Allison Transmission Equips Buses Powered By Compressed Natural Gas in Colombia's Largest Urban Transport System

Two of the largest operators in the country received 263 new Scania F280 buses powered by compressed natural gas (CNG) and equipped with Allison Torqmatic® Series fully automatic transmissions.

BOGOTÁ, Colombia – April 2023 - Allison Transmission, a leading designer and manufacturer of conventional and electrified vehicle propulsion solutions, and the largest global manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for commercial and defense vehicles, announces 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 compressed natural gas (CNG) and equipped with Allison Torqmatic® Series fully automatic transmissions.

The first Scania F280 4x2 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, Colombia. 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 natural gas vehicles 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 Bus Rapid Transit (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. Operators of the Integrated Public Transport System TransMilenio (SITP), in Bogotá also have 562 Scania F340 HA Bi-articulated buses equipped with an Allison B516R automatic transmission, in addition to the Hino FC9J models with an Allison T2200, and almost 1,000 Bluebird and Thomas buses with the Allison B300 transmission.

“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,” says 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.

Apr 20, 2023

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Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is a leading designer and manufacturer of vehicle propulsion solutions for commercial and defense vehicles, the largest global manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions, and a leader in electrified propulsion systems that Improve the Way the World Works. Allison products are used in a wide variety of applications, including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (school, transit and coach), motorhomes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (energy, mining and construction applications) and defense vehicles (tactical wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. With a presence in more than 150 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil, manufacturing facilities in the USA, Hungary and India, as well as global engineering resources, including electrification engineering centers in Indianapolis, Indiana, Auburn Hills, Michigan and London in the United Kingdom. Allison also has approximately 1,600 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.

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SOURCE Allison Transmission Holdings Inc.