A Customer Magazine from Volvo Bus Corporation #1 2007 On ...

A Customer Magazine from Volvo Bus Corporation #1 2007

On The Move

Clear path for BRT in Mexico City

2 ON THE MOVE #1 2007

BRT is the futurealready today Within public transport we are all facing a majorchallenge in the light of the very high concentration ofpopulation to our cities. This concentration is leading toan unsustainable situation with regard to congestion,traffic environment and inferior quality of life.

Cities that succeed in changing their infrastructureand in introducing efficient transport systems willincrease their attractiveness.

One of the most important tasks for politicians,town planners and transport companies is to create anefficient, safe and environmentally friendly transportsystem that can grow and develop together with thecity.

Here at Volvo Buses we have long experience ofworking together with cities that have created suchtransport systems. We call these systems Bus RapidTransit, or BRT.

Thanks to attractive and comfortable buses, frequentdepartures, rapid mobility and good passenger informa-tion, many people have been enticed into leaving theircar or motorcycle behind and choosing the bus instead.

In addition, BRT has the advantage that the ccost ofinvestments is considerable lower than the cost for rail-bound systems and that it is entirely feasible for the sys-tems to bear their own operating costs.

By adapting the systems to local conditions, they canbe used in all types of cities irrespective of whether it isa multi-million-inhabitant city in South America orAsia, or a smaller city in the western world.

We have all followed the debate on carbon dioxideemissions and global warming. Today both scientists andpoliticians are in agreement that we must limit emis-sions, and significantly. Here in the transport industrywe have a great responsibility to contribute to this andI am convinced that with the help of BRT, we can takea big step on the road to a cleaner world and an enhancedquality of life forthe inhabitants ofour major cities.Here at VolvoBuses we want toactively contributeto this develop-ment.

Håkan Karlsson

President & CEO

Volvo Bus

Corporation

4. Metrobús changing faces

BRT has helped improve the

socioeconomic structure of

Mexico City.

8. Gothenburg's bus revival

Since the start, passenger

numbers on the city’s trunk

bus lines has risen by 50 per

cent.

10. Wide model range

Volvo Buses has the widest

range of BRT buses on the

market.

14. In the laboratory

“One lab, many sites” is the

motto of Volvo Engine

Development Laboratories.

19. Strong aftermarket

The ambition of Volvo Buses

is to provide outstanding

service and parts availability

to the customers.

Volvo Bussar AB Address Arendal, SE-405 08 Göteborg, Sweden Telephone +46 31 66 00 00 Fax +46 31 66 60 27E-mail [email protected] Web www.volvo.se

Produced by Roxx Media Sverige, www.roxx.se Publisher Per-Martin Johansson Project Manager Mikael Svensson Advertising sales Margareta Karlsson Photo Jennifer Nemie, Anders Nilsson, Ulrika Hallin, Volvo Editor Håkan Hellström Texts Håkan Hellström, Per Andersson, Ulrika Hallin Ad originals Niclas Örnros Layout Peter Lorentzon Printer Printfabriken 2007/05

ON THE MOVE #1 2007 3

The first thingthat catchesyour eye whenarriving inMexico City isthe traffic. Laneafter lane filledwith cars. With18 millionsinhabitants thecity is a giant

and it takes hoursto travel through it.

Only some 20 per cent of the citi-zens use private vehicles, yet the city isalready completely congested and the

public transport system is about tobreak down.

Just like the English and the weather,for the citizens of Mexico City thestate of the traffic jams is what peopletalk about: choosing which route mightbe best for the next hour or two andestimating how long it will take toreach their destination.

“Facing the break down of thepublic transport system and the smogcaused by the traffic, something had tobe done”, says Adriana Lobo head ofthe NGO organisation Centro deTransporte Sustentable (CTS).

In 2002, the city government, thenheaded by Manuel López Obrador,started to plan for a change. A programof transport corridors was established,designed together with CTS. “To us itwas important to create a sustainablequality system that was faster and eco-nomically efficient.” Adriana Lobo con-tinues.

Since the Metrobús project startedit has been elections and the new citygovernment headed by Marcelo Ebrard,continues the process with enthusiasm.

