ABC is the leading bus and coach publication in Australia, providing operators with vital information and market intelligence to help them keep their BUSiness moving. ABC is the major source of vehicle and equipment classifieds for the industry.
I’m having trouble recalling the name of this legendary, world-famous poet – who probably penned such insightful, wondrous musings circa 3.30am on their top-floor balcony under the stars, with a couple of G&Ts under the belt as an amber-embered dart’s end sears slowly like a beacon of sanity through the night – but they might just be right. Firstly, massive condolences to the families and friends of the thousands around the world who have thus far lost their lives to this horrible Covid-19 coronavirus, particularly those doctors, nurses and other health professionals right on the frontline of this thing. Secondly, having followed this topic since it started given its ‘origins’ and how it affected product supply lines and now its ability to affect the very nature of human interaction… well,…
RECENT FINDINGS from a university report is needlessly causing dismay about electric vehicles, their “silent” operation and the potential for pedestrian impacts, according to a specialist in EV impact-prevention technology. Technology has been around for many years that ‘could’ mitigate this risk such as having an external pedestrian alert function activated, says Clive Rogers, managing director of Fleetsafe, which promotes a technology called Mobileye. Using machine vision the technology detects and classifies vulnerable road users – pedestrians and cyclists, he explains. It can, at that point, trigger an external audible device to notify the pedestrian that a vehicle is approaching. Should the pedestrian continue on a path that would result in an imminent collision, the system will issue an audible alert to the driver to take action and prevent the…
COVID-19 (more commonly referred to by its generic term ‘coronavirus’) was discussed by the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) at an Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) teleconference on March 6. Industry insiders confirm to ABC magazine (www.busnews.com.au) that the ACCI called the tele-conference with its members to consider what responses each entity could make to minimise any possible impact of the virus. BIC has long argued that public transport is an essential service and this might now be tested as the country heads into unchartered waters regarding the impacts of the virus, sources state. The topic will also be discussed at the BIC’s upcoming Industrial Working Group in Canberra on Wednesday, March 25, to consider the terms and conditions of a new Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award 2020, affecting up…
CNH INDUSTRIAL – the European parent company of Iveco Bus – has “intensified measures to address the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak” and, where necessary, will temporarily close Italian production facilities, it’s been announced. According to the company, during this time additional safety measures will be implemented and these protocols will be applied across all CNH Industrial´s manufacturing sites should conditions require, it confirms. This will enable the company to continue to provide all employees with a safe working environment, whilst managing production volumes accordingly, it states. This decision comes at a time when Italy as a whole is now in a quarantine lockdown, with CNH Industrial stating it has “expanded its already extensive measures to ensure a safe working environment for its employees in light of the Covid-19 emergency”. The company…
CHINESE BUS manufacturing giant King Long has a new local bus and coach distributor for the Australian market. With outlets based at both Rocklea in Brisbane and Epping in Melbourne, Bus Stop Sales and Service has been appointed as distributor for one of the largest bus and coach builders in the world. Bus Stop Sales and Service dealer-principal Pete White says his company’s primary focus is to deliver quality buses to its customers with exceptional after-sales support. “The King Long product range is no stranger to Australian roads with a proven history spanning more than 12 years in a variety of operating environments,” said White. “The decision to replace our existing brand with King Long was not an easy one; however, it was necessary to meet the company’s longer-term strategy…
DAIMLER’s MB eCitaro has become the first fully electric city bus to win the German Government’s coveted ‘Blue Angel’ award for environmental friendliness, the company reports, recently. Awarded by independent institutions for more than 40 years, the Blue Angel (Blauer Engel) label proves the eCitaro’s environmental friendliness and the “exemplary path it is taking towards locally emission-free local public transport” according to Mercedes-Benz. It confirms the eCitaro is the first fully electric city bus entitled to bear this environmental label, with the first three bearing this prized sticker now in service with operator Jenaer Nahverkehr GmbH, in the Germany university city of Jena. The company operates local public transport in the Free State of Thuringian, with a fleet including 43 city buses on 13 routes. The three eCitaros form the…
