decker was just a dream. The team realised that wasn’t sufficient and we had to compete head-on with diesel. The vehicle needed the capacity to leave the depot in the morning and run for the whole day. We needed to deliver an electric product which mirrors that diesel.

“We have progressed over those 10 years, moving from a 60 mile radius to a 100 mile radius. Today, we believe we now give the operator the choice to run an electric vehicle on the same routes as a diesel vehicle.

“Today we offer two vehicles which can deliver 150 miles or more with fully electric heating and no degradation to the passenger numbers carried by standard diesel vehicles.

“We are proud that these buses appear no different to their electric predecessors or diesel counterparts. It’s the innovation that you can’t see that is game changing. Optare has brought together the very latest technologies to create our next generation EVs. New batteries and new drive systems deliver best in class performance in range, capacity and efficiency. We now have a bus that can deliver a full day’s zero emission service on a single charge all year round with no impact on capacity.”

Richard also highlighted Optare’s recent export success, which has seen the delivery of 114 vehicles to New Zealand and the award of a contract from the Road Traffic Authority in Dubai for 94 dedicated Solos.

Also appearing on the Optare stand were two of the company’s latest Euro VI diesel buses – an Optare Solo and an Optare Versa. Both are now equipped with the Allison xFE transmission as standard, which Richard said would deliver an 8% fuel saving on average.

Pelican building and refining

Pelican Bus & Coach unveiled its new 12m GT12 coach on the first morning of the show. Within half an hour one was sold to a customer joining 10 others that have already put names against half of the first batch of 20 due for delivery next Spring.

“The show vehicle is the prototype,” explained Pelican UK Sales Manager Bob Elliott. “It’s going to the Dublin show after Euro Bus Expo, but people are welcome to come and drive and ride on it after that.”

Available with 53, 51 or 49 half leather or full leather seats and a centre sunken toilet, the GT12 is powered by a DAF MX11 450hp engine driving through a ZF 6AP2300BC automatic gearbox. ZF supplied the steering and drive axles, Spheros the roof mounted air-conditioning and Webasto floor heaters. Entertainment is provided via a Bosch audio/video/PA system.

“We think the GT12 will increase our market penetration because it’s a European specification coach,” Bob continued. “Even the overhead luggage racks are made in Italy.

“Yutong will have been in the UK for five years in February and there are now more than 400 on the road. That sales success has been built because the manufacturer listens and because of the backup and service we provide. We will celebrate our centenary in 2019 so we have been looking after customers for a long time. The GT12 underlines just how much of a serious player we now are. Yutong is here to stay.

“Of that order total, around 300 are TC9 midi coaches. We’re continuing to sell around 70 a year and both customers for the two we have on the stand, Walton Coach Hire of Freckleton and St Albans-based White’s, have bought before.

“Our 12m TC12 continues to sell as well. One customer has bought 43 this year and we expect to have sold mid 50s by the end of the year. A repeat order has just been placed by an operator who already has two. The TC12 is £205,000 while the GT12 is £225,000. He couldn’t justify the extra £20,000 for the work he needed the vehicle for so went for the TC12.

“The first two all-electric TCe12 coaches for Westway on London are due in the Spring. We’re also offering an all electric airport bus, the ZK6140BEVBD, which can carry 110 passengers and is priced around £300,000. It has six doors – three each side – and is three metres wide and 13.8m long. Tenders have already been submitted on the basis of supplying it.”

As well as the coaches on the stand, the second of Pelican’s two 10.8m all-electric E10 city buses was on display. The distributor can rightly claim its all-electric because everything is powered by the onboard batteries – there’s no diesel auxiliary heater.

“This bus will go to the first London operator to order from us,” said Ian Downie, Pelican’s Head of Yutong Bus UK. “It has some small refinements compared with the first E10 which arrived at the beginning of the year. Our original E12 was 295kwh with 16 battery packs. It has now covered 45,000km with 17 operators and would be ideal for Park & Ride operation. A lot depends on the type of operation, but energy consumption with the heating or air-conditioning working is around 1.1kw/h.

“In future the E12 will be built with the same 12-battery 324kwh capacity as our two E10s. The first E10 has covered 20,000km with operators in London such as Arriva, CT Plus, Tower Transit and Metroline. It’s now with Abellio. The energy consumption of that bus is 1.05kwh.

“At the moment everyone is waiting to hear the outcome of the next round of OLEV (Office for Low Emission Vehicles) funding. No one is ordering until that’s announced, but we’re hopeful of secure orders.

“We not planning now to build and electric artic unless there’s customer demand for it. Our philosophy is, as battery technology changes, we will develop our products alongside that. What we do is tested on the test track, not in the market. We’re here to look after our customers. We not going to rush into anything because we want to make sure what we offer is right.”

Yutong is establishing European management structure to mange the relationship the Chinese manufacturer has with its European distributorships. Franco Miniero, who previously worked for Fiat and Scania, has been appointed as Managing Director Europe & North America. Franco was at Euro Bus Expo.

