GRAND BAAV AWARD COACH: ZHENGZHONG YUTONG BUS MODEL
ZK6122H9
A good example of the big steps forward the Chinese bus industry is currently
making, is this Yutong bus. The outside appearance is of an outstanding level, but
also the interior has meanwhile reached a distinction, which according to the jury can
be described as “very good”. It is not perfect yet, there is ample room for
improvement left, but the development is going fast.
Unique to this bus is the application of a number of safety systems, which can be
considered to be quite new to the Chinese market. For example the use of a sprinkler
system in the passenger area, preventing an outburst of flames, the ESP system
mounted on this bus to avoid a roll-over, the night vision system for the driver, and a
radar sensor signalizing objects and persons in front of the bus. A bit less thrilling, but
also very functional, is the camera in the luggage bay.
But there are also some minor details – like a power socket on the driver’s knee
height on the dashboard, which can lead to injuries in case of an emergency stop. Or
the wrong holes bored in the seat shells, and badly repaired with filler.
On the other hand, this bus is again a joy to drive. Alltogether, however, the positive
feelings about this bus prevail, which leads the jury to the recommendation to present
this coach with the Grand BAAV Award Coach for 2010.
GRAND BAAV AWARD MIDI/MINI COACH:
ZHONGTONG BUS HOLDING LCK6899H SPARKLING
This is a midibus as a midibus should be: being compact and functional, but at the
same time offering the same room in the widt as in a full-size bus. With a modern
outside appearance and a well-crafted interior this bus is what the name suggests: a
sparkling product, which is a joy to travel in.
For the owner this coach is a good product because it is based on mature
components, which partly are also used in other Zhongtong products. This leads to a
parts commonality that should make maintenance and repair time- and cost-efficient.
Using CAD technology during the development phase of this coach should lead to an
improved quality of the body structure.
BAAV INNOVATIONS AWARD COACH:
ZHENGZHOU YUTONG BUS ZK6100EGAA
By far the most innovative vehicle at the Busworld exhibition is this new product by
Yutong, combining exiting shapes with an equally exiting new driveline, which is fully
electric. Though doubting if this vehicle should be examined as a coach or as a bus ,
due to the fact that it is meant for inner-city purposes, the jury felt that this vehicle
deserves to be awarded for its completely new shape with the unique rounded profile
of the roof, which was never seen before on the Chinese market. It is again a proof of
Yutong’s ability to combine creative design with good engineering. A very positive
sign is the perfect finishing of the interior – as a statement of the fact that the abilities
of the Chinese bus and coach industry are also fast growing in this field, and that
they are getting to realize what their customers, particularly on export markets, are
expecting from them.
BAAV ENVIRONMENT AWARD COACH:
JIANGSU ALFA BUS YS6128EV
One of the growing number of proofs that the Chinese bus industry is far ahead of
the rest of the world in the development and production of emission-free vehicles that
are able to good performances. The manufacturer claims an action rdius of 260
kilometres for this vehicle per battery load. Due to the weight of the lithium-ion
accumulators the capacity of this type o vehicles is still somewhat limited, but as a
first step towards a new generation of vehicles they are the signs of an enormous
progress, that will be made during the coming years in public transport. Jiangsu Alfa
is right at the beginning of it with this vehicle, therefore they deserve this BAAV
Environment Award.
BAAV SAFETY AWARD COACH:
ZHENGTONG YUTONG BUS ZK6662DXA9
This vehicle is the result of the growing attention there is in China for safety, and
particularly the safety of children in traffic. This bus offers safe transport for the
youngest traffic participants, the childers from 3 up to about 9 years. This schoolbus,
purpose-designed and –built by Yutong, is a safe way to reach their school and being
brought back again to their homes after the school day. Fitted with seats that offer
them good comfort and protection. Also is this vehicle remarkably well finished, with
no extruding parts in the interior that could be a hazard to the occupants.
BAAV COMFORT AWARD COACH:
BONLUCK BUS & COACH JXK614
Bonluck has strong connections with the Denning family, famous Australian
coachbuilders from the past, developing integral buses and coaches for the Pacific
market. The current Denning generation decided to co-operate with a Chinese bus
manufacturer, the Jiangxi Kama Business Bus Co. as business partners. The result
of this co-operation could be seen at the Busworld Asia exhibition during the past
years, and is already running in considerable numbers on Australian roads.
Now it also leads to an award at the Asian Coach Week, the company’s JKX6145
coach is awarded with the BAAV Comfort Award for coaches, because it offers space
and comfort to its passengers, but also to the driver. Technically, it is a mature
vehicle offering good driving abilities. The craftsmanship of the coach interior and
exterior is near perfect, hardly any detail is overseen, though it does not always lead
to the best result: the switch for opening the front door in case of an emergency is on
the level of the lowest entry step. On the other hand: the middle-mounted flatscreen
monitor folds away automatically when the door is opened