“The transition from BS-III to BS-IV is a paradigm shift for the CV industry and all stakeholders – starting from OEMs, Dealers, Customers, and Service Workshops. Eicher has been over the last 12 months plus training the workshop teams at all dealerships and touch points on BS-IV repair capabilities,” states Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, MD & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles regarding the company’s readiness to meet the challenges in the road ahead.
We find out more from the top man at VE Commercial Vehicles in this exclusive interaction.
Excerpts:
BS-IV implications & readiness
As a company we have incorporated technology learnings from Volvo in our investments into new products including BS-IV. In fact at VE Power Train, we are manufacturing Euro-VI compliant engines for the last 2½ years and exporting the same to Volvo/Renault in Europe. We have built new lines to produce the BS-IV engines and we incorporate both EGR & SCR technologies. The performance of BS-IV and the feedback from customer in both Haulage trucks as well as in Buses has been very encouraging and we are confident of retaining the “Mileage Ka Badshah” label. Price increase of BS-IV vehicles is expected in the range between 7-10% over BS-III.
The entire range of LMD trucks and Buses are already BS-IV compliant and are being sold in several states like Kerala, Telengana and Goa which are 100% BS-IV. There are also several models in the HD trucks range in the Pro 6000 that are already available in BS-IV besides all variants in the Pro 5000 that are available in BS-IV. In summary, we have already migrated 100% as a Company to BS-IV effective 1st April.
Scrapping of old vehicles
Scrapping of 10/15 year old trucks is a really good initiative of the Government and has to be lauded as it will significantly improve both the impact of pollution of these trucks based on BS II & III technology. Besides, the new generation trucks have a lot of features and regulations built in (e.g., ABS to name one) which make trucks safer and more fuel efficient thereby saving the Indian exchequer of valuable foreign exchange (used in importing crude petroleum). Incentivising buying to encourage scrapping will only hasten the pace of replacement (like the Cash for Clunkers scheme in the US) of 10/15 year old trucks. In our opinion there will not be much of parts that can be recycled from the old trucks except steel.
As technology advances and the transportation system metamorphoses (with the new 6/8 Lane highways allowing higher speed of operations), we are seeing a growth in Higher Power to Weight Ratio trucks and in the Multi Axle as well as Articulated vehicles. The Used truck market will have to synchronise with this change. Going forward, we will also see leasing of trucks with a residual value driven repurchase by OEM/Financier that will drive truck replacement cycles.
Ground realities
VECV has been a pioneer in manufacturing and selling fully built up vehicles-be it LMD Trucks, HD Trucks and Buses. All of vehicles are designed and developed to the exacting standards and processes that we have honed in the JV with Volvo since 2008 and meet the stringent regulatory norms including the Bus body code for buses. The investment that we have made in our new Bus plant Baggad is a testimony to the fact that we would like customers to experience high degree of Safety and Quality that we build into our buses. The Indian CV ecosystem has a large number of unorganised/semi organised body builders for both trucks and buses and there are hundreds and thousands of people who work in these establishments. Some of the organised players particularly in Buses are getting Type approval from certifying bodies like ARAI to make Buses meeting the Bus body code though. Given the level of high customisation that is witnessed particularly in HCBs – for Sleeper and night Coaches besides Route Permit buses – the customers will face a huge challenge if the regulations are strictly enforced.
The transition from BS-III to BS-IV is a paradigm shift for the CV industry and all stakeholders – starting from OEMs, Dealers, Customers, and Service Workshops. BS-IV technology is based on an Engine Management System that has electronic architecture and requires Tech tools for fault diagnosis by trained personnel. Eicher has been over the last 12 months plus training the workshop teams at all dealerships and touch points on BS-IV repair capabilities. Eicher On Road Service Vans that are connected via GPS can reach Vehicle Off Road in predefined timelines. In regards training of roadside repair garages, we provide training to mechanics who are trained only on First aid repairs.
Eicher partners Wabco for AMT technology
Eicher Trucks & Buses, part of VE Commercial Vehicles Ltd., has just introduced the state-of-the-art Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) technology for its commercial vehicles. The move reinforces the company’s vision of driving modernization in commercial transportation. This breakthrough technology has been adapted based on the OptiDrive technology designed and developed by WABCO, renowned for its services in Driveline Automation.
The AMT technology will be available in the complete range of LMD and HD buses (from 9T to 16T) and medium duty haulage truck application in the first phase, and the same will be extended to other applications later on.
WABCO’s OptiDrive is modular automated manual transmission technology for trucks and buses that increases fuel economy while reducing emissions. A breakthrough in AMT technology, it transforms a manual transmission into a highly efficient, integrated solution for commercial vehicles, which automatically shifts gears and operates clutch actuation at optimal speed.
This technology frees drivers from frequent gear-shifting, reducing their stress and fatigue. This means drivers can focus more on road and traffic conditions, resulting in increased driver comfort while improving vehicle control and road safety. OptiDrive systems also minimize any performance gap between highly skilled and less experienced drivers.
Commenting on the this milestone development, Mr. Vinod Aggarwal, Managing Director & CEO, VE Commercial Vehicles, said: “It’s a matter of extreme pride for us to be one of the pioneers in introducing a break-through technology in the Indian CV industry. Eicher vehicles are known for best fuel efficiency and the introduction of this technology will further enhance this advantage. Apart from fuel efficiency, this technology will also improve comfort, safety and efficiency that are the most critical aspects of driving these days.”
Jacques Esculier, WABCO Chairman & CEO, said: “We are proud to further extend and deepen our partnership with VE Commercial Vehicles, particularly through WABCO’s OptiDrive modular automated manual transmission solution, a breakthrough technology for our industry. The award-winning OptiDrive for trucks and buses enables improved fuel economy and reduced emissions, as WABCO supports the leadership mission of VE Commercial Vehicles to continuously improve commercial transportation efficiency in India and other markets through technology, safety and environmental care.”
Esculier added: “Our unique capability to design, develop and supply OptiDrive solutions in India for VE Commercial Vehicles’ latest light, medium and heavy duty bus and truck platform further differentiates WABCO. In addition, we will continue to support this major customer through a range of advanced vehicle safety and efficiency technologies.”