CASE STUDY: Torsus off-road buses for robust terrains

Czech producer, Torsus builds the world’s hardest heavy-duty off-road buses, designed to mix sturdiness, optimum effectivity and luxury in each working situation 

Based in 2017, Torsus is the off-road car model of Pulsar Expo. Headquartered within the Czech Republic, the corporate specialises within the design and improvement of autos for notably harsh and difficult environments. After seven years since its flagship off-road bus was revealed, the Torsus Praetorian is now in its third era.

After talking with potential prospects within the mining business and regulation enforcement, the corporate realised comfy off-road transport for a number of passengers was a phase that was not being catered for. “Traditionally, we delivered loads of autos below worldwide technical support packages,” says Torsus CEO, Vakhtang Dzhukashvili. “We noticed that these vehicles had been carrying folks however weren’t very comfy for passengers in harsh circumstances.”

Improvement of the Torsus Praetorian started in 2014 earlier than the primary era was revealed in 2017. Impressed by the Imperial Roman military’s Praetorian Guard, the bus’s title is a nod to the elite protectors of Roman emperors. “Each Torsus Praetorian is designed to shrug off water, mud, gravel, mud, sand, snow, ice and just about something nature cares to throw at it,” provides Dzhukashvili.

The bus is out there in a regular specification and a Minesite model with further gear for secure operation in and round mining places. The bus can carry as much as 34 passengers within the rear compartment and an extra passenger subsequent to the driving force. Whereas it seems to be like a bus from the surface, it’s underpinned by an MAN TGM truck chassis. The everlasting four-wheel drive arrange is powered by a 6.9-litre six-cylinder diesel MAN engine. Energy is rated to 290hp and most torque is 1,150Nm between 1,200 to 1,750rpm. It’s paired with an MAN 12-speed Tipmatic ZF AStronic transmission and sits on 20in wheels with Michelin XZL tires.

Designed for off-roading in all circumstances, the bus has a floor clearance of 350mm and a fording depth of 680mm. Within the occasion the car will get caught, or extra doubtless it must rescue one thing else; it has a 30m 12-tonne winch mounted on the entrance. The spare wheel on the again additionally has a winch to make it simpler to mount or dismount. Its method angle is 28 levels and it has a departure angle of twenty-two levels. Praetorian can deal with 65% gradients and drive sideways alongside slopes as much as 33.5% with out rolling over.

In contrast to a typical truck or bus, the Praetorian has a metal skeleton that not solely types the idea for the bodywork to sit down on however offers rollover safety. The skeleton construction is constructed at MAN’s manufacturing facility in Starachowice, Poland. As soon as the construction is welded collectively, it undergoes cataphoretic portray, then varnish and a last coat of paint to guard it from corrosion. With fibreglass physique panels on high that are lined in a polyurea coating, the car can function in extraordinarily salty environments with minimal danger of rust. It options polycarbonate home windows that are lined with steel mesh safety for the Minestite variant and further roof lights to light up terrain in low mild.

For the reason that Praetorian has already entered operation in Spain, Germany and Ukraine, Torsus is gaining insights from its prospects to tell enhancements within the design. “Following suggestions from our prospects across the globe and a 20-month analysis and improvement programme, we now have added an entire entrance air-suspension meeting between the chassis and the superstructure for the primary time. This offers a better stage of compensation for the burden of the entrance portion of the superstructure and offers the Torsus even larger management, composure and security, regardless of how tough the terrain will get,” says Tomas Micuda, Torsus technical supervisor.

He additionally explains the workforce has launched an algorithm to help the car to deal with its excessive centre of gravity. The expertise is designed to make it simpler for the driving force and reduces the top-heavy really feel of the car. This era options what Torsus calls silent blocks which sit between the chassis and construction. These semi-spherical rubber cushions had been created to cut back noise and vibration within the cabin and enhance the passenger expertise.