>>>

Building a secure and dependable public transport system does not

only mean improved mobility. It also means renovating run down

neighbourhoods around the stations and thus improves the socio-

economic structure of the city.

BRT helps improving the face of Mexico City

Metrobús Changing faces

Future BRT projects

• An 8 kilometre long prolongation of the corridor in Avenida Insurgentes.

• 10 new corridors in Mexico City.

• 4 or 5 new corridors in the suburbs, the State of Mexico.

• In future perspective 33 corridors are planned.

• Some 15 Mexican cities are making feasibility studies for future BRT projects.

• By 2015 up to 27 of cities with more than 750,000 inhabitants will have BRT.

This means that 58 million people will have access to BRT.

• In many future projects the stations are connected with bike paths.

Adriana Lobo


Texts Ulrika HallinPhoto Ulrika Hallin, Volvo

Cost efficient, environmentally friendlyand high quality, the three demands fit-ted perfectly to the BRT (Bus RapidTransport) system. In addition the BRTsystem was fast and safe, bearing inmind both the personal safety of thepassengers and in terms of reduction oftraffic accidents. Metrobús was createdand the first corridor was inauguratedin the Avenida Insurgentes in June2005. It rapidly became an essentialpart of the city’s infrastructure. “It immediately became a success,” saysGuillermo Calderón head of Metrobús,“people feel secure, and the buses arecomfortable and fast.” The corridor ofInsurgentes is almost 20 kilometreslong and goes from Indios Verdes inthe north to Doctor Galvés in the

southern part of the city. “BeforeMetrobús it took 2 hours to travel thedistance”, says Guillermo Calderón,“With Metrobús it takes less than onhour and this improves the quality oflife for the citizens.” Mexico City has avast network of privately owned buses.There are ordinary buses and micro-buses; many of them old, badly main-tained and without exhaust emissioncontrol.

At first the drivers and the owners ofthese buses were somewhat scepticaltowards the Metrobús project and ittook 2 years to convince them of thebenefits. Now some 250 microbusesand 90 regular buses have been replacedwith 97 articulated buses, most of them

Volvo buses. The drivers work for CISA,the private company that organises thedrivers and bus owners who operate theMetrobús together with the RTP(a public transport company).

For the drivers working in theInsurgentes corridor this means goodbenefits. As the passengers pay at theentrance to the station, they don’t have to get involved in disputes withpassengers over unpaid fares, and if apassenger starts to cause trouble, thedriver contacts the Metrobús centre ofsurveillance and gets help at the nextstation.

Bus driver José Manuel Villanuevais happy with his new assignment. “I’d never go back to the old system“,

Benefits

• Since the Metrobús was inaugurated in June 2005 in

Avenida Insurgentes there is 50 per cent less benzene in

the air.

• And 30 per cent less CO2.

• Some 252 microbúses and 90 regular buses without

emission control were taken off the streets and replaced

by 97 articulated búses.

• During the rush hours 70 buses an hour leave the stations.

• The number of car accidents has reduced with 30 per cent.

• Before Metrobús it took 2 hours to travel on Insurgentes

trough the city. Now it takes 1 hour.

• Nearly 80 per cent of the passengers say the service on

Avenida Insurgentes has improved.

• 9 per cent of the passengers have left their cars at home

in favour fro the Metrobús.

Source: CTS (Centro de Transporte Sustentable).

“I’d never goback to the oldsystem, this ismuch better

and less pressurised.”

Bus driver José Manuel Villanueva


>>>

he says. ”This is much better and lesspressurised.”

With the BRT and Volvo’s telemat-ics system ITS4mobility, the controlcentre can estimate the number ofbuses needed. In the rush hour one busleaves every minute. Thanks toITS4mobility the drivers are able to seethe traffic flow. “The system also is agreat help when there’s an accident, asit helps us to see and thus solve thedisturbances faster “ says JorgeCoxtinica head of operations.

