KONVEKTA AG Busworld 2013
(Hall 6, Stand 604)
PRESS RELEASE
KONVEKTA AG Busworld 2013:
The comfort makes the difference
Full or partial climate control in buses: a comparison between two systems.
To be successful as a transportation company these days, it's no longer enough to guarantee smooth passenger transport. The comfort factor is becoming more and more important. Buses with a low step, comfortable seats as well as a pleasant climate on the road are in demand.
Yet the air-conditioning system doesn't only make for a comfortable ride for the passengers – it also fulfils an important safety-related task at the same time: High temperatures and low oxygen levels put a strain on our circulation; reaction ability and driver concentration are reduced from interior temperatures higher than 24°C. Passengers feel tired and jaded, the trip becomes an ordeal. In public transport, an air-conditioning system is standard equipment and thus increases passenger ride comfort and driver concentration.
Air-conditioning systems are not all the same.
In buses, a distinction is made between two systems: full climate control and electrical partial climate control. In direct comparison, full air-conditioning systems offer decisive advantages particularly with a view to comfort and safety. With a cooling capacity of 32 to 40 kW, the roof-mounted system and the integrated driver seat front-box air-conditioning system ensure that all seats on the bus are ventilated evenly via special air channels. When the bus is heavily frequented on hot and sunny days and the oxygen level drops very low in a very short time, this variant permits a 100% fresh air supply. The air quality is upgraded, thus increasing comfort and having a positive influence on the driver's concentration ability. This is a major safety aspect, as is the continual dehumidification of the bus, which almost completely prevents the windows steaming up – giving the driver a completely free view of the road. Another advantage of this variant is the powerful heating capacity; if temperatures drop, the air-conditioning switches to heating operation with an additional 52 – 68 kW.
In contrast, the significantly smaller-sized electric partial air-conditioning system provides somewhat limited comfort for passengers and the driver. With this system, two identical 3.5 kW small air-conditioning devices are set up on the roof of the bus, and a driver workplace air-conditioning system (6 kW) is fitted in addition. Climate control is indirect in that air is routed through central air vents in the ceiling throughout the vehicle. However, the air distribution is not even and constant – which is why the condensation on windows clears more slowly than with full climate control.
The quantity of fresh air cannot be controlled variably, it is around 5%. A heating possibility of only about 23 kW is available for the cold season, which can hardly be felt in the passenger compartment.
New vehicle or existing vehicle? A decisive question.
If the costs of the two systems are compared, it quickly becomes clear that there are many good reasons in favour of a full air-conditioning system when a new bus is to be purchased. While the additional costs are between 12,000 and 15,000 euros (corresponds to 360 €/kW), the additional costs for an electric partial air-conditioning system are only slightly lower at around 11,000 to 13,000 euros (corresponds to 950 €/kW). The additional annual fuel consumption for partial air-conditioning amounts to around 0.75%, for full air-conditioning to around 2%. There are only slight differences in the maintenance of the two systems, too. For the annual service of the full air-conditioning version, service staff only need about one hour longer and about 50 euros more for spare parts. However, increased wear to the larger generator occurs with the partial air-conditioning system, so that this will need replacing within a few years.
Installation of an electric partial air-conditioning system is recommended more for retrofitting. The system can be installed relatively easily, since no coolant pipes or air channels need to be installed in the vehicle. In addition, the system is pre-filled and can thus be put into operation directly after installation.
Yet retrofitting existing vehicles can only be a passing stop on the road to the future. In the long term, transport companies with fully air-conditioned buses will quite simply be better. Only this solution meets all the requirements facing scheduled bus transport – from comfort requirements through safety aspects through to economic efficiency.
Contact:
Claudia Mittelstaedt
Marketing
KONVEKTA AGAm Nordbahnhof 5
34613 Schwalmstadt
Deutschland / Germany / Tel. +49 (0) 66 91-76-0
Fax +49 (0) 66 91-76-111
www.konvekta.de/press.html