The largest ever edition of Automechanika Middle East recently concluded in Dubai. The 9th edition of the largest international automotive aftermarket trade fair in the Middle East welcomed 17,421 trade visitors from over 120 countries. In terms of exhibitors, 1,102 companies featuring products and services across the entire spectrum of the automotive aftermarket industry were represented from 52 different countries, rendering it a truly international exhibition.

ComfortDelGro Engineering seized this golden opportunity and displayed its own brand of premium automotive products, SPARK™. Despite not having the advantage of proximity, the company's outstanding track records and global footprints still managed to create a lasting impression on many of the booth visitors.

Following the success at Automechanika Middle East, ComfortDelGro Engineering will be going back to Shanghai this December to create a second impact on its automotive industry.

For local distribution and export of SPARK™ products, please contact our product specialist Danica at 6383 6038 or danicaroxas@cdge.com.sg for more enquiries.

Automechanika Shanghai, Asia's largest trade fair for automotive parts, equipment and services, took place on the 8th to 11th of December 2010 at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. The sixth edition attracted a record-breaking 3,115 exhibitors from 27 countries and regions, showcasing their latest automotive products, services and innovations in 138,000 sqm of exhibition space covering 11 established halls plus six temporary halls.

Housed under the Singapore Pavilion, ComfortDelGro Engineering is honored to be part of the fair, showcasing its own brand of automotive products, SPARK^TM. From lubricants, additives, filters to accessories, visitors of the trade fair got to experience the outstanding quality of the wide range of SPARK^TM products.

Following the success at Automechanika Shanghai 2010, ComfortDelGro Engineering will be participating in various other automotive tradeshows all around the world in the year 2011 to push SPARK^TM products to even greater heights.

For local distribution and export of SPARK^TM products, please contact our product specialist Danica at 6383 6038 or danicaroxas@cdge.com.sg for more enquiries.

SBS TRANSIT EMBARKS ON SINGAPORE’S FIRST FUEL CELL AND HYBRID BUS TRIALS

One discharges clean, clear water from its exhaust pipe instead of fumes while the other runs on electricity a quarter of the time it is on the roads.

Known as a fuel cell and diesel hybrid bus respectively, the buses are part of a landmark trial by SBS Transit which brings truly Green solutions to Singapore's public transport industry for the first time.

The fuel cell bus, which has zero carbon emissions, is a collaborative effort between the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Beijing's Tsinghua University, China's second largest bus manufacturer Higer, and SBS Transit. It is powered by two sources of energy – hydrogen and lithium-ion batteries. A fuel cell system housed on board the bus acts as an "energy converter" that transforms hydrogen into electricity, which powers the bus and charges the batteries at the same time. The bus, which will be garaged at NTU where a refuelling station is located, will be used to ferry delegates of the Singapore Youth Olympic Games, providing shuttle service in the Games Village located at NTU. Upon completion of the Games, it will be deployed to run on an SBS Transit route that caters to the NTU community.

The hybrid bus, which runs on both diesel and electricity, was brought in by ComfortDelGro Engineering in collaboration with Shanghai Sunlong Bus Company and Gemilang Coachworks of Malaysia. Fuel savings of up to 30% are derived by using electricity to power the bus. Essentially, electricity is generated through brake energy and stored in Lithium-ion batteries. The energy in the batteries is released to assist the engine in powering the vehicle. As a result, fuel consumption drops. The bus uses a parallel hybrid system that is developed by Eaton Corporation of the United States where a motor/generator is used to convert the electrical energy into mechanical energy and vice versa.

At the launch ceremony today to mark the first green bus trials in the country, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Transport & Community Development, Youth and Sports said: "Today's launch brings us a step closer towards creating a sustainable land transport system in Singapore."

He added that the collaboration between SBS Transit and local and foreign academics, as well as foreign bus manufacturers to test out new technologies in our local context "is a step in the right direction".

SBS Transit Chief Executive Officer, Mr Gan Juay Kiat, said: "SBS Transit runs the bulk of public bus services in Singapore. We are very conscious of the impact of our operations on the environment. That is why we don’t just stop at replacing our fleet with new buses that are Euro 5 compliant. We believe that newer, alternative forms of energy are the way to go which is why we are embarking on these two bus trials."

In all, there will be two hybrid buses that will be deployed on Service 185, which plies between Soon Lee Depot and the Buona Vista Terminal, serving residents in Jurong East, Jurong West and Clementi. Both the fuel cell and hybrid trials will commence in August 2010 and are expected to last a year.

From July 2010, the vehicle maintenance arm of ComfortDelGro Engineering would be operating under a new brand, SPARK Car Care^TM.

SPARK Car Care^TM symbolises energy, revitalised and a fresh beginning. Coupled with the new brand outlook, all frontline staff has undergone customised customer service training to reinforce delivering an enhanced service experience to customers.

Though it is no secret that the company maintains ComfortDelGro Group's fleet of 15,000 taxis, there is a perception that the company only serves internal fleet. The company has been offering a myriad range of automotive services to passenger car drivers and commercial fleet owners for more than 30 years. With its six strategically located SPARK Car Care^TM centres, it services over 100,000 vehicles of diverse makes and models annually. Each car care centre has its dedicated team of engineers and technicians serving the privately-owned vehicles.

The new brand strives to create an independent and service-oriented identity to customers. With its extensive technical expertise, strong service culture and a galore of automotive solutions, SPARK Car Care^TM aims to be the preferred choice for motoring needs.