Most probably there will be connec-tions with the suburbs, the State ofMexico with its additional 10 millionsinhabitants. Currently the governmentof Mexico City plans 10 more corri-

dors in 6 years and building an exten-sion of the Insurgentes corridor isabout to start. The corridors will bespread in a network that is integratedwith the rest of the public transportsystem, such as the metro. “The BRTand Metrobús project is an opportunityfor us to recover the public spaces inthe city,” explains Raúl Quintero secre-tary of transport. ”Our aim is to changethe face of the city, to make it cleaner,safer and friendlier, as we construct thenew corridors we’ll plant trees, tear upconcrete areas to plant grass and erectsculptures.” He also explains that thegovernment wants to help the streetvendors around the bigger public trans-port stations to become establishedbusinessmen with regular stores.

“Metrobús is very much a socio-econo-mic project,” Raúl Quintero adds.

The commuter Alberto Rubio travelsfrom the suburbs to Los Indios Verdesin a regular microbús. From IndiosVerdes he can choose between theMetro and the Metrobús. “It dependson where I want to go, the Metro goesall over town, but the Metrobús isfaster.”

“People have confidence in Metrobús”,concludes Adriana Lobo, “that is reallyone of the big advantages. Metrobúsand BRT fulfil the task perfectly.”

Telephone +46 (0)532-123 60

Laser cuttingEdge bending

Welding

Laser cuttingEdge bending

Welding

Another BRT success in Mexico is

Optibús in León

The Optibús was inaugurated in 2003

and is 25 kilometres long.

Test projects exist in Puebla and Juarez.

The latter will probably cross the border

into the US city El Paso.

Jorge Coxtinica Guillermo Calderón Raúl Quintero


www.cbg.se

[email protected]

GOTHENBURG

Translation to and from all languages.Extensive network of translatorsaround the world.

Leaders in the development of language technology.Over 40 years of experience in the industry.

Specialists in translating technical documentation,

manuals, brochures, service information, contracts etc.

STOCKHOLM cbg konsult ab

Allén 6A, Box 1036

172 21 Sundbyberg

Sweden

Tel: +46-(0)8-555 845 00

cbg konsult ab

Regnbågsgatan 8A

417 55 Göteborg

Sweden

Tel: +46-(0)31-744 01 50

Leading in Scandinaviafor technical translations

Along the northern shore of GötaälvRiver, old industries from theGothenburg golden era of ship-buildingare transformed to areas of modernhousing and business clusters in media,mobile communication and automotivetechnology. When this area is fullydeveloped around 70,000 people willlive, work and study here. In order tomeet the demands of public transport,in 2003 trunk bus line 16 was initiatedby Västtrafik, the regional public trans-port company. The line extends over16 kilometres, from Högsbo to thesouth, through the central parts ofGothenburg to Eriksberg north of theGötaälv River. Since 2005 anothertrunk bus line, line 17, goes throughthe city, and by the autumn of 2007another two trunk bus lines will beintroduced.

“It was actually the upcoming two linesthat first were considered as trunk buslines, we thought that they had the big-gest potential,” says Magnus Lorentzon,

Project Manager at Västtrafik. He hasbeen involved in the introduction of alltrunk bus lines in Gothenburg, the sec-ond largest city in Sweden with a pop-ulation of almost half a million people.

The trunk bus lines of Gothenburg area typical BRT system, including highservice frequency, fewer stops, fastboarding and disembarking and newnon-stop services from termini to citycentre, university, hospital etc.

“This type of service has been discus-sed in Gothenburg since the middle ofthe 1990’s, and light rail has alwaysbeen regarded as an option” saysMagnus Lorentzon.

Trunk bus line 16 is partly opera-ting in lanes that were under considera-tion for railway use.

“At least that was a theoreticalassumption, but maybe not a solutionthat proved to be economically viable,not in the same way as the trunk buslines,” he says.

Gothenburg’s trunk bus lines 16and 17 have the unique quality ofbeing profitable public transport, mea-ning a cost coverage of more than 100per cent.

“This is much easier to achieve withthis type of bus services than railway, ifyou include the cost of infrastructureneeded for the two traffic modesrespectively,” he says.

The passenger turnout for the trunk buslines was big from the beginning, bigenough to sometimes make it difficultfor passengers to get onboard the bus atsome central stops. From southernHögsbo, where line 16 replaced existingbus services, the number of passengershas risen by some 30 per cent. Alongthe northern Götaälv shore, the increa-se is up to 75 per cent. Västtrafik hassolved the pleasant problem of growingpassenger numbers by introducing thebi-articulated, 24-metre long Volvo7500, with a capacity of 165 passen-gers, during rush hour traffic.

