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“Out on the patio, we’d sit. And the humidity, we’d sneeze. “Doo doo dodo dododo, crack over cane fields, “Laugh and think, this is, Australia–errrr…” – (or something like that?) Gangabang? Why does the name Gangabang come to mind? Anyway, whatever it was that triggered that song off in my head, it seems mightily appropriate given where I am right now, which has imbued me with an even greater appreciation of the big brown land we happenen to be living on, this side of the planet. Ah, sugar cane! That’s it! That was the trigger, I’m sure. You see, by the time you read this, many of you – like me – will have returned home to our distant humble abodes somewhere else in Australia or New Zealand (our possibly…
“Many remain in operation today, even after 20 years and millions of kilometres.” MORE THAN 30 YEARS since it was launched into the Australian bus market, the Volvo B10M has proven itself a veteran of numerous operator fleets and its ‘DNA’ is in modern Volvo buses rolling off assembly lines today, according to Volvo Buses Australia. The Volvo B10M illustrates certain key qualities of the brand, it says, which is celebrating ’90 years of innovation’ in 2018. The Volvo B10M is no longer in production, but modern Volvo buses rolling off its assembly lines today share the same DNA, the company says. A GREAT AMBASSADOR Many Volvo bus models have rolled off the production line since their introduction in 1928, each “finding their way into the hearts of customers”, says…
IN A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT that should affect electric and automated bus and truck production and driveability globally, Daimler has entered into a new partnership with North American electric-bus powerhouse Proterra Inc., it was announced at the 2018 67th IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover, Germany. The deal is reported to be worth up to USD$155 million from investors Daimler, Tao Capital Partners G2VP and others. In an investment move said to underscore commitment to electrification of commercial vehicles, Daimler Board member and head of its Trucks and Buses divisions, Martin Daum, said: “We started working on electric trucks and buses at a very early stage and we aim to set the standards here in each relevant segment. “We expect the cooperation with Proterra to deliver additional impetus for the development…
“Wales Bus Repairs has been recognised as the largest, most up-to-date bus repair operation in Australia.” WESTERN SYDNEY-BASED Wales Bus Repairs has won the prestigious ‘Excellence in Small Business’ award at a gala event held at Sydney’s Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, officiated at by The Hon. Gladys Berejiklian, premier of New South Wales, and Luke Foley MP, shadow minister for Western Sydney and leader of the opposition, it’s reported recently. On Friday September 21, more than 700 of Western Sydney’s most influential business leaders and professionals flooded into the venue to attend the 28th annual Western Sydney Awards for Business Excellence (WSABE). More than 300 entries for various categories toughed it out, with Wales Bus Repairs claiming the highly sought-after ‘Excellence in Small Business’ award from an elite and highly contested…
PLANS TO BRING the world’s first fleet of fuel cell trucks into commercial operation has energised a review of Hyundai’s aim to mass produce fuel cell buses by 2020, according to information issued at the 2018 67th IAA Commercial Vehicles show, in Hannover, Germany in September. Hyundai Motor Company affirmed it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Swiss hydrogen company H2 Energy (H2E). Beginning in 2019 and over a five-year period Hyundai Motor and H2 Energy will provide 1,000 heavy-duty fuel cell electric trucks and an adequate supply chain for renewable hydrogen, the company says – the latter key for commercial vehicle use in general, including buses. The new fuel cell electric trucks are expected to travel a range of approximately 400km in real-life driving conditions, it’s…
“Together, we will be able to shape the ongoing transformation of transportation.” RE-NAMED VW transport group Traton AG and Hino Motors Ltd have further solidified their recently announced strategic partnership by “joining forces” in e-mobility and plan to establish a procurement joint venture. Traton (pronounced ‘Tray-ton’) – Germany’s newly branded Volkswagen Truck and Bus entity, which also includes Scania and MAN commercial vehicles – together with Japan’s Hino originally entered into a strategic partnership on April 12, 2018, to benefit “customers, society, and both partners,” they stated. Since this agreement, both companies have established working-level committees and explored cooperation opportunities in existing and new technologies, as well as in procurement, the companies report. The strategic initiatives announced today are a result of these evaluations, they say. Yoshio Shimo, president and…
