ZHENGZHOU, CHI.- Yutong opened the doors of its manufacturing plant located in this city, capital of the Henan province in China, one of the four manufacturing complexes that the original equipment manufacturer currently has in its country of origin.
The plant has a maximum production capacity of 400 high-end vehicles per day on eight production lines and is capable of producing various types of units , from urban and intercity buses to light trucks and tractor-trailers, as well as passenger vans, all destined for foreign markets.
The Zhengzhou plant can manufacture units with various engines : diesel, hybrid and electric, however, the latter is the most common due to its high demand.
The complex also has a test track where each of the units produced is subjected to various operating scenarios, for example, high speeds, turning radius, driving on 45-degree slopes and extreme rain and flood conditions. It also has a state-of-the-art, 100% automated paint booth.
The plant has a technological research centre in engineering with seven test pavilions, among which the adaptability of the units to different temperature conditions stands out, ranging from 20 degrees Celsius below zero to 55 degrees Celsius. In addition, energy absorption tests in the event of a collision , to ensure the safety of the vehicle occupants.
The research center also has a specific area where the sound insulation of the units is tested.
“We use different materials for the manufacturing of the units, both for the roofs and for the floors and windows to isolate the engine noise, with the aim of guaranteeing a more comfortable environment for the occupants,” said Gustavo Yu, Yutong’s new energy promotion manager for the Latin American market.
The specialist explained that the noise and vibration test room not only tests the materials from which the vehicles are made, but everything as a whole. “At the Yutong plant in Zhengzhou we have the largest test room in Asia that is capable of testing vehicles up to 18 meters long that travel at a speed of 135 kilometers per hour . The data obtained from these tests serve to improve the design of the powertrain, so that a better experience is provided to users,” he said.
Another important area is the electromagnetic performance room, since electric buses require the installation of multiple electronic devices, for example, cameras, sensors and radars that are necessary for assisted driving.
“There are problems with the coexistence of different devices because they send electronic waves into the environment, which can cause mutual effects. That is why we carry out all kinds of tests to find out if there is any kind of problem. If so, our team of engineers optimizes the design so that they work perfectly,” he said.
Yutong also thoroughly tests its power batteries to verify their safety and reliability. They are subjected to various extreme situations such as: overturning, falling, burning, immersion in water, mechanical vibration, penetration of objects, among others.
“ Yutong’s four plants in China represent around four million square meters of surface area ,” Michael Ren, general manager of Yutong Mexico, explained to T21.
