Press Room

Exclusive vehicle can be a model for cities around the country

Volare is participating at SPTrans's unprecedented initiative to create a line in the city of São Paulo, the: 605A/10 - Centro Paralímpico (Paralimpic Trainning Center (BPTC) - Subway Jabaquara - with only fully accessible vehicles. The manufacturer was chosen to supply its Volare Access model.

This is the first time in the history of São Paulo that athletes, amateur athletes, employees and regulars will be able to travel back and forth from the Brazilian Paralympic Training Center (BPTC) using a municipal public transport line specially designed for the needs of people with disabilities and difficulties of locomotion. SPTrans has developed an innovative, fully accessible and without ticket gate mini-bus configuration to accommodate four wheelchairs with seat belts embedded in rails arranged on the floor of the vehicle.

For the municipal secretary of Mobility and Transport, Sérgio Avelleda, the initiative shows the commitment of the current management in making São Paulo a truly inclusive city. "Total accessibility is a priority of this administration and the new line, in addition to symbolizing an incentive for our athletes, is also expanding the range that is already offered by the Department of Mobility and Transportation, with an increasingly accessible bus fleet, wider range of Atende+ services and affordable taxi, as well as greater ease to obtain the special single ticket. "

The president of SPTrans, José Carlos Martinelli, also stresses the importance of the investment, which will allow four wheelchair users at once in a single minibus of the municipal system. "It's an innovative layout configuration and an experience that gives us great satisfaction because it will provide real improvement in the routine of people who need and have been making a huge effort to reach the BTCP," he says.

"It is very important and rewarding to participate in this initiative and see that a product, such as Volare Access, designed to provide total accessibility, is being adopted in the most important Brazilian metropolis. Everybody wins, not only the passengers, but the entire society in an inclusive city, "emphasizes João Paulo Ledur, director of the Volare business.

Volare Access, a unique vehicle model in the Brazilian market, has been developed to meet the growing demand and needs of Brazilian and international cities for fully accessible transportation and is both efficient in operation and maintenance.

Volare Access is the first minibus with low floor, "Full Air" pneumatic suspension and rear engine. Its full lowering system and access ramp make it easier, faster and safer for boarding and disembarking children and people with special needs. The 'Full Air' pneumatic suspension with six air bags significantly reduces the vibration transmitted by the road, providing a smooth and comfortable ride for the passengers.

Volare Access has an air-conditioning system, retractable seatbelts, MP3 radio and large side glazing windows for greater visibility, ideal for those who want to enjoy the landscape during the journey. The model is equipped with rear engine Cummins ISF 3.8 , 162 hp and 450 Nm at 1,500 rpm, 5-speed Eaton FSO 4505 C mechanical transmission and power steering. The engine positioning allows easy access to all components, which have an electronically managed cooling system with four fans, which reduces noise levels and ensures constant operating temperature.

Line 605A / 10 (Paralympic Center - Jabaquara Metro), which is operated by Mobibrasil, starts to circulate next Saturday, 17th March 2018, carrying an average of 2,500 people per working day. The line is 3.9 km long, to be covered in about 15 minutes, and departures at intervals of 15 minutes.

Image credit: Gelson Mello da Costa