Family - Setra

38 | Setra Premium Service
Setra Family News | 39
Learning how to drive economically:
Save while driving with EcoTraining
Accelerating, braking, clutching, shifting ... everything a coach driver does automatically impacts on
fuel consumption and parts wear. However, you can save money and go easy on the environment by
adopting a consistently economical driving style. This is something that the OMNIplus EcoTraining
programme proves with every one of its courses.
J
ust a few kilometres beyond Ulm’s
city limits, the K9904 county road
leads up a long mountain incline to
Harthausen. The bus driver at the wheel of
the S 415 GT-HD accelerates only slightly
before the incline, on the assumption that
this approach is the most fuel-efficient. He
can feel Norbert Stember’s eyes on him,
who sits directly behind him in the front row
of the Setra touring coach and diligently
takes notes on, for example, the number of
gear-switching operations. A digital meter
placed next to the trainer records distance,
average fuel consumption and travel time.
The trainer won’t be commenting on this
trip. On the next round, in the afternoon,
things will be different. Then, Mr Stember
will take a seat next to the driver and offer
his advice.
Tips on saving fuel
Release the gas pedal early and take advantage of “rolling”: When leaving the
highway, entering city limits or heading towards a red light, release the gas pedal and
take advantage of the coach’s natural momentum.
Avoid standing still: When heading towards traffic lights, roundabouts and exits, try
to keep rolling instead of standing completely still. Ideally, the wear-free brake will be
at work.
Drive at uniform instead of top speeds: In heavy traffic, if you overtake at every
turn, you’ll hardly arrive at your destination any sooner, but your fuel consumption
will increase significantly.
Make targeted use of your cruise control and distance control systems: When
driving along flat roads, use your cruise control to keep your speed as constant as
possible. On more hilly terrain, however, switch off the cruise feature, and use the
momentum on a downward slope to pick up speed for the next incline.
Develop a relaxed attitude: Learn to accept headwinds, construction sites or
heavy traffic. They’ll keep you from driving at record speeds.
Set goals using sound judgment: Don’t put yourself under unnecessary pressure.
Every half litre saved is a worthy success in itself.
Each of the two two-hour practical
segments of the EcoTraining programme,
offered by the OMNIplus service brand,
provides bus drivers with the basics of economical
driving, or enables them to refresh
their skills. Between the two practice sessions,
participants will swap the steering
wheel for the OMNIplus training room in
Ulm. There, they will find out everything
there is to know about legal requirements,
drive technologies and gear types before
they head out to the streets again with their
newly acquired knowledge.
“The overriding objective of the EcoTraining
programme is to equip participants to
master an economical and environmentallyaware
driving style, and therefore saving
fuel, and protecting tyres, brake and clutch
linings, without necessarily driving more
slowly,” explains Goerdt Gatermann. Over
the past ten years, the OMNIplus Driver-
Training team leader and his team have
trained close to 800 drivers a year. He
knows exactly where the participants’ problems
lie: “It’s a long-term development
process. Economical driving needs to be
practiced every day, drivers need to be
sensitised to it and they have to really
understand the economic aspect in all its
dimensions. All too soon, many drivers
lapse into their old, habitual driving style.”
Forward-looking, environmentallycompatible
and passenger-friendly
Especially in times of ever increasing fuel
prices, it is even more important to drive in a
way that is economical, environmentally
aware and forward-looking. Especially those
companies on extremely tight budgets will
be grateful to their drivers. And, keep in
mind that a prudent driving style also means
arriving at your destination more safely and
more comfortably.
Enhanced web presence – www.setra.de and www.setra-bus.com:
Just a mouse click away
ave a look at the Setra website, you’ll
H find it’s very much worth your while.
It includes the latest news and important
information on the brand, services, events
and models. For example, you’ll experience
the new ComfortClass 500 touring coaches
in all their facets through extensive information
windows and virtual camera tours.
You’ll also have an opportunity to find out
about the fascinating results of the big Record
Run Buses 2012 test drive.
18 regional and language versions
Via the country and language selection, you
can choose between the different versions
for Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic,
Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and of course Germany.
Schmidt co. in Gülchsheim/Thürauf co. in Bad Windsheim:
It runs in the family
hen Rudolf Schmidt, son of the
W coach operator Karl Schmidt in
Gülchsheim, and Anette Thürauf, daughter
of coach operator William Thürauf in Bad
Windsheim, met for the first time, Cupid
was most definitely at work. The two companies
were located in two Franconian
villages no more than 30 km apart and the
two young people were destined to meet.
Today, Rudolf Schmidt, together with his
brother-in-law Christof, runs the very successful
Thürauf GmbH, Reisebüro und Busreisen,
the largest bus operation in Middle
Franconia. With their children, Nicole and
René Schmidt, the third generation is now
active in the family business. But Karl
Schmidt, founder of Schmidt-Reisen, had
no reason to be discouraged following his
son’s departure. His daughter Heidi joined
the company which she now runs with her
husband, Richard Pregitzer. And, a deeply
felt passion for Setra coaches continues to
be intrinsic to the company’s culture. As a
special highlight, Schmidt-Reisen offers a
nostalgic coach tour through the Franconian
Turkey and Russia will follow shortly. Users
from different countries can easily access
the information that is relevant to their specific
country: contact partners, technical
data and brochures on the various models.
And it’s all just a click away!
mountains in a 1965 Setra S 9. In 1994,
the company discovered the vintage coach
in Bavaria and lovingly restored it to its
original glory.
Even in snowstorms, several generations of the
Schmidt family come together in Neu-Ulm to take
over their newly purchased coaches: Karl Schmidt
(2 nd from r.) with grandson René Schmidt (r.), son
Rudolf Schmidt (2 nd from l.) and Christof Thürauf
(l.) picking up their new S 415 UL