I would compare the Streetdeck to the VDL Gemini DL.....
With the Streetdeck only having a 5.1 Litre Daimler with a 4 speed Voith the bus will need a very big turbo to get enough power to move a Double Deck same as the Gemini 2DL and once the massive turbo tires out, You end up with a blown,gutless wreck that can barely go 20mph.
The E400 having a 6.7 Litre Cummins with a 6 speed ZF Ecolife will need a relatively smaller Turbo compared to the Daimler to get it moving. But will take a lot longer to run out due to having a bigger engine and a bigger gearbox with smaller RPMs which results in a longer life.
On Fuel Consumption, Operators are getting deceived by the Streetdeck, With its claimed lower fuel consumption and quicker gear changes.
If GNE buy Streetdecks for the X21, By 3 to 4 years there turbo will have completely gone like most VDL Geminis which results in higher revs and higher RPMs which added to losing Horsepower will result in the bus being only fit for Alphas.
So put it this way, In 4 years and if GNE bought Streetdecks there fuel consumption and MPGs will be higher than the Volvo B9TLs which are 1-5 years older than them
and have a engine nearly twice the size of the Streetdecks.
They could also be withdrawn before the B9s aswell if no new laws come in place in 10 years time.
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - July 2015
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