宇通 ZK6118HGE Yutong ZK6118HGE

宇通 ZK6118HGE Yutong ZK6118HGE

編號 Class：3088 - 3195 (自二零一八年八月一日開始，Effective from 01 Aug., 2018)

自中國製巴士於二零零五年登陸澳門開始，兩家巴士公司：新福利及澳巴都各自向不同中國車廠訂購新車，當中澳巴由小型巴士到大型低地台單層巴士，均屬意位於深圳的五洲龍提供新車，跟對手的取態截然不同。正當大家以為澳巴在往後車隊更替中，只會向五洲龍招手時，二零一四年的澳巴新車訂單卻落入了另一家中國車廠─宇通手上，當中包括二十六架ZK6118HGE大型低地台單層巴士。

長久以來，澳巴在其五洲龍車隊都是選配由玉柴製造的引擎，配以Allison全自動波箱作為動力來源，除了二零一三年投入服務的FDG6951G是一個例外。所以當二零一四年三月尾，澳巴公開招標購買新車時候，從機械規格要求中需要採用玉柴引擎及Allison傳動系統時，大多數都會自然地認為，五洲龍能夠輕易奪得是次訂單。但是當同年九月底時，披上澳巴色彩的宇通新車出現時，或多或少都令人感到意外。

雖然同款宇通巴士早已出現於維澳蓮運(現新時代)車隊中，但澳巴以至姊妹公司新時代是次購進的宇通新車，跟舊有的仍有若干分別。首先在排放方面，全數宇通新車均達到歐四標準，對比早前維澳蓮運的同款巴士，已經有所進步，當然對比澳巴本身的五洲龍FDG6951G達到更高的歐五排放標準，則另作別論。另外，澳巴這批新車長度稍為長過二零一一年投入服務的宇通，足有十點八米長，除了令到載客量由六十八人提升至七十五人外，同時造就出一個更合理的車廂佈局，最尾一排坐椅不用再緊貼於車尾部份及高高在上。而在外觀方面，除了輪拱形狀有所不同，更明顯的相信是路線牌箱採用了大型橙色LED電子牌箱，能夠提供更清晰的資訊予乘客。

首批八架新車於二零一四年十月尾開始陸續登記出牌，並隨於十一月十三日澳門舉行格蘭披治賽車期間支援大賽車接駁路線，但在賽車活動完結後，這批宇通巴士未有再被派出服務乘客，直到十二月中左右開始，才接替隊中的日野Rainbow大型低地台巴士，行走主幹路線22。餘下的十八架新車則趕及二零一五年春節前投入服務，行走澳氹快線MT3及往返澳大橫琴校園的MT3U(現73)路線。

由於需要配合澳門政府嚴格執行，限制車重達十五噸或以上車輛駛過舊澳氹大橋(嘉樂庇總督大橋)，為確保能夠有足夠符合規定的巴士行走過橋巴士路線，於二零一七年十月底開始，澳巴與新時代進行了車隊交換工作，當中澳巴二十一架ZK6118HGE連同五架ZK6128HGE被調撥至新時代車隊，以作交換新時代同等數目的宇通ZK6115HG1。隨著二零一八年八月一日新時代正式併入澳巴，原新時代購入的宇通ZK6118HGE(3088 - 3097)轉為澳巴擁有，而原澳巴轉往新時代的車輛，亦於同日開始回歸澳巴車隊。

TCM in Macau showing it loyalty to Wuzhoulong since the first Wuzhoulong joined the fleet in 2005. The fleet of TCM mainly composed of Wuzhoulong from minibus to full-sized single decker and as a result , most people took it for granted that Wuzhoulong will be the first choice for TCM when acquiring new bus. The Wuzhoulong (except the FDG6951G introduced in 2013) in TCM showing standardization, powered by Yuchai engine and Allison fully automatic gearbox. When TCM acquired a batch of new buses with the above mechanical specification in Mar., 2014, Wuzhoulong should get this tender easily, however, it went to another bus builder in China, Yutong.

There is total 26 Yutong ZK6118HGE purchased by TCM. There are some differences between this batch of Yutong and those operated by New Era (introduced by Reolian in 2011). First, the length of the Yutong operated by TCM is 10.8m long while those new in 2011 only 10.5m in length. Benefited from the lengthen body, a much reasonable compartment resulted and the carrying capacity increased from 68 to 75 with 26 seats offered. In addition, a different wheel arch designed was applied and a larger orange coloured LED route display fitted, hence, much clear route details can be provided. All of the Yutong ZK6118HGE complied with Euro 4 emission standard in contrast to the Reolian Yutong, only meet the Euro 3 standard.

The first batch of 8 Yutong ZK6118HGE registered in the end of Oct ., 2014 and first served shuttle service of the Macau Grand Prix on 13 Nov., 2014. Before they were deployed on Taipa route 22 to substitute the Hino Rainbow in Dec ., 2014, this batch of Yutong was stored in the depot. The remaining 18 ZK6118HGE entered service just before the Lunar New Year of 2015 and mainly serving route MT3 and MT3U (now known as route 73).

As no vehicles gross vehicle weight 15 tonnes or above was allowed to pass through Macau-Taipa Bridge (Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho), to ensure sufficient fleet for bus routes en-route the bridge, a batch of 21 ZK6118HGE together with a batch of 5 ZK6128HGE were exchanged with the same number of Yutong ZK6115HG1from New Era in the end of Oct., 2017. All Yutong ZK6118HGE were transferred, or backed to TCM on 1 Aug., 2018 when New Era was merged with TCM.

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