Busworld 2019 in Brussels. The biggest ever!
Busworld 2019 for the first time in Brussells. The European edition of the most important bus & coach exhibition will debut this year in the Belgian (and European) capital city from 18 to 23 October. With a growth of 50% in net exhibition surface, going from 40,000 sqm to 60,000 sqm, it is expected to be […]
Busworld 2019 for the first time in Brussells. The European edition of the most important bus & coach exhibition will debut this year in the Belgian (and European) capital city from 18 to 23 October. With a growth of 50% in net exhibition surface, going from 40,000 sqm to 60,000 sqm, it is expected to be the biggest edition ever.
Busworld 2019 from 18 to 23 October 2019
The full exhibitor list of Busworld Europe 2019 can be consulted on the website www.busworldeurope.org. In conjunction with the Busworld exhibition, the ‘International Bus Conference’ – a collaboration between UITP and Busworld Academy – will open its doors in Brussels from 21 to 23 October 2019 on the same premises. More information is available on the website www.busconference.com.
Sustainable Bus Award 2020, the winners to be announced in Brussels
In the framework of Busworld 2019 it will be also held the handover ceremony of Sustainable Bus Award 2020. Nine vehicles were shortlisted for the final stage, three for each category (Urban, Intercity and Coach). The Urban section has been reconfirmed as an “electric bus only” land. Among city buses, indeed, the challenge will be between three battery electric vehicles: Mercedes eCitaro, Irizar ie tram and Heuliez GX 437 Elec. Last year the award was delivered to a trolleybus, the Iveco Crealis In Motion Charging.
Solaris at Busworld with new batteries and safety systems
Solaris is going to present three emission-free vehicles at the Busworld exhibition: Urbino 12 hydrogen, Urbino 18 electric and the battery trolleybus Trollino 24. What is more, Busworld Europe 2019 will see the showcase of the new battery Solaris High Energy +, that allow a maximum capacity of 550 kWh on the articulated bus.
The Solaris Urbino 18 electric for Busworld will feature a series of advanced safety systems. The bus will be equipped with the CMS (Collision Mitigation System). When a radar installed in a bus detects the risk of a potential head-on collision, the system goes into braking mode, reducing velocity and thus alleviating the consequences of a potential collision. The 18-meter Solaris features also cameras (in place of side mirrors) that ensure improved visibility not only in bright sunlight, but also during rain or snowfall, as well as at night. This new solution is already available for the whole Urbino family.
The forum “Solaris talks”
The Polish manufacturer (part of CAF group) will finally promote the forum “Solaris Talks“, which will take place every day of the fairs at the Solaris stand in Hall 5. As part of “Solaris Talks” the manufacturer will share its experience and information about its products, but also invite to talk about modern technologies used in the area of e-mobility and the changing image of public transport. The topics of short presentations opening the discussion will concern, among others types and selection of batteries, charging systems for buses and trolleybuses, hydrogen vehicles or remote diagnosis for electric buses.
Van Hool at Busworld 2019 with hydrogen BRT bus
The domestic manufacturer Van Hool, based in Belgium, will showcase at Busworld 2019 an hydrogen BRT bus and an electric coach for US market, plus a new variant of the EX coach that features a lenght of 11 meter (the shorter in the gamma). The articulated Van Hool Exqui.City FC, hydrogen powered, is almost ready to start operations in the French city of Pau as part of the first hydrogen BRT line in the world. It can carry 125 passengers. The vehicle needs 10 minutes to refuel, and has a range of 300 km, says the manufacturer.
As mentioned above, at Busworld 2019 in Brussels Van Hool will also present the CX45E, an electric coach for the North American market. As a supplier of battery modules, Van Hool has chosen Proterra, a US based manufacturer of battery technology for heavy vehicles (as well as complete buses).
Volvo: the electric articulated bus is reality
At Busworld Volvo Buses will unveil for the first time its new electric articulated bus (tested in Gothenburg since about a year after the unveiling on June 2018) in a commercial configuration. The Volvo 7900 Electric Articulated, carries up to 150 passengers. The vehicle has also been displayed at UITP Summit 2019 in Stockholm.
MAN: Lion’s City E and electric minibus
MAN announced in July a couple of premieres that will be presented at Busworld 2019. In Brussels, the curtain will be raised on the MAN Lion’s City 19 and on the MAN eTGE electric minibus. It was announced at the pre-Busworld press conference in Munich. The Lion’s Intercity equipped with the D15 engine and the MAN TGE City will also be soon ‘baptized’.
It is worth mentioning that MAN’s stand at Busworld 2019 will also host the electric MAN Lion’s City E at the Busworld, which will soon be handed over to Hamburg operator VHH for a real condition pilot. Several units will circulate during the next year in various cities, in a pilot phase that will lead, in the second half of 2020, to the start of mass production of the electric bus in the Polish plant of Starakhowice. That is being prepared for the new task…
Daimler Buses at Busworld 2019. eCitaro on top
Daimler Buses puts its electric bus eCitaro in the spotlight at Busworld 2019. Eight buses and coaches will be showcased by Mercedes and Setra from 18th to 23rd October in Brussels. The Busworld will also be the occasion for the world premiere of the new Sprinter Travel 75. The manufacturer will present a total of eight buses between Mercedes and Setra brands.
