www.chinabuses.org: Bus fleet specialists in Moscow and St. Petersburg analyze operational costs and their experience operating new PAZ 3204 buses equipped with Allison fully automatic transmissions.

Moscow – As a large number of bus operators are extensively renewing fleets, PAZ 3204 buses with Allison 2100 Series fully automatic transmissions have begun rolling out on city streets. Testing at one of Moscow’s largest transport companies shows that Allison-equipped PAZ buses experience less downtime and reduced operation costs.

Established as part of Taxi Fleet Operator No. 21 in 1995, Ochakovo Transport Company operates Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Citroen Jumper mini-buses on 16 city routes.  In 2011, the company purchased two small manual PAZ 3204 city buses and added another eight Allison-equipped fully automatic buses for operational testing last year.

Alexander Kudinev, Ochakovo’s chief engineer, said: “Over the past 12 months, PAZ 3204 buses with Allison automatic transmissions have demonstrated their superior advantages. With a 150-mile daily average and at an approximate speed of 13 mph, the buses operate under very tough conditions which are difficult to simulate during factory trials. From 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. these buses are filled to capacity, operating in constant acceleration/deceleration cycles in hot and cold weather, on heavily-trafficked city routes.”

Allison engineers helped bus fleet technicians calibrate the transmissions to achieve optimum efficiency for those specific operating conditions.

According to the chief engineer, “Fully automatic transmissions are 100 percent better when considering maintenance, replacement of clutch components, repairs and downtime. It is important to note that fully automatic transmissions reduce opportunities for breakdown due to human error: The driver cannot damage the Allison and he cannot overload the engine.”

Kudinev continued: “Each hour of downtime costs money. If spare parts are available, replacement of a hydraulic drive and clutch in a manual bus takes two to three hours. Fully automatic transmissions don’t have those potential problems – there is no air-hydraulic clutch booster and mechanical clutch – no extra work. Besides, we’ve found that buses with fully automatic transmissions need far fewer brake replacements.”

The Allison automatic transmission offers another distinct advantage in the form of an engine brake. “Using the engine brake, which cuts off the exhaust manifold, makes braking more efficient. The transmission sequentially switches gears from sixth to first, which is especially useful on icy roads in winter. Using an engine brake in this way is impossible with a manual transmission.”- concluded chief engineer.
 

Buses with automatic transmissions offer increased passenger safety and comfort. Without needing to use the clutch and constantly switch gears, the driver can focus completely on the road. There is far less jerking and braking is smoother. In contrast, the driver of a manual bus has to press the clutch pedal and switch gears thousands of times during his shift, which can be absolutely exhausting.

Alexey Pronkin, Ochakovo’s general director, said: “Drivers prefer buses with Allison transmissions. As soon as an automatic transmission bus is purchased, drivers operating manuals beg to transfer. Standing passengers in particular are more comfortable.”

One more proving ground for the Allison-equipped PAZ 3204 was the more than 40 routes operated by St. Petersburg Transport Company (PTK).  Founded in 2005 and one of the largest passenger transport companies in northwest Russia, PTK runs 35 city and five intercity routes, as well as one international circuit.

PTK purchased Allison-equipped PAZ 3204 buses because of past experiences. PAZ’s time- tested body and chassis coupled with the modern Allison automatic transmission are ideally suited for city bus fleets. To evaluate performance and operating costs before making further acquisitions, the buses began to run on commercial line No. 20, a 9.5-mile route with dense and often congested traffic. On average, each bus runs 16 trips per shift and makes more than 42 stops for passengers.

Chief engineer at PTK, Maxim Radziyevsky, said: “With a 300-bus PAZ fleet, we have extensive experience operating the PAZ 3204 bus with manual transmissions. In total, mileage for over 2½ years of operation is about 34,569,365 miles, with an average of 115,231 miles per bus. Manual transmission buses require transmission oil changes every 124,274 miles, as well as repairs. Their most frequent problems were drive mechanism failures – clutch master cylinder and hydraulic booster. Clutch replacement takes 2 ½ hours.”

During testing of the PAZ 3204 with the Allison 2100 Series transmission, no expenses were incurred due to downtime for transmission repairs. Maintenance costs for the automatic bus included only regular maintenance, the two filter replacements and one oil change throughout the testing period (74,564 miles). Maintenance for the manual transmission costs 4.6 times as much as for the Allison Automatic (0.28 rubles per kilometer for manuals; only 0.06 rubles with an Allison transmission).

Radziyevsky said PTK was absolutely pleased with the result. “Further, we will buy only PAZ buses with Allison fully automatic transmissions for our fleet.”

Operational testing of PAZ 3204 buses with the Allison 2100 Series fully automatic transmission in different fleets show virtually the same results: increased comfort for the driver and passengers, better safety, less downtime and lower repair and maintenance expenses. Coupled with Allison’s ready and responsive specialists, these factors make the Allison-equipped PAZ 3204 an excellent choice for modern transport companies across Russia and worldwide.

Source : www.chinabuses.org

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