When the Bengaluru-based Volvo Buses launched its new 9400 inter-city coach range some weeks ago, it was part of a strategic business plan.

This also involved the Volvo-Eicher joint venture, VE Commercial Vehicles, which operates out of Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh.

“We thought it was an opportune time to package a couple of things we have been doing on/off the product and time it with the new Bharat Stage IV emission norms,” said VRV Sriprasad, Managing Director, Volvo Buses – South Asia, in a recent interview.

The 12, 13.8 and 14.5-metre coaches within the 9400-brand umbrella have had engines of seven, nine and 11 litres, respectively, that are BS III-compliant and imported from Europe. With the new BS IV regime coming into force from April this year, Volvo Buses decided to go in for some rationalisation of its powertrain options.

“We then zeroed in on an eight-litre engine which our joint venture at Pithampur (VE Commercial Vehicles or VECV) is already producing and supplying to Europe for the trucks,” said Sriprasad.

Project work was then carried out for two years to see how this engine, which is already Euro 6-compliant, could adapt to the 12-metre coach.

“It is a Volvo engine being made at VECV with extra horsepower and better torque characteristics than the earlier seven-litre engine,” he said. The next task on hand was to cater to the 13.8 and 14.5-metre buses being powered by nine and 11-litre engines each. They had to be upgraded to BS IV too, and this is when Volvo decided to have 11-litre engines for both.

“However, since they had to be tweaked to each platform, we decided that both vehicles would need an engine but with different horsepower,” said Sriprasad.

Hence, the 13.8-metre coach would get 370 hp while its 14.4-metre sibling would belt out 410 hp.

The idea was to ensure that any new offering from Volvo was better than its predecessor in terms of performance characteristics. Using the same engine and hp would mean compromising and the company, therefore, decided to increase the hp quotient so that the 11-litre performance parameters would be different.

In addition, there are a number of features in the new range which include styling in the front and rear. And while the bus body code is still not in force, the company says it is fully compliant when it is ready to roll.

“When we sell the bus with all its features, it is generally not known that we are ready with everything even if is not mandatory,” said Sriprasad.

Future-ready This thought process extends to performance and safety where the idea is to be future-ready.

“We are particular about the driver or coach captain as he is called,” he added. To enhance performance of the new range, Volvo has put in a software called I-shift which allows the man behind the wheel to see the pluses and minuses of his driving in terms of idle time, fuel efficiency, cruise mode, curve speeds and so on. This kind of interface uses intelligence to help the driver.

“Most of the time, these telematics are used by someone at the back end of the control room who gives a report of what is good, bad or ugly about the driving but that does not help. The owner then hauls up the driver who always go back with the feeling he is being tracked and monitored,” said Sriprasad. With I-shift, the interface happens with the driver so that he precisely knows what is happening.

It also puts in perspective why Volvo puts a lot of emphasis on driver training. This procedure is quite rigorous and includes medical tests to ensure fitness levels and rule out colour blindness.

They also undergo psychological tests to improve attitude.

“We have enhanced drivers’ self-esteem and they know that they are handling high responsibility,” said Sriprasad.

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