Mercedes will bring to Busworld the Intouro, which is characterized by its versatility, and the coach Tourismo 15 RHD. The new Sprinter Travel 75 will be presented as a world premiere. With its capacity of 21+1 seats obtained thanks to a new axle with high load capacity, it sets a new standard in the field of touring minibuses.
Setra will show the MultiClass S 415 LE business, the double decker Setra TopClass S 531 DT, the high-floor coaches Setra ComfortClass S 515 HD and Setra TopClass S 516 HDH.
Yutong and BYD at Busworld
At Busworld Yutong will hold the unveiling ceremony of the battery electric bus Yutong U12. Three vehicles will be displayed by the Chinese manufacturer: together with the U12 there will be room for the T13 and the ICe12. The latter is in operation on the Flixbus line between Paris and Amiens, in France, in the framework of one of the first pilots of electric bus on long distance lines in Europe.
BYD will be exhibiting in Brussesl the best-selling 12-metre and 8.7-metre pure electric electric buses, with brand new exterior and interior designs.
Irizar at Busworld 2019 with hybrid and electric buses
In a 2.000 square metre stand where Irizar and Irizar e-mobility will coexist, six latest generation vehicles will be on display at Busworld 2019: two Irizar brand integral coaches (i8 and 6S), two hybrid vehicles (the new i4 and i3) and two electric buses (the new ie bus and tram). Ten Irizar ie tram are in operation on the new electric BRT line launched by Keolis in French Basque Country at the beginning of September. Earlier this year, still in France, Keolis launched a similar system in Amiens, also operated with Irizar electric vehicles.
CaetanoBus hydrogen powered
CaetanoBus will showcase the hydrogen bus (developed with Toyota technology) at Busworld 2019 in Brussels. Named H2.City Gold, the fuel cell bus is an addition to the clean bus portfolio of the Portoguese manufacturer, that already includes the battery electric buse.City Gold and the chassis eCC 100.
The showcase of electric bus Ebusco 3.0
Ebusco will take to Brussels its third generation electric bus, launched on 10th October. The Ebusco 3.0 is supposed to have a range of up to 500 km with one charge. Thanks mainly to the weight reduction of one third: the 12 meter bus reaches 8.530 kg. 90 persone are welcomed on board. Batteries are all placed in the floor. Start of series production in Deurne (NL) is scheduled to begin in mid-2020. Ebusco points out to have developed the new model for production in large numbers (not specified). From the beginning of next year, Stadtwerke München will test two units.
ViriCiti to launch a mixed fleet monitoring system
Busworld Brussels 2019 is also the place chosen by telematics company ViriCiti for the launch of the “Mixed fleet” platform for fleet monitoring.
The system has been jointly developed with public transport company Qbuzz Netherlands, according to the needs of the carrier, who operates as many as 430 buses (diesel, electric and hydrogen) in Groningen and Drenthe concession.
Akasol, a full of premieres in Brussels
Akasol will attend Busworld 2019 in Brussels showcasing the new high energy solution AKASystem AKM CYC, whose series production is expected to start in 2021. Brussels exhibition will also be the place where the fuel cell solution AKASystem OEM PRC will be launched: 50 demo vehicles will be in operation from 2020 onwards. Finally, the 48V solution AKARack for hybrid and all-electric applications will see the light at Busworld.
According to battery supplier Akasol, the one chosen by Mercedes for the eCitaro and by Volvo for the 7900 Electric, «the European market for hybrid and electric buses is forecast to grow by more than 26% annually».
Cummins focusing on electrified powertrains…
Cummins is going to unveil at Busworld 2019 a new low profile battery module designed for 9 meter ebuses. Future Cummins product roadmap is focused on electrified powertrains and includes an electric drive system which combines motor, transmission and inverter in one unit.
At the show, Cummins announced it will highlight the new low-profile battery, designed for the European market, but available for use in other markets, which measures under 140mm in height. This product, Cummins points out, will enable OEMs to meet European low floor requirements while maintaining a low centre of gravity and maximising utilisation of unoccupied space. To be offered as part of a broader modular platform, the new low-profile battery uses the latest cell technology to deliver high energy density and packaging efficiency.
…but also a new bus gas engine is coming
The Cummins L9N natural gas bus engine, the company claims, have achieved close-to-zero emission levels of Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Particulate Matter (PM), substantially below that of the Euro VI standard. This leap forward in clean, natural gas engine technology leads the way for high passenger capacity 12-to-18 metre buses to help improve air quality and lower the carbon footprint of fleets.
The L9N engine is available with a 280 hp (209 kW) and 320 hp (239 kW) rating meeting the power requirements of full-size single-deckers, articulated rapid transit buses and short-range intercity buses.
The L9N puts fleets on the path to decarbonization by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by around 15 percent lower than an equivalent diesel engine, saving several tons of CO2 annually per bus when running on either compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquified natural gas (LNG). Bus sociability is also improved with the much quieter running of a natural gas engine.
Heliox and the battery integrated charging station
Dutch company Heliox, charging infrastructure supplier, will take the chance of Busworld 2019 to present the SprintCharge, that the company claims to be the world’s first battery integrated opportunity charging station for ebuses and etrucks. The infrastructure has been pre-launched at UITP Summit in Stockholm. In Brussels it’ll be the time for the official launch.
SprintCharge has been jointly developed by Heliox and the Australian startup InvertedPower. It represents a new generation of smart charging stations which include a stationary battery for storage to enable the high power “sprints” of charging power required for opportunity charging.
