Volvo CNG City Bus begins trial run in Mumbai

Volvo Buses begins the trial of their 8400 low-floor CNG city bus in Mumbai. They will be looking to impress the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply & Transport Undertaking (BEST), the government body concerned with bus transportation in Mumbai.

The trials are expected to last a month, after which BEST will decide on any future association. Volvo city buses currently operate in 13 cities across India.

The vehicle is designed with low-entry which is convenient for passengers alighting and boarding, including those with impaired mobility. The CNG variant is equipped with the new transmission from Volvo – Ecolife - aimed at fuel efficiency and a retarder system for jerk-free movement.

These are the safety features that the bus has to offer.

Container valve, self-diagnostics
The containers are equipped with a self-test device, watched over by a fuel tank monitor to ensure the function of the container’s solenoid valves.

Crash Sensor
The crash sensor equipped at the electrical box above the driver area is connected to the fuel tank monitor. In case of a sudden drop in system pressure or impact on the vehicle due to an accident, the sensor gets activated, shutting down all cylinders via the solenoid.

Heat/Fire Sensor
Heat sensors (located in the engine cabin side) warn the driver if higher than normal heat is detected inside the bus. The fire sensor is adjacently placed and equipped with an automatic fire extinguisher. It can also be activated manually by the driver.

Other features include an automatic transmission, Electronic Braking System, Disc Brakes, electro-pneumatic safety doors, anti-skid protection, brake temperature warning and poor brake performance warning.

BEST currently has more than 4,700 buses in its fleet, composed of diesel and CNG-run buses. Most of these buses have been supplied over the past 15 years by the likes of Ashok Leyland, TATA Motors and King Long.