Because the Praetorian is predicated on MAN structure, prospects can entry the MAN vendor community for servicing and repairs. Praetorian additionally comes with a six-year or 900,000km drivetrain guarantee as commonplace. To optimise servicing entry, Torsus has elevated the opening of the entrance bonnet by round 30cm. A double latch system was additionally launched together with further centre pins to maintain it securely closed over uneven or difficult terrain. “We’re effectively conscious that a lot of our buses by no means get to see a tarmac highway once more as soon as they begin their working lives, by no means thoughts getting parked up in an immaculate bus storage each evening. That considering was very a lot to the fore after we redesigned and rebuilt the Praetorian’s entrance masks,” says Dzhukashvili.

For operators that can use the car on-road as effectively, the bus has a number of completely different driving modes together with an effectivity mode to optimise gas financial system and luxury. For off-roading, it’s best with off-road and low-range modes engaged. It additionally has higher management utilizing the guide perform and deciding on the suitable gear for the situation. Over unfastened or slippery surfaces, dealing with is supported by two locking differentials which might simply be locked on the flip of a dial. With each differentials engaged, the turning circle suffers barely however they’ll simply be switched off for tight corners.

Inside, drivers who’re accustomed to MAN vehicles will really feel at residence because the sprint and steering wheel are from MAN. The switches under the display have been altered barely to function the car’s off-road capabilities. The passenger compartment seems to be just about unchanged from a regular coach. As the ground on the entrance of the car is lifted barely to accommodate the engine and drivetrain beneath, passengers enter from the aspect door. For the reason that bus is far larger than a typical passenger car, it has an extra step which robotically slides out to cut back the step up into the bus. Operators can select from as much as 14 completely different seating configurations and specify seats with both three- or five-point belts.

For operation off-road, guidelines for the land the car is working on will dictate what licensing is required however for on-road driving the related bus license for the nation is required. Because the car is predicated on a truck chassis, drivers who’ve HGV licenses for inflexible autos will discover the bus pretty simple to get used to. Praetorian has a GVW as much as 13.4-tonne, accounting for a 3.4-tonne payload.

Torsus has additionally developed a smaller off-road folks provider, the Terrastorm. Primarily based on the Volkswagen Crafter / MAN TGE chassis, it may be specified with as much as 17 passenger seats. Identical to the Praetorian vary, Terrastorm may be had in a mining specification. The four-wheel drive minibus features a snorkel, electrical winch, metal and aluminium underbody safety and steel mild safety. The decrease a part of the physique is protected by a polyurea coating which prevents scratches, dents, rust and stains. In addition to being suited to harsh environments, the Terrastorm Minesite provides exterior steel mesh window safety. The steel sheet over the windscreen slides up and right down to optimise visibility as required. That is designed to guard the car and its occupants in environments the place there may be falling particles or unfastened earth.

The Terrastorm is supplied with a 2.0-litre diesel engine with 177hp and 410Nm of torque. It may be paired with both a six-speed guide transmission or eight-speed automated gearbox. 4-wheel drive is commonplace and it comes with a rear locking differential. For off-road or rescue purposes, it has a fording depth of 690mm which may be elevated to 820mm. Terrastorm has a GTW of 6-tonne and may tow a braked trailer as much as 3-tonne. Further cargo or gear may be saved on the roof rack which might take as much as 150kg. Terrastorm will also be specified as an off-road ambulance or a cargo unit. It has a floor clearance of 250mm and comes with the H3 top physique as commonplace. The car has an method angle of 26 levels and a departure angle of 20 levels. The good thing about it being primarily based on the shared Volkswagen and MAN chassis is it may be serviced by way of the Volkswagen and MAN vendor community. Terrastorm comes with a two-year limitless mileage guarantee.

In addition to being suited to off-road environments, Torsus has strategically partnered with Evolve Dynamics to showcase potential purposes for the Terrastorm. Evolve Dynamics specialises in unmanned aerial car (UAV) expertise and has kitted out a Terrastorm van as a surveillance car. Its Sky Mantis 2 drone may be operated both with a tether for as much as 48 hours or an hour on battery energy alone. The tether may be dropped, and the drone can fly for as much as half-hour after disconnecting.