A new cover for bus air-conditioning (A/C) systems made using natural fibre composite technology was unveiled at Busworld last month: the ampliTex technical fabric was supplied by Swiss company, Bcomp.

At the show, Schunk demonstrated its latest products from the SLS range of pantographs and presented a new ‘Underbody Charger System’.

At its stand, Webasto presented a mock-up of a passenger shuttle “installed” with components from its wide portfolio of electrical products.

The vehicle showcased at Busworld (called the ‘E-Civitas’) was based on a Volkswagen ‘Crafter, while the new flooring concept, called ‘Triflex Air 2.0 Flooring System’, is based on a structure made of aluminium and composites.

Elinta Motors’ electric drive system, which integrates the motor and transmission in a single package, comes in two configurations: a 400-volt product and an 800-volt one.

Telma’s retarders for commercial vehicles do not use drag force from brake pads to slow the vehicle down; instead, they are “induction” or “eddy current” brakes which use electromagnetism to dissipate the kinetic energy as heat, thus slowing the vehicle down without any friction.

The ‘City 45 Electric’, based on the Mercedes ‘Sprinter’ van, is a 7.4-metre vehicle with seating for up to 20 passengers.

The steering concepts have been developed over three years in response to a survey of bus drivers conducted by the RMT, which found that 78% of drivers surveyed said that their work causes them back pain, shoulder pain, and/or neck pain.

TAM’s battery electric city bus range, called ‘Véro’, is available in 7 metres and 10 metres.

Developed in collaboration with fellow German company Trailer Dynamics, Krone will present its new eTrailer, equipped with an electrified eAxle that recovers braking energy through recuperation, reducing the consumption of diesel and therefore the amount of CO2 produced.

The company displayed its new electric eBreeze HVAC system which is 20% lighter and requires 40% less refrigerant gas to operate than previous electric ranges.

The company showcased its modular DC fast charger designed to maximise charging capacity and distribution, increasing the available kilowatts at deports.