ZF Committed to Supporting Malaysia’s EEV Agenda
As the population grows in the urban areas, an increased pressure on public transport and passenger cars is inevitable. In conjunction with its 15th anniversary, ZF Sales and Service (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd (ZFSSM), a part of the leading automotive supplier, ZF Group, has renewed its commitment to enhance urban transport modernisation in Malaysia.
For 15 years, ZFSSM has been linking high performance products and technological know-how to the Malaysian automotive industry. From supplying SACHS shock absorbers to Proton and Perodua for the aftermarket, to providing rail shock absorbers for Rapid KL, ZFSSM delivers products and services that represent efficient dynamics and costs effectiveness, combined with unrivalled quality, safety and comfort.
In keeping with its commitment to support sustainable urbanisation, ZFSSM has equipped 300 MRT single deck city feeder buses with ZF EcoLife, a high performance 6-speed automatic transmission for buses. The buses which are owned by Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn. Bhd are currently servicing MRT Phase One of the Sungai Buloh station to Semantan station, and also the upcoming Phase Two line, which will service the Semantan station to Kajang station by July 2017. Todate, there are more than 900 city buses in Malaysia equipped with ZF EcoLife transmissions.
Primarily used for city buses and coaches, ZF EcoLife allows easier driving conditions for line service buses and coach drivers. The automatic transmission is available in seven versions with input torques range from 1,000 to 2,300 newton meters, ensuring an efficient and powerful drive in buses up to 32 tons gross vehicle weight.
With its intelligent drive programme by TopoDyn Life control software, ZF EcoLife adapts driving conditions and smoothly adjusts the gearshift strategy of the driving route during travel. This results in improved fuel efficiency.
Furthermore, its integrated primary retarder in the vehicle’s brake management system supports high braking power even at low speeds, effectively reducing the strain on the vehicle’s service brakes, ultimately extending the part’s lifecycle. In addition to reduced down time and longer service life, these city buses will also have reduced carbon emissions.
ZFSSM is also currently collaborating with Rapid Penang to fit its city buses with ZF EcoLife for preventive overhaul. Preventive overhaul allows significant extension to the vehicles service life without compromising safety or cost effeciency.
Paving the future for fleet management in Malaysia, through its connectivity solutions, OPENMATICS will encourage a more cohesive service network as the brand offers fleet management, asset tracking, vehicle diagnosis, engineering as well as entertainment and multimedia applications.
OPENMATICS is an innovative telematics solution that allows fleet management to be transparent, thus avoiding driving without loads, taking into account driving and rest periods in route planning and monitoring fuel consumption.
OPENMATICS Asset Tracking solution enables tracking and monitoring of valuable assets allowing for efficient and modern logistics as well as manufacturing optimisation. The core element of the technology are Bluetooth Smart TAGs that can be easily installed anywhere, be it on transport containers, pallets, swap bodies or cargo itself. They can be used for up to five years before being recycled by OPENMATICS.
Compatible with existing telematics hardware and the Openmatics’ stationary “TAG” finder, OPENMATICS is an intuitive operation that is easily accessible through mobile application (Google Play or Apple Store) and a web portal. Capable of communicating wirelessly in an area of at least 30 meters, users can receive real-time alerts which enables prevention of loss or damage of goods. This allows efficient tracking of assets while decreasing costs for administration and communication efforts while minimising logistics and manufacturing processes.
ZFSSM is working with RapidKL to implement OPENMATICS for prototype-testing in their fleet. This allows greater integration of communication and logistics between buses and its suppliers while minimising operational costs. In addition, ZFSSM is collaborating with Sync R&D Sdn Bhd, to develop a locally-made 12 meter public electric bus equipped with ZF’s AVE 130 electric portal axle, for higher engine speed and bigger passenger space in the bus.
About the Author
Subhash Nair Written work on dsf.my. @subhashtag on instagram. Autophiles Malaysia on Youtube.
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