Improved Fuel Efficiency and Weight Reduction of the Standard Model for Low-Floor Bus in Korea

초록

The standard model was designed and manufactured to have a non-threatening bridging ramp operated automatically, wide passenger doors operated by electrical power, anti-slip flooring, and wide aisle. It had also a kneeling device which can make the bus tilt to one side and thus lower it even further towards the surface of the road when the bus is not in motion. After completion to assemble the standard model, the weight was measured under the conditions that nobody got on a bus and all sorts of conditions were normal for the commercial services. The weight was 106.1 kN (10,830 kgf) under tare weight condition, 133.7 kN (13,647 kgf) under the condition that 43 persons including a driver got on the bus. Fuel efficiency was measured under the conditions that the bus was running at constant speed (60km/h) and full load was loaded on the bus (maximum weight was 133.7 kN). After the standard model was going and returning the constant distance (500 m) three times, fuel efficiency was averaged arithmetically. Atmosphere temperature was 25.4 degree, and average wind speed was 1.7 m/s during measuring fuel efficiency. The results shows the improved results for weight reduction and fuel efficiency of the standard model in comparison with the conventional low-floor bus (passenger capacity 45 persons) which consist of the similar rear/front chassis frame, engine, power transmission, braking, steering, cooling, and so on except the body and interiors. The standard model reduced 13.5 % of tare weight and 11.7% of maximum weight, increased 26.5% of fuel efficiency as compared to the conventional low-floor bus in services.