Since the Busscar de Colombia export program started, three models have gained vital importance in the Mexican market. The Busstar DD has become the favorite of soccer teams thanks to Mercedes-Benz, the Busstar 380 has earned its place among passenger and commuter transporters, while the Urbanuss Pluss S5 collects revenues from the prestige earned by the brand for more than 5 decades as a Latin American leader in urban transport.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the government of Yucatán has decided to strengthen the process of renewing the fleet of the Metropolitan Circuit of urban transport of the city of Mérida, adding it to the integrated transport system called "Va y Ven", with almost 400 new buses of which the first 200 will be delivered in the first half of 2023 and will be provided by Busscar de Colombia.
Allies with the star
The chassis used for this project is the Mercedes-Benz O500U 1826, a low-floor platform specially designed for buses up to 13 meters in length. It is powered by the OM926LA Euro 5 engine, an inline 6-cylinder machine. 7,200 c.c. displacement with turbocharger, which delivers 252HP at 2,200 rpm and a torque of 900 Nm from 1,200 laps.
Although there are two automatic gearbox options for this model, the one chosen was the ZF 4-velo-city with integrated retarder, which, together with the compact engine, achieves great fuel economy and the necessary robustness to overcome with it stop and go start of urban traffic.
For its part, the suspension is pneumatic on both axes, which are also equipped with disc brakes with anti-lock ABS system as standard. The maximum gross vehicle weight is 18,500 kg, which allows an average of 80 passengers to be carried between sitting and standing without major setbacks.
In the mechanical section, we can also highlight the presence of air conditioning equipment in all the units, with internal ceiling ducts, and the low entrance construction with double side doors, which facilitates access to the unit for passengers with difficulties in their mobility, the elderly, pregnant women and of course, people in wheelchairs.
The chassis used for this project is the Mercedes-Benz O500U 1826, a low-floor platform specially designed for buses up to 13 meters in length. It is powered by the OM926LA Euro 5 engine, an inline 6-cylinder machine. 7,200 c.c. of displacement with a turbocharger, which delivers 252HP to The new buses are very similar to those used in the massive systems in Colombia, beginning with their seats, which are nothing more than traditional vandal-proof plastic without any type of padding. All are gray, except for a blue pair, special for people with reduced mobility, and another pink pair, exclusively for women. For its part, the driver's cab is perceived to be of very good quality, with excellent finishes in its fibers and plastic coatings, an ergonomic two-color instrument panel and an anatomical seat equipped with a height-adjustable two-point seatbelt.
From there, the details that make the new buses for Mexico special begin. The floor has been endowed with a special tactile texture for people with visual disabilities. The handrails are made of stainless steel, which improves the presentation of the interior, increases asepsis and extends the useful life of the passenger lounge; The area for the location of wheelchairs (which access the passenger lounge by means of a manual ramp located at the central door of the bus) has folding seats, so that when a person with mobility difficulties is not being transported, the area can be used to carry seated passengers.
To allow travelers to be always connected and to communicate easily while using the service, the stands have been equipped with USB chargers that allow charging of electronic devices.
Other technological elements make life easier for both passengers and operators of the new buses. The interior is equipped with an advanced security camera system, which allows monitoring the operation of each vehicle in real time and knowing first-hand the operating conditions and situations inside the bus.
The first entry of 34 vehicles will then be complemented by the arrival of 161 more units in June and in the second half of 2023 it is estimated to receive another 156 that will be gradually incorporated into the city's routes, all proudly dispatched from the coffee axis. Colombia, where Busscar de Colombia continues to generate progress and employment that is enjoyed on Latin American routes.