WINTER TIRES FOR BUSES: M+S ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH
Continental has developed a special winter tire for buses that — when fitted all-round — ensures a major gain in safety. “These latest innovations are based on our many years of experience with winter tires,” says Bernd Korte, Vice President Product Development & Industrialization. Unlike summer tires for cars, modern premium tires for commercial vehicles are also suited to mud and snow — or “M+S” for short.
MAHINDRA AND NAVISTAR WORKING ON NEW ENGINE AND BUS
Mahindra Navistar (MNAL), the joint venture between Mahindra & Mahindra and Navistar, has said that it is working on a new, smaller four-cylinder diesel engine. This is in line with its plans to enter the inter-city luxury bus segment – the new engine would be used in these vehicles, as reports in the Indian press suggest.
YUTONG HYBRID BUS USES MAXWELL ULTRACAPS
Zhengzhou Yutong Bus (Yutong), China's largest bus manufacturer, has selected Maxwell ultracapacitors for energy storage and power delivery in diesel-electric hybrid buses that Yutong is producing for public transit agencies worldwide. Yutong's hybrid drive system incorporates 16 of Maxwell's 48V ultracapacitor modules to support braking energy recuperation and torque assist functions that enable hybrid transit buses to achieve fuel savings and CO2 emission reduction of approximately 25% and reduce particulate emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional diesel buses.
SP FIRE RECHNOLOGY TO TEST FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS
The Swedish institute SP Fire Technology is running a project to develop a new method to test the efficiency of fire suppression systems intended for engine compartments of buses and coaches. The Swedish Transport Agency is one of the funding sources of the project, the target of which is to submit a proposal for a standard in April 2012 at the UN Safety Group for Vehicles (GRSG) in Geneva.
MICHELIN/DOUBLE COIN JOINT VENTURE INCREASES CHINESE TYRE CAPACITY
Tyre manufacturers Michelin and Double Coin have entered into a China-based tyre production joint venture. The new joint venture run plant is already being built and is expected to cost approximately 390 million euros. The analysts also confirmed earlier reports that the factory will have a capacity of 15 million units annually. For the time being the agreement remains subject to approval by the appropriate Chinese authorities.