“Yutong is the biggest bus manufacturer in the world,” he said. “It’s building more than 70,000 vehicles a year and the electric vehicle product range it has been able to develop over the past 10 years is really interesting. I will be responsible for the whole commercial operation whether it’s the network, product or aftersales.

“I and my team will be the link with head office in China translating its requirements here in Europe. This market is one of the most advanced in the world so having experience here is really important not least because it also helps Yutong maintain its market leadership in China as its home market evolves.”

Scania renewable fuels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scania said it has enjoyed its best ever Euro Bus Expo exhibition, with a number of orders signed and sealed along with a positive visitor reaction to the news that all vehicles on the company’s stand were capable of being powered by renewable fuels.

Orders were confirmed from JH Coaches of Birtley, Tyne and Wear; Woodstones Coaches of Kidderminster; Unicorn Travel of Wrexham; Paul S. Winson Coaches of Loughborough; Masons Minibus & Coach Hire of Hertfordshire; and Attain Travel of Birmingham.

Ignacio Cortezon, Scania’s Global Sales Director, provided a brief talk on the first day of the expo, where he said the UK market is very important to Scania for coach and bus and consistently included in its top 10 markets worldwide. He also noted that the success of alternative fuels in the UK made Scania GB a role model for the company’s divisions elsewhere.

“Next year, we are aiming for 40% of all deliveries to use alternative fuels,” he said.

An Alexander Dennis Enviro 400CBG-bodied Scania N280UD double-decker biogas bus was the first of the vehicles on the stand. Liveried as the 100th biogas double-decker that the ADL-Scania partnership has produced since the product was launched at Euro Bus Expo two years ago, Scania claims the vehicle’s range has been substantially enhanced thanks to improvements in tank capacity and filling pressure.

The vehicle will be used as a demonstrator after the show, before joining the Nottingham City Transport gas bus fleet.

Martin West, Sales Director New Bus & Coach at Scania GB, said: “The biogas bus is 20% more efficient than we initially thought it would be. The fact it is not zero emission will keep it out of London, but well to wheel it is the cleanest vehicle on the road.”

Centre-stage on the stand was Scania’s new K320EB 4×2 parallel hybrid chassis. Primarily designed for city and suburban operations, Scania claims the driveline can deliver fuel savings of 20-25% compared to conventional diesel. The 320hp engine can be driven with diesel, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) or up to 100% Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) renewable fuel.

Martin said that when the hybrid chassis is paired with a renewable fuel, the vehicle can achieve a C02 reduction of 92% compared to a standard diesel vehicle. This is beyond the 84% saving Scania claims the biogas double-decker can achieve.

Completing the indoor line-up was a Scania Touring coach – a 12.1m K360IB 4×2 model with 51 seats. It is the first time Scania has brought a Touring coach to a UK exhibition. The vehicle on display was capable of running 100% on HVO fuel with no modifications. Indeed, all Scania engines from Euro IV onwards can do this.

Green Bio Fuels is the sole UK distributor of HVO, and provided the fuel for Scania’s recent trial on the National Express coach contracts operated by Lucketts.
“HVO is currently the only solution we can see to reduce longer distance C02,” said Martin.

Together, the three products aim to provide coverage for the vast majority of coach and bus operations. The biogas bus covers urban operation, while the hybrid system is designed for interurban services. The HVO system provides an option for long distance coach travel.

As for alternative drives, Martin commented: “We don’t have an electric vehicle on show, though three are on trial in Sweden. Ultimately, full battery electrics will be the answer for city centre-only operation on defined routes

“We’re quite late with electric, but that is because we want to make sure whatever we bring to the table is commercially viable, and we want it to be on a Scania chassis. We also know multiple technologies will be needed in the future, and we want to get to a situation where we are advising operators of what is best for them, not just salespeople.”
Martin also noted that Scania is trialling hydrogen fuel cell technology on trucks in Norway.

Unvi range is shown

Unvi’s stand displayed several vehicles from its UK offering.

A VIP specification Compa T featured 16 seats with tables. A higher capacity 25-seater version was also on the stand, though the maximum capacity of the vehicle is 32.

David McKinless, Unvi Bus & Coach UK Managing Director, said: “The VIP-spec Compa T is particularly popular with operators targeting the golf market in Ireland and Scotland.

“It is built on the Iveco Daily and has access to the ZF Hi-Matic automatic gearbox, though we do supply the occasional manual.”

Examples of the Mercedes-Benz Atego-based Voyager GT and Touring GT were also present on the stand, while the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based Unvi Vega could be seen outside the hall.

“The key to these vehicles is economy,” David said. “With 15-16mpg in service, our vehicles are more economical to run than small coaches. The Vega at Euro Bus Expo is the last of our current stock. We’re awaiting delivery of new Sprinter vans.”

Until recently, Taylor Coach Sale of Ely was the distributor of Unvi vehicles in the East Midlands, East Anglia, London and the South East of England. However, with proprietor Steve Taylor expected to retire soon, Milton Keynes-based Mark Fenton has stepped in to replace him.