The blue bi-articulated Volvo bus of trunk bus line 16 cruises over

the crest of Götaälv Bridge, packed with passengers as usual during

rush hour. A city traditionally known for its trams, Gothenburg’s

new trunk bus lines have become agreat success, with an increase in

passenger numbers since the start of over 50 per cent.

Improved reputation for Gothenburg’s buses

“It is clear that the reputation of

buses has improvedin this city.”

Magnus LorentzonProject Manager at Västtrafik


Texts Per Andersson, Photo Anders Nilsson

One of the main goals of the trunk buslines has been to raise the status of busservices in central Gothenburg.

“There was a general view that thebus service in this city was somewhatvague. Now we had a chance to makeit more distinct, comparable to thetrams in terms of service frequency,passenger capacity and so on. Thetrunk buses are visible and easily recog-nisable and because they traffic the citycentre they are seen by many,” saysMagnus Lorentzon. “I think this hasplayed an important part in the successof the trunk bus lines.”

“Following the introduction of thetwo newest trunk bus lines in Augustof this year, the project will restart,” hesays. “It is probable that they will befollowed by other bus lines like them,rather then new tram lines. It is clearthat the reputation of buses has impro-ved in this city”.

The comparison between Bus Rapid Transit sys-tems (BRT) and railways are both inevitable andnecessary for making the correct decision whenchoosing an suitable public transport.

During the 5th International Bus ConferenceUITP in Bogotá, Colombia, Dario Hidalgo, PhD,Booz Allen Hamilton, presented a study thatcompared four transit alternatives in a numberof different aspects. The alternatives were busla-nes/busways, light rail/trams, heavy rail/metroand BRT.

Three important factors in comparing rail andBRT are commercial speed, passenger capacityand costs. When regular bus services are compa-red with light rail and metro, buses have muchlower capital costs, but also lower speed andlower passenger capacity than the other twoalternatives. Regarding high level BRT, eventhough the capital costs have increased, they arestill considerably lower than rail, the passengercapacity is in fact higher than light rail and evencomparable to metro, and the commercial speedis considerably higher then regular bus services. The conclusion is that BRT is able to provide themaximum value, with the lowest life cycle cost.BRT is likely to be more economical in capitalcosts and lifecycle costs both per-kilometre andper-passenger.

There are also other considerations that favourBRT compared to railway alternatives. BRT hasshort implementation times and are more likelyto make use of the local capacity of both opera-tors and industry. It is also more probable thatvehicles and operations can be covered with farebox revenues, without the need for operationalsubsidies.

Bus vs. Rail

Pho

to:

Kas

per

Dud

zik


Volvo buses have received high honours in bothFinland and India. Volvo 8700 LE was namedCommercial Vehicle of the Year 2006 in Finland,and Volvo City Bus B7RLE got the CommercialVehicle Technology of the year 2006 award inIndia.

Volvo’s low-entry bus, Volvo 8700 LE, was selec-ted by Finnish transport trade magazine Ajolinjafor its annual award, Commercial Vehicle of theYear. The honour was given for the bus model’senvironmental friendliness by low exhaust emis-sions. The 8700 LE already meets the Euro 5emissions standard, not required for buses until2009.

The bus model is also an important part ofthe new BRT system in Helsinki, an intercity buslike BRT called the Jokeri bus transit system. TheJokeri, a 30-kilometer bus line, has 29 low-entry,14.7 meter-long bogie buses in service fromVolvo, each with a capacity of 103 passengers.According to Ajolinja, the Jokeri has improvedthe cross-city connections in Helsinki and raiseda lot of positive publicity for public transport.Since the bus line has few stops, this furtherreduces the emissions.

Volvo Bus has been present in India for six yearsand in the beginning of 2006, the City Bus con-cept was introduced in Bangalore, with very posi-tive response from passengers and city transportauthorities. The Volvo City Bus B7RLE modelhas recently been introduced in the city of Pune.

