The BSVI BharatBenz CVs from Daimler India are offering the promise of higher profitability.

Story By: Bhushan Mhapralkar

Taking a different technological route that does away with an EGR, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles has announced the transition of its complete line-up to BSVI. It has termed the BSVI technology as ProfitTechnology+ by upping the ownership experience of its CVs. Changing the model name of its BharatBenz CVs to account for the technology change, the company has tapped into the Euro6 equivalent technology the US offerings of Daimler include. Highlighting its ability to dig into its global bins and pick up the most suitable technology for a market thus, Daimler India has packaged the transition of its products to BSVI through ProfitTechnology+ such that it rests on five pillars of best in class fuel efficiency, superior safety and comfort, unmatched reliability, lowest maintenance cost, and connectivity. According to Satyakam Arya, MD & CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, the five pillars of ProfitTechnology+ point not just at the BSVI tech, but at his company’s brand commitment. Migrating some unique products like the 17-tonne light tipper as part of the exercise, Daimler India has employed an interesting SCR after-treatment system to meet the emission regulations, and to achieve the fuel efficiency advantage.

Adding new features like an advanced telematics suite, a multifunctional steering wheel (there’s a screen on the dash of the premium models that powers a reverse camera), driver monitoring system, safety cabins and an emergency call system on buses, Daimler India, under the ProfitTechnology+, has made it a point to look into the finer details of what the customer may require. The air-con system that delivers in the dry and raid climates of Rajasthan as well as the humid climates of Mumbai and Chennai for example. Offering a soft cruise control, the company is stressing on features that are not yet standard in many passenger cars. Choosing a BSVI system that refrains from sacrificing the performance and efficiency of the engine in comparison to BSIV, the CV maker has tweaked the cooling system to withstand higher pressures and longer driving cycles. It has also optimised the bore size of the engine; has improvised the turbocharger and other accessories to ensure class leading reliability. To achieve lowest maintenance costs, the company has opted for an after-treatment system that consists of five different chambers. Of these, three are substrates. The other two include a (particulate) filter and a mixer respectively. Each substate, according to Pradeep Kumar Thimmaiyan, Head of Product Engineering – Entire Vehicle, Daimler India, treats the chemicals coming out of the engine. The filter traps the particulates whereas the mixer helps to improve the efficiency of the system.

Capable of overachieving BSVI emission norms, the five-chamber exhaust after-treatment system includes a special diffuser at the end of the tail pipe to reduce dust throw, especially in high dust conditions and in urban operating conditions. The diesel particulate filter is the highlight of the five-chamber exhaust system, and would require cleaning only after every two years, Daimler India has deployed sensors at different locations to ensure optimal performance. There are sensors as well. They relay information to the ‘Truckonnect’ system, which, according to Pradeep, would aid his company to offer pro-active service support. The ‘Truckonnect’ system would also enable the relaying of information to the customer so that his business is not hampered. The five-chamber exhaust after-treatment system is fully insulated to avoid exposure to high temperature areas. The other advantage is that the system is better able to operate at an optimal temperature always. Engineered to encompass the five pillars of ProfitTechnology+, the BSVI technology at Daimler India is a result of much thinking and research, according to Pradeep. It clearly highlights the company’s efforts towards its Indian customers and he solution they need to address their future needs. Moving away from tonnage and instead focus on customized solutions for different applications, Daimler India is working to create ‘the best truck for every need’. The strategy at work at Daimler India is thus looking beyond offering customized vehicles for specific applications like e-commerce, cement, steel, etc. It is instead revolving around a human-machine interface that is largely digital in nature. An human-machine interface that makes for easier engagement.

With the Proserv customer service digital platform and the new telematics solutions ‘Truckonnect’ and ‘Bus Connect’ highlighting the higher stress on human-machine interface by Daimler India, and how it would allow operators to track and analyse their vehicles in real time to achieve improved fleet and fuel management, reduced running costs, increased utilization of assets and improved driver performance, the BharatBenz CVs in styling terms, get a distinctive front grille with a bumper spoiler. The cabin gets a two-tone colour scheme with grey and beige as the shades respectively. Equipped with air suspended seat, the cabin boasts of an updated instrument cluster. It now includes gear-shift advisory. Powered by the OM926 engine and the 4D34i engine, tweaked suitably, the BSVI BharatBenz CVs carry with them the promise of longer service intervals. Intervals that are up to 20 per cent longer. Offering the promise of reducing maintenance costs significantly by up to six per cent, the BSVI vehicles that Daimler India is offering, have been extensively tested and validated. Over 5.2 km worth of testing has been carried out in India, according to Daimler India sources. With a localisation level of up to 80 per cent, the BSVI BharatBenz CVs were developed with an investment of around Rs.500 crore. This involved the development of new facilities and over 1000 new parts. To ensure smooth transition to BSVI for its customers and other entities like dealers, Daimler India is putting to use Daimler Group’s learnings from other markets. These include training modules at the dealerships. Daimler India has over 235 customer touch points, informed Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Vice President – Domestic Sales, Product Management & Network, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles.