09
October
2020
|
11:29
Europe/Amsterdam

Full traction: the TGE 4x4 in the Bavarian alps

Summary

Bayerische Zugspitzbahn Bergbahn AG (BZB) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen recently started using a MAN TGE Kombi 4x4, which has a smart all-wheel drive concept, to transport food to the restaurants located high up in the mountains.

  • The vehicle’s driving torque is 0-100% distributed between the front and rear axle in an infinitely variable process
  • An innovative clutch enables the system to switch to all-wheel drive within 0.084 seconds

 

The cog railway first climbed up to the summit of Germany’s highest mountain – the Zugspitze – 90 years ago. Since then, the area around the almost 3000-metre-high mountain has become increasingly popular and the number of tourists has increased year after year. As a result, BZB now operates a total of 27 mountain railways and ski lifts as well as eight of its own restaurants in the Garmisch-Classic, Wank and Zugspitze regions. Last year, these restaurants sold, amongst other things, some 133,000 pretzels, 19 tonnes of Kaiserschmarrn and 60 tonnes of chips. To ensure that all its establishments can all be restocked as quickly as possible, the company recently started relying on a MAN TGE 4x4.

Jens Schulze, the man responsible for technical storage and logistics at BZB, is thrilled about the latest addition to the fleet at the Grainau depot: “The decisive factor in the decision to purchase this MAN TGE 4x4 is the enormous force all-wheel drive provides in steep terrain. It’s really impressive how the intelligent all-wheel drive system works, pulling the transporter up the hillside like a mountain goat, even on unpaved roads.”

 

Thanks to its robust, low-maintenance all-wheel drive system, the MAN TGE 4x4 has absolutely no problem scaling the forest roads and footpaths of the extremely rugged and steep Wetterstein range. The special feature of MAN smart all-wheel drive is that when the vehicle loses traction, the control system reacts fully automatically, activating the rear-wheel drive in the blink of an eye (0.084 seconds). The driving torque can thus be distributed between the front axle and the rear axle in an infinitely variable process, namely from 100 to 0 percent and vice-versa. This is made possible by the rapid responses of the clutch, which automatically distributes the driving torque between the front and rear axles. The clutch itself is an electronically controlled multiple-disc clutch with fins that run in an oil bath. The fins are connected axially as and when required. In this way, the system is guaranteed to provide the best possible traction, no matter whether the vehicle is travelling over wet or snow-covered ground.

Another advantage that the MAN transporter brings BZB is its variability. The Kombi, which is designed to transport people as well as goods, has a series of rails on its floor. These enable the seats of the MAN TGE Kombi to be arranged and moved easily with the aid of a quick-release system and without the need for tools. This gives BZB maximum flexibility when planning its vehicle use. After all, people also need to be driven up to the various restaurants now and again.

 

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The specified fuel consumption and emission data has been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law. Since 1st September 2017, certain new vehicles are already being type-approved according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. It is currently still required by law to state the NEDC figures for vehicles for passenger transport with registration class M1. In the case of new vehicles which have been type-approved according to the WLTP, the NEDC figures are derived from the WLTP data. In cases where the NEDC figures are specified as value ranges, these do not refer to a particular individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the sales offering.

Additional equipment and accessories (e.g. add-on parts, different tyre formats, etc.) may change the relevant vehicle parameters, such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and, in conjunction with weather and traffic conditions and individual driving style, may affect fuel consumption, electrical power consumption, CO2 emissions and the performance figures for the vehicle.

Efficiency classes rate vehicles for passenger transport with an M1 passenger vehicle registration, according to the CO2 emissions under consideration of the empty vehicle weight. Vehicles which conform to the average are classified as D. Vehicles which are above the current average are classified as A+, A, B or C. Vehicles which are below average are classified as E, F or G.

Additional information regarding the official fuel consumption, and the official specific CO2 emissions of new vehicles for passenger transport, with an M1 passenger vehicle registration, can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO2-Emissions, and power consumptions of all New Passenger Car Models”. This guideline is available free of charge at all sales points and from the DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen, Germany. (https://www.datgroup.com/)

In vehicle classes N1, N2 and M2, coolant of the type R134a is used. MAN TGEs of vehicle class M1 require coolant of the type R1234yf. The GWP value of the coolant used is 1.430 (coolant type R134a) and 4 (coolant type R1234yf). The fill levels depend on the coolant compressor and varies between 560 - 590 grams.