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Volvo 7700 Hybrid: Volvo's first CNG bus made its debut a few months ago when the Delhi Transport Corporation took up the scheme to test these buses. Now, the luxury-bus maker has gone a step ahead, as it has unveiled the 7700 Hybrid bus at the 2012 Auto Expo.
The Volvo 7700 Hybrid is a commercially-produced bus model, which has been on sale in the international market for the last few years. The fuel savings and reliability of the 7700 has already been proven in commercial operation. Volvo claims that its hybrid technology is probably the most versatile driveline solution when it comes to combining environmental improvement with performance, economy and uptime.
Force Traveller: Force Motors Limited showcased the Traveller-26 which is India’s largest monocoque van and is also made entirely from high strength, pressed steel body parts, welded in a robotic environment. The new Traveller is powered by a 2.2-litre Daimler engine that churns out 130bhp of power and a maximum torque of 295Nm.
The vehicle offers many first in class features that include power to weight ratio, best-in class fuel efficiency. The Traveller 26 comes with front disc brakes and brake pad wear-out indicators. The new Traveller – 26 is also offered in a 15 seater super luxury version. This mini coach has reclining seats with tray tables, factory fitted ducted air conditioning with individual A/C ventilators, and best in class leg room.
Tata Starbus Fuel Cell: The Tata Starbus, which is the new city bus has been around for quite a while. Now, Tata plans to go green with this bus, as it unveiled the Tata Starbus Fuel Cell Concept. This concept bus is another Tata Motors initiative to promote alternate green fuels. This Fuel Cell concept has been developed with support from the Government of India's Department of Scientific and Industrial Research under the Technology Development & Demonstration Programme.
In fuel cell technology, hydrogen is stored in compressed form. It combines with oxygen to generate electricity which in turn charges a battery to power the vehicle's motor, emitting only water vapour. This mechanism involves a fuel cell with gross peak power of 114bhp, coupled with a motor with the peak power output of 250bhp with motor speed from 600rpm to 2100rpm and a maximum torque of 1050Nm at 800rpm. The maximum speed of the bus is 70kmph and gradeability is 17%, which is very suitable for city application.
Ashok Leyland Jan Bus: Ashok Leyland launched the Jan Bus, which is the first low floor bus with a front mounted engine and has five doors for ease of movement with separate space for luggage. The bus has been designed by keeping in mind the Bus Rapid Transit System.
The Jan Bus will be available in diesel or CNG engines with BS-IV and BS-III variants and to further increase the options, it will be available with and without air-conditioning units. The CNG variant will get a turbocharged BSIV compliant MPFI engine that churns out 235bhp powering the wheels through an automated manual transmission. The Jan Bus gets an air suspension for softer ride, infotainment saystem for the occupants and driver assists.
Force Traveller Hybrid: Force motors had displayed a concept vehicle, the ‘Traveller Hybrid’ which as the name suggests is a hybrid. This concept car gets the same 2.2-litre engine along with a solar panel on its roof. The Traveller Hybrid will get an e-motor which will be powered by the solar panel on the roof and the regenerative brake forces. The wheels won't be turned alone by the energy saved by the solar panel, and the engine has to be cranked for the vehicle to get going.
The revolutionary onboard energy harvesting technology integration has been carried out in partnership with Ricardo PLC and Locomotive Technologies Ltd, UK, for the very first time in the world. This technology, teamed with regenerative braking and waste exhaust heat generation, enables customers to travel up to 23 pollution free kilometres on 200 sunny days a year and reduce fuel costs by approximately 30% annually.
