Hino showcase new bus concepts at Tokyo Motor Show

The Tokyo Motor Show kicks off its 43rd year today, November 20, highlighting the latest concepts in vehicles, fuels and technologies.

Hino Motors is pushing the envelope in environmentally friendly, community-focused transport solutions by displaying the latest in electric vehicle (EV) technology to tie-in with the theme of "Transporting Your Tomorrow Worldwide".

PONCHO MINI
Building on the blueprint of its low-floor Poncho bus, Hino has scaled-down the Poncho Mini concept to better suit congested urban centres. Its diminutive size belies the Poncho Mini's impressive interior space, made possible by clever packaging and the exclusive use of EV technology.

Because Hino engineers designed the battery packs to fit evenly along the bus chassis, the Poncho Mini avoids the traditional loss of interior space to accommodate engine and drivetrain components. This also allows for a low, no-step floor, enabling wheelchairs, mobility vehicles and strollers to easily board and disembark - a feature absent on current, diesel-powered buses.

The local and global environmental benefits of EV buses are obvious drawcards to EV bus implementation in urban centres.

The Hino Poncho Mini does not emit air, ground or noise pollution in its immediate environment, leading to cleaner air in central urban areas, while the efficiency of electric motors far outweighs that of internal combustion - 90 per cent for electric motors versus just 30 per cent for fossil-fuel power.

The greater energy efficiencies of EV technology means less demand on energy resources, including dependency on both fossil fuels and renewable resources.

MELPHA and S'ELEGA
Also gracing Hino's stand is a plug-in hybrid version of its popular Melpha bus and a S'elega tour bus fitted with advanced pre-crash safety systems to monitor driver awareness, alert drivers to dangerous situations such as unintended lane departure, and mitigate the damage of an imminent collision.

Demonstrations of the EV and plug-in hybrid technology found in the Poncho Mini and Melpha will take place at the Hino stand during the course of the show.

The 2013 Tokyo Motor Show runs from November 20 to December 1, showcasing international manufacturers' latest technology in trucks, buses, cars, motorbikes and even bicycles.