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| The new Elite i at the NEC today. (click picture to enlarge) |
The Elite i provides 23 per cent more seats than a standard 15m vehicle, which means that an operator will require up to 19 per cent less vehicle movements to transport 1,000 passengers. “The Elite i caters for a niche market but our strength lies not just in our ability to respond to major product developments like this, but in working with all of our customers, being able to tailor individual vehicles to meet the demanding requirements of the market place,” says Kevin Wood of Plaxton.
In developing the new model, Plaxton had to take into account the new European Whole Vehicle Type Approval system. The requirements of EWVTA would have meant that the existing 15m platform would have had capacity reduced from 65 to 61 seats and the brief for the new interdeck product was to ensure that it had at least 65 seats; a target that it exceeded comfortably.
Also on display for the first time is The new Enviro500 which has been designed as a fully integrated product with styling brought closer to the two-axle Enviro400, which is also operating in Hong Kong with further vehicles ordered for KMB and Citybus.
The three-axle Enviro500 has been extensively redesigned to reduce weight and deliver improved fuel economy of up to 10 per cent compared to the previous model, while providing greater commonality of parts with the Enviro400.
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A new Square-Case staircase which maximises capacity to provide a total of 90 seats - 59 upstairs and 31 in the lower saloon plus 46 standees and a wheelchair space. The slope in the lower saloon has also been reduced from 6 to 3.5 degrees, enabling a conventional rear five-seat cushion to replace the previous cut-down squab, and a 90mm increase in lower saloon rear headroom.
The fuel tank has been relocated under the staircase, and reduced to 350l capacity in view of the improved fuel economy, and the battery compartment placed at the nearside rear which ADL says reduces cable runs (and weight) and improves starting efficiency.
KMB is taking 220 of the new Enviro500 models at 12m, including 22 airport versions with 85 seats. Meanwhile the Citybus order includes 156 new Enviro500s, with 49 at 11.3m and 107 at 12m, with 66 of the longer buses being airport specials with 76 seats. MTRC is taking six new Enviro 500s at 11.3m, and 28 are going to New World First Bus. KMB is also taking 50 Enviro 400s and 11 Enviro200s, and Citybus is also taking 20 Enviro400s.
In the North American market, ADL is delivering the first of its new Lo-Height Enviro500s which have adopted an Enviro400-style front end, with overall height reduced to 13’7’’ from the previous 14’, but with upper deck headroom maintained at 5’7’’, and more than 6’ headroom in the flat floor area of the lower saloon.
The first 30 of an order for 75 started service in Ottowa for OC Transpo last month and the remainder will be delivered by March 2013. The first of 25 for Go Transit in Toronto are now being delivered with the balance in service by early next year.
The driver’s cab has been lowered by 120mm in the redesign and the batteries and fuel tank relocated, with luggage capacity of 4.2 cu m.
Looking to the future, the next major project is a complete overhaul of ADL’s flagship Enviro400 double-deck product for the UK market. Plaxton says the company is aiming to “raise the bar” with a focus on fuel efficiency, reliability, maintainability and whole life costs. The new model will be available late next year to coincide with the introduction of Euro 6.
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| Wheelchair users can access the Elite i coach via ramps to the front entrance, where there is a wheelchair bay. |
More pictures from EuroBus Expo tomorrow at 7.30am
