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 automobile model of Pulsar Expo. Headquartered within the Czech Republic, the corporate specialises within the design and improvement of automobiles 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 technology.

After talking with potential prospects within the mining trade 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 automobiles underneath worldwide technical support applications,” says Torsus CEO, Vakhtang Dzhukashvili. “We noticed that these vans had been carrying individuals however weren’t very comfy for passengers in harsh situations.”

Improvement of the Torsus Praetorian started in 2014 earlier than the primary technology was revealed in 2017. Impressed by the Imperial Roman military’s Praetorian Guard, the bus’s identify 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 on the market in a normal specification and a Minesite model with extra tools for secure operation in and round mining places. The bus can carry as much as 34 passengers within the rear compartment and a further passenger subsequent to the driving force. Whereas it seems to be like a bus from the skin, 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 situations, the bus has a floor clearance of 350mm and a fording depth of 680mm. Within the occasion the automobile will get caught, or extra probably 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 strategy angle is 28 levels and it has a departure angle of twenty-two levels. Praetorian can sort out 65% gradients and drive sideways alongside slopes as much as 33.5% with out rolling over.

Not like a typical truck or bus, the Praetorian has a metal skeleton that not solely types the premise for the bodywork to take a seat on however gives 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 remaining coat of paint to guard it from corrosion. With fibreglass physique panels on high that are coated in a polyurea coating, the automobile can function in extraordinarily salty environments with minimal danger of rust. It options polycarbonate home windows that are coated with metallic mesh safety for the Minestite variant and additional roof lights to light up terrain in low mild.

Because the 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, now we have added an entire entrance air-suspension meeting between the chassis and the superstructure for the primary time. This gives a better stage of compensation for the burden of the entrance portion of the superstructure and provides 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 group has launched an algorithm to help the automobile to deal with its excessive centre of gravity. The know-how is designed to make it simpler for the driving force and reduces the top-heavy really feel of the automobile. This technology 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 relies 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 customary. 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 extra centre pins to maintain it securely closed over uneven or difficult terrain. “We’re effectively conscious that lots 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 may use the automobile on-road as effectively, the bus has a number of totally different driving modes together with an effectivity mode to optimise gas economic 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 operate and deciding on the appropriate gear for the situation. Over free or slippery surfaces, dealing with is supported by two locking differentials which may simply be locked on the flip of a dial. With each differentials engaged, the turning circle suffers barely however they will simply be switched off for tight corners.

Inside, drivers who’re accustomed to MAN vans will really feel at house because the sprint and steering wheel are from MAN. The switches beneath the display screen have been altered barely to function the automobile’s off-road capabilities. The passenger compartment seems to be just about unchanged from a normal coach. As the ground on the entrance of the automobile is lifted barely to accommodate the engine and drivetrain beneath, passengers enter from the facet door. Because the bus is way larger than a typical passenger automobile, it has a further step which robotically slides out to cut back the step up into the bus. Operators can select from as much as 14 totally different seating configurations and specify seats with both three- or five-point belts.

For operation off-road, guidelines for the land the automobile 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 automobile relies on a truck chassis, drivers who’ve HGV licenses for inflexible automobiles will discover the bus pretty straightforward 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 individuals service, 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 could be had in a mining specification. The four-wheel drive minibus features a snorkel, electrical winch, metal and aluminium underbody safety and metallic 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 metallic mesh window safety. The metallic sheet over the windscreen slides up and all the way down to optimise visibility as required. That is designed to guard the automobile and its occupants in environments the place there could be falling particles or free 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 computerized gearbox. 4-wheel drive is customary and it comes with a rear locking differential. For off-road or rescue purposes, it has a fording depth of 690mm which could be elevated to 820mm. Terrastorm has a GTW of 6-tonne and might tow a braked trailer as much as 3-tonne. Additional cargo or tools could be saved on the roof rack which may take as much as 150kg. Terrastorm may also be specified as an off-road ambulance or a cargo unit. It has a floor clearance of 250mm and comes with the H3 peak physique as customary. The automobile has an strategy angle of 26 levels and a departure angle of 20 levels. The advantage of it being based mostly on the shared Volkswagen and MAN chassis is it may be serviced by the Volkswagen and MAN vendor community. Terrastorm comes with a two-year limitless mileage guarantee.

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