Ashok Leyland launched the JanBus, the worldís first single-step, front-engine, fully-flat floor bus, representing a revolutionary new concept in urban transportation, at Auto Expo 2012. Feature-rich and technologically advanced, the JanBus is an innovative, well-thought-out transport solution that promises passengers easy, comfortable and affordable city travel. The Union Minister for Urban Development, Mr. Kamal Nath, formally launched the bus at the show.
Several unique features have been packed into the JanBus, none more so than the floor, that is 650 mm from the ground and uniformly flat right from the driverís work station to the rear. Passengers therefore do not have to climb any steps after entering the bus, while the stylishly side-mounted seats and seat-mounted stanchions offer ample hindrance-free leg room, which also makes cleaning very easy.
The JanBus has a single step entry and wide doors for quick alighting and boarding and considerable less stoppage time at bus stops. A kneeling option means that the floor height can be further lowered. The bus offers a high degree of customization with multiple options for door placement (available at five locations) and seating layouts. The bus can thus be configured for various applications like BRTS (Bus Rapid Transport System), airport tarmac and normal city travel.
The JanBus is equipped with another unique feature: the Ashok Leyland trade-marked Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) ñ LEYMATIC ñ seen for the first time on city buses in India that saves the driver from strenuous gear shifts and clutch operations and leaves him to focus on the road. The vehicle has superior acceleration, thanks to a 235 hp turbo-charged BS 4 compliant CNG MPFI engine. Another innovative aspect is the front-view cameras that enable the driver to see beyond the vehicle immediately in front of him thus making it ideal for the bumper-to-bumper city traffic and congested roads.
Unveiling the unique bus, Mr. Kamal Nath observed: ìA lot of the transport problems faced by urban India are attributable to the proliferation of private vehicle usage. People, however, will convert to public modes of transport only if they have good, comfortable, affordable and efficient options. With the JanBus, I am confident that Ashok Leyland has gone a long way towards providing a very attractive transport solution both for the passenger as well as the operator.
In his address on the occasion, Mr. Vinod K. Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, said: ìThe JanBus is a good example of innovative Indian engineering. Historically, we have been successfully introducing new, passenger-friendly bus solutions, and the JanBus is just a continuation of that tradition. Patents have been applied for the 16 various innovations on this bus alone. For us, the JanBus is also a triumph of our understanding of the needs of our customers and is now ready for rolling out into the market. The JanBus is not only operator- and passenger-friendly, but has been engineered to address pedestrian safety as well with a specially designed fascia.î
The JanBus is replete with other features like an elegant driver work space with a host of friendly assists, air suspension for a comfortable ride, an infotainment system to keep passengers informed and entertained. It is intelligent and high-tech too thanks to its multiplexing, electronically controlled engine and gearshift.
Ashok Leyland, the flagship of the Hinduja Group, also introduced Indiaís first 37-tonne haulage truck with the highest payload of up to 27 tonnes. Built on the contemporary and future-ready U-Truck platform, the U-3723 H guarantees superior performance, durability and best-in-class operational efficiency.
One outstanding feature of the U-3723 H is its five axles – twin steerable front axles, two rear axles and a self-steerable pusher lift axle at the middle that enables the vehicle to carry more loads, far more efficiently. The auto-lift axle senses when the vehicle is running in an unloaded condition and will automatically lift the axle which translates into additional fuel saving.
Engineered to deliver a faster turnaround and better gradeability, the U-3723 H is equipped with the fuel-efficient 225 HP ëHí Series engine and a 9-speed gearbox. Further, the 10×4 configuration makes for excellent manoeuvrability even in arduous operating conditions.
Mr. Dasari further said: ìThe U-3723 H is truly the most efficient truck in the country and carefully engineered to meet certain specific customer requirements. With a more stringent implementation of rated payload on one hand and the availability of higher loads on the other, customers have been increasingly seeking higher capacity rigid trucks that can carry more loads translating into better operational economics. Market trends are clearly skewed towards the 31+tonne category and thus our U-3723 H is perfectly positioned to meet the demands for higher payload capacity, faster turnaround time and better manoeuvrability.î
The feature-rich sleeper cab is designed to address driver comfort and safety especially during long distance freight operations. Other features include an optional AC and parabolic suspensions with shock absorbers.
Fuel efficiency is further enhanced by the aero-dynamic cab and lower unladen weight. An optimized drive train and 11R20 tyres deliver improved driveability and effortless manoeuvrability. The deep section frames with bogie suspensions ensure better vehicle stability even at higher loads. A long loading span of 31 feet can easily take loads of any density and dimension. Strong aggregates, a robust chassis frame and suspensions reduce down-time considerably.
The U-3723 H is best-suited for applications like construction, Ready Mix Concrete, boom pumps and stone marble.