“Mark Fenton is employed by Unvi, so it is a different arrangement this time,” said David.

Recently, an Unvi Urbis electric double-decker entered service with RATP Dev-owned The Original Tour in London. A similar vehicle is also in service with RATP in Paris. Though it is early days,

David said reports coming back state that the operators are pleased with the range of the vehicle so far.

Though Unvi can provide CNG drives for its vehicles, it is not something currently offered to the UK market. Unvi has secured a recent major order for CNG vehicles in Santiago, Chile.

Speaking about the UK market as a whole, David said: “We had a very good year last year, but we’re not selling as many vehicles as we would like this year. The Irish market is buoyant and Scotland is okay, but London is quiet. However, our business is still in good health.”

Volvo

“We’ve had a good level of people on the stand,” said Volvo Bus UK & Ireland Service Delivery Director Andy Kunze at the end of the second day of the show. “There has been lots of interest in the 9900 and the MCV-bodied B11R. There have always been people on them throughout the day and we’ve been getting a lot of positive reaction.

“The level and quality of finish of the 9900 and its theatre floor has been particular commented on. The MCV was a well-kept secret, but it has been a positive surprise to many. It has been developed with a partner that we trust and has been good to work with. We have taken a couple of orders for both, but hopefully we can convert a lot of the interest that we have seen into more.
“It was great that we could use the show to hand over the MCV coach to Golden Tours. It’s a great operator and has been very positive to work with. It was a positive sign that we had to get a lot of people off the vehicle to do that hand over.

“There has also been a lot of interest in the B8L chassis. It’s a new product and showing a city bus chassis in that format is of great interest to many people visiting the show. At this stage, with a day to go, we’re feeling positive. We’re happy with the reaction there has been to all our products and it has been good to catch up with colleagues and industry friends.”

Wrightbus success in Ireland

With the slogan ‘destination zero’ prominent on the Wrightbus stand, it was clear the manufacturer is moving away from standard diesel vehicles. Indeed, the company no longer offers diesel vehicles without some form of hybrid system on board unless it is a Wrightbus body built on another manufacturer’s chassis. All Wrightbus integrals now feature a Micro Hybrid system as a minimum.

A 10.2m StreetLite replaced the anticipated StreetVibe on the Wrightbus stand. The vehicle was one from a major order of 88 vehicles for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in Dublin as part of a three-year framework agreement, and adorned the Transport for Ireland livery.

Some of these vehicles have already entered service with Go-Ahead Ireland, with 40 in total from the order destined for the service with the company.
Not all of the 88 vehicles are 10.2m StreetLites. Route analysis has been carried out to assess the viability of different vehicle lengths, and a number of 11.5m StreetLites form part of the 88 vehicle order.

The 88 StreetLites for NTA use a Micro Hybrid 2 system, and have bespoke interiors to house Trapeze and INIT audio-visual equipment used by Bus Eireann and Go-Ahead Ireland respectively.

“This is the first major StreetLite order for Ireland,” said Gary Kernohan, Head of Sales for UK and Ireland. “Two initial vehicles for Dublin Bus served as the catalyst.

“It’s a big success story, and the StreetLite is now the single-decker vehicle of choice for NTA.”

A second StreetLite was viewable outside the main hall – a 9.6m variant with a Micro Hybrid 3 system. This adds electronic air compressors and stop-start technology for a further fuel efficiency improvement over the Micro Hybrid 2.

The next step beyond the Micro Hybrid 3 is the HEV 96 system. This system combines the features of Micro Hybrid 3 with battery generator units to propel the vehicle in hybrid mode and regenerative braking. Wrightbus claims the HEV 96 grants a further 19% improvement in fuel efficiency on top of the 20% provided by the Micro Hybrid 3 system.

David Barnett, Business Development Director at Wrightbus, said: “The fact it is a 96V system instead of a 600V system also makes it much safer and cheaper. It is a more cost-effective system, with a lower whole life cost.

“It’s not just a saving in fuel the system offers, but also a saving in capital price, maintenance and the cost of replacement parts.”

A StreetDeck utilising this technology was displayed on the stand, destined for Translink in Northern Ireland. It is one of 28 StreetDecks delivered to the organisation in recent months.

Gary noted that the NTA has said that from July 2019, it will no longer buy vehicles with diesel only drives, and will therefore be actively trialling three HEVs in early 2019 as a precursor to an order in 2019/20.

Completing the line-up on the Wrightbus stand was its StreetDeck Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) – the same vehicle displayed at the Low Carbon Vehicle Event in September, but wearing a new demonstrator livery. Since this demonstrator was made, improvements have been made to the hydrogen system to extend the vehicle’s effective range to around 260 miles.

“The FCEV has drawn a lot of attention this year,” said David. “We’ve had many appointments made throughout the expo.

“The vehicle requires a lot less infrastructure than electric vehicles do, has a longer range and can be refueled at the depot in around seven minutes.”

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