The Commercial Vehicle Technology of theyear award is a collaboration between Car Indiaand Bike India magazines and TV business newschannel NDTV. The jury made the conclusionthat “Volvo City bus deserves a special recogni-tion for changing the overall outlook of commu-ters towards city travel. Volvo has paved the wayfor a modern bus system in India.”

Volvo in India supports more than 1,200buses through a network of 19 service & partscentres and a countrywide sales network.

And the winner is…

Buses used in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems all

have some common denominators: high passenger

capacity, easy access and high performance.

Volvo Buses has the widest range of BRT buses on

the market, satisfying the needs of every kind of

customer and all types of traffic environment.

“The passenger capacity of BRT buses doesn’t rely on bus lengthalone, interior bus layout is a very important factor,” saysChrister Boman, BRT Manager of Volvo Buses. “Easy boardingand disembarking is vital for maintaining a good flow of passen-gers. A flat loor layout, combined with platforms inside eachdoor, ensures fast passenger movement and short standstills atbus stops.”

Volvo provides bus models both with high floor for platformboarding or low floor for street boarding. To further improve thepassenger flow, Volvo Buses offers alternative positioning of thedoors. This is mainly due to the fact that the high reliability andperformance engines of Volvo’s buses are mid-mounted or side-mounted - optimal for city and BRT operations.

“Time tables are often very tight, and consistent speed andreability are important,” says Christer Boman. “A continuousflow of the BRT system is central for keeping the systems attrac-tive to passengers, bus operators and authorities.”

Volvo Buses –

Feeder bus

Volvo B7RLELength: 12 metres

Engine: Rear-mounted 7-litre diesel engine, 290 hp.

Low entry for easy street boarding


Texts Håkan Hellström, Photo Volvo

– A model manufacturer

Volvo High Floor

Volvo B12M

Bi-articulatedLength: 24-26.8 metres

Passenger capacity:

Up to 300 passengers

Engine: Mid-mounted 12-

litre diesel engine, 340 hp

High floor for level free

boarding.

Volvo Low Floor

Volvo B9SLFA

ArticulatedLength: 18.5 metres

Passenger capacity:


Engine: Side-mounted

9-litre diesel engine, 340 hp

Low floor for easy street

boarding

Volvo Low Floor

Volvo 7700

Bi-articulatedLength: 24 metres

Passenger capacity:


Engine: Side-mounted


Low floor for easy street

boarding

Volvo High Floor

Volvo B12M

ArticulatedLength: 18.1 metres

Passenger capacity: Up to

175 passengers

Engine: Mid-mounted


High floor for level free

boarding.


RUUKKI – your partner in component manufacturing

Ruukki is an expert in metal-based products, components and systems,

which it supplies to the construction and mechanical engineering industries.

Ruukki’s high-end expertise in steel structure design, efficient manufacturing,

as well as in product development and design, make it the ideal partner for

any machinery manufacturer.

Examples of large welded components Ruukki supplies include frames, cabin

frames and heavy duty chassis for commercial vehicles. Parts and components

used in machinery and various heavy vehicles are subjected to high dynamic

loads and wear. This means the welding in particular must satisfy stringent

quality criteria.

Customers include many leading globally-operating European companies,

such as Volvo Bus. Ruukki and Volvo Bus have been working in close cooperation

for more than 35 years. Work with Volvo Bus and other customers has helped

Ruukki evolve into a successful partner with an extensive portfolio of products

and solutions for the engineering industry.

Ruukki is continually further improving its performance to meet customer

demands on e.g. quality assurance and lead times. Ruukki’s flexible logistics

ensure accurate deliveries for customer processes.

Prototype frame for Volvo Bus bi-articulated buses.

www.ruukki.com


Arbesko launches new safety shoes withunique characteristics

Long work shifts on hard floors or physically strenu-ous tasks require professional work equipment of ahigh quality. The foot is often the very part of thebody subjected to maximum strain which is whyquality shoes are of the utmost importance. Arbeskohas been producing shoes with a focus on health andergonomics since 1952. By means of active researchthe company has successfully developed severalmodels that ease and relieve the body both at workand during leisure time. The range includes modelsthat largely suit all work groups, everybody fromhairdressers to lumberjacks.

