Busworld Kortrijk is going to open its doors on 16 October 2015; European Coach & Bus Week takes place on Saturday 10th October and ends with the announcement of the winners.
Right before Busworld Kortrijk starts, a competition is organized between the participating vehicles of Busworld Kortrijk, by the name of ‘European Coach and Bus Week’, or short ‘ECW’. During one field test day, on Saturday 10 October, these buses and coaches are tested and evaluated on different levels: “Ecology”, “Safety”, “Comfort &
Ergonomics” and “Styling & Design”.
Two years ago, the focus of ECW was changed by the Board. They wanted to provide insights into technological
developments within the bus and coach industry and their possible impact on travel, in the widest sense. The Board
wanted to reach out to all the different parties, such as policy makers, bus and coach buyers, and the customers who travel on the vehicles. They wanted to highlight the innovative character of the industry that does not always get the attention and praise that it deserves.
As in previous years, there will be a Grand Award Coach and a Grand Award Bus because buses and coaches are designed for different functions and therefore have different levels and needs of safety, comfort, ecology and design.
In addition to the Grand Awards, ECW can grant Best of Category Labels in the following categories: Safety, Ecology,
Comfort and Ergonomics, Styling and Design.
The following manufacturers confirmed their participation to ECW with coaches: Anadolu Isuzu, Kutsenits, MAN Truck & Bus, Setra (Daimler), Temsa, Van Hool and Volvo Buses. For buses the contestants are: BYD, Ebusco, Anadolu Isuzu, King Long and Yutong.
Grand Awards Coach & Bus
There is a separate competition for bus and for coach. It is too difficult to compare these two types of vehicles, since
they have a different function and therefore different levels and needs of safety, comfort, ecology and design. However, the midi and mini buses and coaches will not be tested separately. They can still enter the competition in the bus or coach category.
The ‘Grand Award Coach’ and the ‘Grand Award Bus’ are the two ECW awards to be won. Every coach and bus that
enters will be a participating in this competition and will be judged by each expert team of the field juries. The coach and bus with the most points in total, wins this award.
ECW best of category Labels
Next to these Grand Awards, the jury can also grant ECW Labels in the following categories: Safety, Ecology, Comfort
& Ergonomics, Styling & Design. Every label will be granted maximum once to the coach and once to the bus with the
highest score in that particular category.
ECW is also open for exhibitors that do not manufacture vehicles. They can obtain an Innovation Label. The judges
are looking for genuine new product innovation, as distinct from improvements and refinements to existing designs.
The companies have entered their application form are Actia, Eberspächer, Frenzel, Hella, Konvekta, Magna, Mayser, Robert Bosch, Saba Dinxperlo and Voith Turbo. Busworld Academy will also be highly active during Busworld Kortrijk 2015.
“How will our mobility be organized in 2025 and what will the role of buses be? What does the bus of the future
look like? Learn about the vision of the manufacturers, the operators and the authorities on the future of bus and coach technology and services. Busworld Academy organises several High level Debates, Roundtables and Seminars about safety, sustainability and comfort of buses and coaches.”