BusForUs increases passenger comfort with Allison fully automatic transmission-equipped AKIA Ultra DD (double-decker) buses.
ISTANBUL – İstanbul Ulaşım AŞ, a subsidiary of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), has been successfully operating six AKIA Ultra DD (double-decker) buses equipped with Allison fully automatic transmissions since January 2022 as part of the BusForUs Project, which helps tourists discover the historical sites of Istanbul in comfort.
The special edition BusForUs route starts and ends in Sultanahmet and covers approximately 33 kilometres and 12 stops in two to two and half hours, taking in all the must-see sights. 95 percent of passengers are international tourists. Notably, 43 percent of the BusForUs team are female, including drivers and hostesses.
The 12-metre low-floor AKIA Ultra DD bus is equipped with a 7.7-litre Euro VI Mercedes-Benz OM936LA Turbo Intercooler that produces 220 kilowatts and 1200 Newton-metres of torque, and an Allison T3375R xFE™ fully automatic transmission.
“Apart from the technical features of our 72-seat passenger buses, we also think about passenger comfort in all ways,” said Murat İsmail Elal, İstanbul Ulaşım AŞ Businesses Manager. “Unlike other tour buses in many countries, which only provide a driver, we also provide a multilingual vehicle hostess and additional catering package, hygienic kit, headphones, internet access and digital hardware (USB charging, LCD screen, 9 indoor and outdoor 360-degree security camera systems) with just one ticket.”
“Thanks to the fully automatic transmission, the comfort of both the passengers and the driver increases as the passengers have a smooth driving experience and the driver does not need to change gears. As the automatic gear shifts provide more controlled and safe driving, the driver gets less tired,” said Elal.
The driving dynamics and technical demands of the double-decker Ultra DD model bus differ from a standard 12-metre city bus. İstanbul Ulaşım AŞ was aware of the potential discomfort of jerky gear shifts on passengers, especially those on the top deck. However, this is avoided thanks to the Allison xFE (for extra fuel economy) fully automatic transmission that provides smooth gear shifts even on the most challenging of Istanbul roads. With its Continuous Power Technology™ and torque converter, engine torque is smoothly multiplied and more power delivered to the wheels. Full-power shifts and superior acceleration are possible.
Developed for operations up to 1450 Newton-metres of torque power, the Allison T3375R transmission is designed to operate at low engine speeds over longer distances and provide earlier lock-up and more efficient gear ratios, saving fuel.
The transmission’s integral retarder enhances braking and reduces mechanical brake wear. This braking power is of huge benefit to the Ultra DD bus, which has a maximum weight of 18 tons, as it descends the historic hilly areas of Istanbul on a daily basis. With reduced load and wear on brake pads and discs, the frequency and the cost of replacing brake pads decreases.
“At AKIA, we are happy to see our Ultra DD buses offer such a service. We equipped these buses with Allison fully automatic transmission to meet the torque power required for our operations in the most ideal way,” said Remzi Baka, General Manager, AKIA. “The fully automatic transmission is a must for low-floor vehicles used on city routes. We currently use Allison transmissions in many of our projects and different vehicle configurations. While developing the public transport systems of the future, having a business partner who is an industry leader makes our solutions more powerful. The most efficient and rapid gear shifts, easy start-stop, and smooth driving make the operation of the vehicle easier.”
Image – İstanbul Ulaşım AŞ, a subsidiary of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB), operates six AKIA Ultra DD (double-decker) buses equipped with Allison fully automatic transmissions for BusForUs, which allows tourists to discover the historical sites of Istanbul.
Image – “In this project, we aim to promote our city in the best way, and so the most important point in the comfort and safety of passengers is the technical features of the buses,” said Murat İsmail Elal, İstanbul Ulaşım AŞ Businesses Manager.
Image – The 12-metre low-floor AKIA Ultra DD bus is equipped with a 7.7-liter Euro VI Mercedes-Benz OM936LA Turbo Intercooler that produces 220 kilowatts and 1200 Newton-meters of torque, and an Allison T3375R xFE fully automatic transmission.
Image – BusForUs runs a tourist route covering the must-see historical sites of Istanbul. The route starts and ends in Sultanahmet and covers approximately 33 kilometers and 12 stops.
Image – BusForUs increases passenger comfort with Allison fully automatic transmission-equipped AKIA Ultra DD (double-decker) buses.
Image – İstanbul Ulaşım AŞ was aware of the potential discomfort of jerky gear shifts on passengers, especially those on the top deck floor. However, this is avoided thanks to the Allison xFE (for extra fuel economy) fully automatic transmission
Image – 43 percent of the BusForUs team consists of women, including woman drivers and hostesses.
Image – Allison T3375R xFE™ fully automatic transmission.
About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is a leading designer and manufacturer of propulsion solutions for commercial and defense vehicles and the largest global manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions 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 more than 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.