Energy Gel Duo – Something new foranybody who does a lot of standing andwalking. One of Arbesko’s major successes throug-hout the years is Energy Gel, a gel located in theheel of the shoe designed for shock absorption andrelief. Arbesko is now developing this idea further

and is offering “double” shock absorption by meansof Energy Gel Duo, a gel that acts under both theball and the heel of the foot.“We have further developed the success of Energy

Gel – an elastic gel cushion in the heel of the shoe –and we have supplemented it with a gel plate inthe “ball” as well. The result is efficient shockabsorption both in the heel and in the front sectionof the shoe. Energy Gel Duo is particularly suitableand comfortable for anybo-dy who is stan-ding and walkingfor a long timeon hard floorswhen

working postures that include prolonged standingoften increase the strain and pressure on the frontpart of the foot”, says Peter Svensson, CommercialManager at Arbesko.

Modell 355 Model 355 is one of the new safetyshoes from Arbesko equipped with Energy GelDuo. The model is a light super-comfort shoewhich meets all conceivable needs that could ariseduring long work shifts. Equipped with the newEnergy Gel Duo, the shoe has maximum shockabsorption both in the heel and in the “ball”.In addition to the shock-absorbing functions theshoe is also equipped with aluminium toe caps formaximum safety.

For further information, visit Arbesko’s website:www.arbesko.se

Arbesko is a market leader for safety shoes and work shoes in Sweden. The company is constantly working to develop high quality ergonomic and stylish shoes that make heavy working days lighter.

Now Arbesko is taking a further step in its product development by launching a unique gel cushion which provides maximum relief and dampensthe pressure against both the heel and the ball of the foot – Energy Gel Duo.

ADVERTISEMENT

Volvo was the first bus manufacturer topresent a factory-fitted, fully integratedsolution that included both vehicle andtelematics system. It is a complete offerof hard and soft products, straight fromthe production line, and a guarantee ofhigh quality and fast commissioning forVolvo’s customers.

Volvo’s telematics system, ITS4mob-ility, is the core of the intelligent bus,as it is the technical solution that con-nects the different functions: such asautomatic vehicle location, timetable/headway adherence, two-way textmessaging, next-stop bus announce-ment, fuel consumption and serviceplanning. These functions are of greatbenefit to drivers, passengers, busoperators, traffic supervisors and publictransport planners. The intelligent busregisters, stores and continuously distri-butes detailed information about thebus, the driver and the traffic situationand makes it available at a control

centre through wireless communi-cation.

The telematics solution of VolvoBus is a module-based, real-time sys-tem and has several strong features,including full factory integration.

“As Volvo is responsible for all parts ofthe system the customer gets an opti-mised solution with all necessaryfunctions included,” says VictorCastillo, Telematics Specialist at VolvoBus. “This eliminates the need forduplication of hardware and servicesand requires less spare parts resultingin cost efficiency. The system is alsototally open and has all possibilities tobe extended with new functions andsubsystems in several steps.”

When required, the system can beretrofitted in old Volvo buses as well asother bus brands.

ITS4mobility has three main modules,namely Traffic Control, Travel

Information and Fleet Management.These are common elements in mosttelematics systems, but the integrationand inter-relation between these threeelements are unique features to VolvoBus. When buying an intelligent bus,the customer makes a one-stop shop-ping, fully integrated from factory,meaning for example that all warrantyand support issues are channelledthrough Volvo without the involvementof third parties. Furthermore, the driverenjoys of one single graphic user inter-face (i.e. display + keyboard) for mana-ging several different functions, givinghim a safer and more ergonomicworkplace environment.

“Volvo is a supplier that delivers aintelligent solution that extends wellbeyond the bus itself,” says VictorCastillo. “Our customers can sign onesingle agreement and receive a multi-functional, intelligent bus ready to beused on the day of the delivery.”

The benefits of Bus IntelligenceMany benefits of Volvo buses are obvious to all: quality, safety and

attractive, modern design. But there is a lot more to this than meets

the eye; it is the intelligent transport system of Volvo buses that truly

makes them a smarter choice.


