Allison Transmission announced that, for the first time, Organización SUMA S.A.S. and Consorcio Express S.A.S., among the largest transit operators in Colombia, are receiving 263 new Scania F280 buses powered by CNG with Hexagon Agility fuel systems and equipped with Allison Torqmatic® Series fully automatic transmissions.
The first Scania F280 4×2 Euro VI front-engine CNG buses equipped with Allison T375R fully automatic transmissions are entering service with the Integrated Public Transport System TransMilenio (SITP) of Bogotá. Operators report Allison transmissions are readily able to compensate for Bogotá’s high altitude, 2,600 meters above sea level.
Allison’s fuel-agnostic transmissions pair well with natural gas engines. Allison-equipped NGVs maximize performance while reducing emissions and engine noise levels, leading to a better experience for both drivers and passengers.
The fully automatic Scania buses have proven efficient in varying topographies throughout the city and demonstrated excellent starting capacity on slopes with inclinations higher than 20%. The new buses equipped with the T375R also exceeded fuel economy expectations.
The new nine-meter body model with capacity for 50 passengers can operate in urban areas requiring smaller vehicles without sacrificing sustainability, both economic and environmental. This shorter vehicle integrates the Allison T375R fully automatic transmission with the 283.8 horsepower CNG engine and is designed specifically to travel through steep routes, neighborhoods with narrow streets and central areas. This Euro VI compliant, nine-meter Allison-equipped CNG bus configuration is being used for the first time in Bogota and worldwide.
Among the buyers of the new vehicles is Organización SUMA S.A.S, which has a fleet of more than 1,000 buses that circulate in several Latin American countries, in addition to being one of the largest operators of mass passenger transportation in Colombia. The group recently received 55 F280 CNG buses with Allison T375R automatic transmissions. The new units act as BRT feeders in Bogotá while operating in cities such as Cartagena and Cali.
The Consorcio Express S.A.S. started operating another 208 units in January 2023, totaling 263 new buses Allison-equipped Scania CNG buses delivered to renew the fleets of these groups. Express is Colombia’s major mass transportation operator, with a fleet of approximately 2,000 vehicles of various sizes and applications, and operates in several of its cities.
“We are very happy with the superior performance our customers report with buses that bring together the most modern technologies from Allison and Scania in order to produce an efficient and competitive CNG-powered vehicle,” said Gabriel Ruggiero, Regional Director of Operations for South America, Allison Transmission. “Our experience with urban transport vehicles in Colombia goes back a long way, and this new acquisition by the companies for renewing their fleets is yet another sign that we continue to deliver robustness, durability, availability and performance.”
The two operators that purchased these Scania F280 buses have expanded their Allison fleets based upon their experiences with Allison-equipped buses of other sizes. The operators have achieved excellent results in durability, fuel economy and customer service, key factors for operators considering this configuration in other South American cities and countries in the coming years.
Source: Allison Transmission
