Oafs Lynx rival takes to road
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DAF BUS has bodied the first prototype of its new SB220 rear-engined single deck bus chassis which was announced at the Amsterdam bus and coach show last autumn.
The bodied vehicle, which was exhibited at the UITP
exhibition at Brussels (CM,
May 25) is being used on a series of tests to prove both its design concepts and a Daf/Phillips joint electronic bus management system.
In addition to the normal traffic monitoring of buses, the Phillips Vecom system :an also be used to monitor the mechanical and physical status of the bus and warn its base of any problem before it involves an expensive unit failure.
The system itself is similar in some respects to the London Buses Busco control system.
It involves a transponder on .ach bus being used to send data to its base via a loop empedded in the road surface.
In case of a mechanical problem being indentified the base the system can be used :o instruct the driver to stop :tis vehicle or return to base.
The prototype bus exhibited is still fitted out as a fully laden test vehicle proving both the Daf chassis and its compatibility with the body as well as the management system.
While the main market for the SB220 will be its home one, the model will be in direct competition with Leyland's Lynx in such world markets as Australia.