Texts Håkan Hellström, Photo Volvo

One organisation that knows all aboutthe demands put on a modern busengine is Volvo’s Engine DevelopmentLaboratories, which performs most ofthe advanced and intensive testingnecessary for development and produc-tion of diesel engines.

“Our motto is ‘One lab, many sites’,”says Lars Hast, who is Director GlobalEngine Development Laboratories andleads the approximately 400 personsinvolved in the organisation around theworld.

The laboratories are a part of VolvoPowertrain, a business unit within theVolvo Group, the world’s largest produ-cer of heavy diesel engines.

“It is important to be big today,”says Lars Hast. “You need big resourcesto develop the advanced technologythat gives you engines with low fuelconsumption and low emissions.”

Volvo Powertrain has have laborato-ries in Gothenburg, Lyon in France,Hagerstown in the U.S., and Curitiba inBrazil. In addition there is a lab inMalmö, Sweden. The aim is that allengine labs shall work in the same way,

with the same equipment and be cor-related.”

Correlation means that any testmade in for example Gothenburg willshow the same result if it’s made thesame way in any of the other labs. Inorder to achieve this, a lot of effortgoes into calibrating and correlating allinstruments in the labs. One way ofdoing this is taking measurements of socalled master engines, with very wellknown characteristics. These enginesare circulated within the various testrooms in the laboratory, as well as bet-ween the different labs.

About 150 persons work at the enginelab in Gothenburg and many of thetests they perform are related to newregulations concerning emissions aroundthe world. Emission regulations vary alot between different countries and forexample between the EU and the US.

“Not only do the regulations vary,”says Rolf Fridén, senior advisor for theengine programs at the lab inGothenburg, “even the way to measurediffers.”

Work is under way to harmoniseemission regulations internationally, but

there is still a long way to go.“We hope that around 2012 there

will be a harmonised system for emis-sion control between the EU and theUS,” comments Rolf, who has beenworking with engine development formore than 40 years.

The lab in Gothenburg has 26 testcells where the engines are run in vary-ing cycles, depending on the aim of thetest. Computers, seeking to optimisethe engine functions under differentconditions, control most tests. In somerooms you can simulate high altitudes,in others a cold climate.

In other rooms diesel engines arebeing tested for long time wear. Thelongest test involves running an enginemore or less continuously for so longthat it corresponds to it being run in atruck or a bus for 450,000 kilometres.

“In my opinion Volvo is the worldleader in diesel engine technologytoday, but this doesn’t mean that wecan rest. We need to have a very clearstrategy for the future, to find theways, the small steps of development,to make our engines even better,” saysRolf Fridén.

There was a time when the only demand on the engine in a bus was

that it had to be powerful enough to pull the bus. Not so anymore.

Today there is an almost endless list of demands, of which the most

important concerns fuel consumption and various emissions.

Worldwide Volvo lab works onemissions and fuel consumption

Ulf Gustafsson test cell technician.

Lars Hast, Director Global Engine Development Laboratories

Product Development, Ulf Johansson, Senior planner and

Rolf Fridén, Senior Advisor engine program.


Texts Håkan Hellström

Photo Anders Nilsson

Rising demands for urban mobility in growingcities around the world is one of the biggest chal-lenges of future public transport. This challengewas one of the incentives for the InternationalAssociation of Public Transport, UITP, to launchan ambitious programme to meet the demands:The Bus System of the Future.

Last year UITP made the conclusion that thepublic transport sector faces a number of seriouschallenges for the future; one of them is urbandevelopment. In 2007 over 50 per cent of theearth’s population will live in cities, by 2015 thisfigure will be 60 per cent; a fact that makes iteasy to predict a big rise in the demands ofpublic transport. Not to take these challengesserious could result in heavy losses in publictransport, severe congestion and a deterioratingpublic infrastructure, according to UITP. Theyalso see the immediate answer to avoid this, thedevelopment of sustainable transport solutionsthat can grow and evolve with the city.

This UITP initiative has resulted in a researchproject in the European Union Transport WorkProgramme, the European Bus System of theFuture. The project involves vehicle manufactu-rers such as Volvo, operators, public authorities,research organisations and user groups. The aimof the research is to develop an innovative, highquality bus system that will demonstrate the fullpotential of urban bus networks, using cleanvehicle technologies. The project outcome willbe the design and validation of a new generationof urban bus system that will stimulate Europeancities to deploy new bus lines making publictransport more attractive.

