Hunters Executive Coaches adds first of two Plaxton Panthers
Hunters Executive Coaches of Tullibody had taken delivery of the first of two new Plaxton Panthers to join its fleet in 2022. The coach is built on a Volvo B8R chassis and it has been supplied by Alexander Dennis.
53 seats are fitted along with a centre sunken toilet. Other passenger amenities include USB charging points along with a DVD player and radio.
The Clackmannanshire operator is run by John Hunter and his daughter and fellow Director Julie Jack. Ms Jack says: “We are delighted to add another high quality, comfortable coach to our fleet. We are committed to providing the best possible service and vehicles to our customers and this new coach will further help us to achieve that.”
Adds Alexander Dennis Senior Regional Sales Manager Charlie Miller: “It has been great working with John, Julie and the team to deliver another fantastic coach for their fleet. We have a second to deliver to the business soon and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”
Weardale Travel takes delivery of Irizar i6S integral
Weardale Travel has taken delivery of an Irizar i6S integral. It is the fifth coach to be supplied to the Bishop Auckland operator by Irizar UK.
The new tri-axle is 13.2m long and it has 53 i6 Plus seats that come with synthetic leather headrests, panels and piping, drop down tables, footrests, magazine holders and a double USB socket at each pair.
Entertainment is from a Bosch Smart System DAB radio, CD player and PA coupled to Actia twin monitors. The coach also has a Hispacold climate control system that incorporates an Eco3 air purification unit.
Eco3 provides ions and ozone in the correct proportion to disinfect the air circulating within the interior. The unit has additional benefits of removing odours and raising oxygen levels, which Irizar UK says reduces the risk of driver fatigue.
DAF’s MX-13 engine developing 480bhp provides power, driving via a ZF Traxon 12-speed automated manual gearbox. The dealership says that the length of the coach when combined with a steering ZF rear axle allows it to access tight spaces when required.
Van Hool A-range of ZE buses to be offered in UK
Van Hool will make its newly unveiled A range of zero-emission single-deck buses available in the UK market, a spokesperson has confirmed.
The modular platform has been launched in battery-electric format, and the manufacturer will follow that with hydrogen fuel cell-electric power. A trolleybus variant completes the line-up, which will be available at nominal lengths of 12, 13, 18 and 24m.
A 12.2m A12 in left-hand drive three-door format with battery-electric power was displayed at European Mobility Expo in Paris early in June. In that form, the model has NMC batteries from Akasol offering a capacity of 490kW/h, and ZF axles, including hub motors as part of the AVE 130 drive unit.
Van Hool says the unladen weight of the bus in question is in the region of 13,000kg. It can seat a maximum of 41 passengers. The OEM adds that 13 orders from customers in Belgium, Denmark, France and Germany are already in hand for 162 members of the A range. Those include battery- and hydrogen fuel cell-electric models.
Chief Executive Filip Van Hool notes that with launch of the A range, the Belgian company is ready “more than ever” to play a part in the European bus market. Van Hool's intention "was to develop a platform that is comfortable, safe, timeless and sustainable" and which suits both urban and regional requirements, he adds.
"Our aim was to present an integrated new range to meet the high expectations of transport companies, drivers and passengers. The new interior and exterior design and the choice of three different powertrains were linked, on the one hand, to the international experience that we have built up over the past few decades and, on the other, to the challenges that public transport companies will face over coming years.”
Van Hool says that a modular fastening system on the roof of the A range will allow upgrades of items such as batteries, air-conditioning units and control systems. The manufacturer adds that heat pump technology in the climate control system and recovery of waste heat from the traction equipment will contribute to energy efficiency.