Research on the bus systemof the future


Our new high performance, cost saving, low-VOC topcoat.www.sikkenscv.com

Sikkens new Autocoat BT LV351 Topcoatmeans go, go, go for CV paintshops

Sikkens Autocoat® BT – Experts working with professionals

GL BROCHURE EMEA.indd 1 25-04-2007 16:30:56

Ind

ust

ry

SikaTack®-MOVE Transportation

Your best choice for the replacement of windshields, side and rear windows on buses, coaches and trucks.

Fully compatible with original product

Short Safe Drive-Away Time

Suitable for bonding and gap filling, UV-resistant

One-component, cold-applied, primerless

Excellent non-sag properties

Optimal open time

Environment-friendly 600ml unipack

Sika Services AG, Tüffenwies 16, CH-8048 Zürich, Switzerland, www.sika.com

corrosion protection – sound insulationasphalt products – wood preservative – pine tar

Quality and tradition since 1928

Auson AB Verkstadsgatan 3, SE-434 42 Kungsbacka, SwedenPhone +46 (0)300-56 20 00 • www.auson.se

Jan Suomela is Parts Manager atSwebus in Botkyrka and one of thecrew responsible for keeping the 130Volvo buses in operation. Every weekscheduled deliveries of Volvo originalspare parts arrives at the parts storage.In addition, several deliveries per dayfrom Volvo Bus Center provide for thespare parts needed when a bus hasmalfunctioned.

“I get the spare parts usually on thesame day or the next day after theorder is made,” says Jan Suomela.“High availability of spare parts is cruci-al since a bus out of operation will getimmediate consequences for the busservices. The production goals ofSwebus could not be possible to reachwithout constant, fast access to spareparts.”

Jan Suomela has worked at Swebussince 1977 and has had contact withVolvo Bus Center in Huddinge for thelast 15 years.

“They provide very good service, wehave had excellent contact over theyears. Volvo’s electronic catalogue sys-tem for spare parts really simplifies theordering.”

Swebus AB is one of the leadingpublic transport companies in Sweden,responsible for about 30 per cent ofthe country’s total amount of publicbus transport. Swebus has about 2,700buses and 7,000 employees.

The ambition of Volvo Bus is not onlyto offer the best products on the mar-ket; it is also to provide the customersoutstanding service and parts availabili-ty, with fast and reliable distribution.This will guarantee Volvo’s customersthe highest vehicle uptime possible.Even though the local organisation mayvary, the ambition is global. Volvo BusCenter in Huddinge, just south of theSwedish capital of Stockholm, providesservice and spare parts for regional cus-tomers of Volvo Bus.

”Our customers are either operating inStockholm or visiting the city,” saysLennart Klang, Service Manager atVolvo Bus Center. “It doesn’t matterwho the client is, the requirements arealways the same; if there is a problemit should have been fixed already yes-terday. Not to be able to take care of aproblem due to the lack of spare parts,or any other reason, will give us a greatdeal of bad will. This makes parts avai-lability extremely important.”

Volvo Bus Center receives dailydeliveries of spare parts from Volvo’sproduction facilities and central ware-houses.

“The goal is to supply 96 per centof all chassis related spare parts within24 hours,” says Björn Winell, PartsManager at Volvo Bus Center. “This isa goal we are very close to achievingtoday.”

An important part of the Volvo offer

Early Monday morning is hectic as usual at the

Swebus facility in Botkyrka, south of Stockholm.

Buses are getting ready for the fast pace and high

demands of coming rush hour traffic. A bus not

fit for fight could mean one or several cancelled

trips during the day. If the list of reported pro-

blems over the weekend are longer than usual, the

availability of spare parts could play a decisive

role if this will be a day of chaos or not.

Jan Suomela, Parts

Manager at Swebus

in Botkyrka

Texts Håkan Hellström, Photo Jennifer Nemie

A Customer Magazine from Volvo Bus Corporation #1 2007 On ...

Documents

Transcript of A Customer Magazine from Volvo Bus Corporation #1 2007 On ...