Database update December 2020
The December update includes a wide variety of vehicles in addition to the current Crash Recovery System offering.
Passenger cars
For the car database, the addition includes the Lexus LC 500 convertible. This car model, equipped with a conventional powertrain, features a four-layer fabric roof. For this roof Lexus uses a wrinkle-free fabric and the lightweight roof construction (combination of magnesium and aluminum) tightens the soft-top. Lexus has applied several reinforcements “under the skin” to keep the LC body rigid, as can be seen in the attached photo gallery. A point of attention for rescue services. Lexus indicates that the car is just as stiff as the closed variant, the coupé that was previously included in the Crash Recovery System. Pay attention! The doors and boot lid contain carbon fiber reinforced polymers. When cutting carbon-reinforced plastic, small splinters and dust are released.
Furthermore, the database has been expanded with the fully electrically powered BMW iX3, about which we have posted an article in the news section of our website. And that’s not the only BMW added in this update! No fewer than thirteen new “mild hybrid” BMW models have been added, including models from the X-series, the 5-series, the 6-series, the 7-series and the 8-series. The hybrids in this database update all come from Japan this time and are the Suzuki Across PHEV, Suzuki Swace Hybrid and the Toyota RAV4 PHEV.
From Germany we added CNG versions of the Audi A3 Sportback and the Volkswagen Golf VIII. Thanks to the bi-fuel design, CNG cars run both on CNG and petrol. CNG stands for “compressed natural gas”, or natural gas. Less CO2 is released with this fuel than with petrol or diesel. Pay attention! These versions therefore have a petrol tank and three CNG tanks, two of which are made of a lightweight composite material and the third of steel.
The two plastic tanks storing the gas work with an operating pressure of up to 200 bar. Thanks to their layout, they weigh 66 percent less than comparable steel cylinders. Their inner layer is a gas-tight polyamide bladder. The load-bearing fiber-reinforced laminate consists of an inner layer of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and a layer of glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) on top. This combination ensures ultra-high strength. Using GFRP not only improves stability, the composite material is also a reliable visual indicator of damage. A point of attention for first responders. Following an application of force from the outside, for example in the event of an accident, the color of the layer changes to a milky-white. Before being installed in a car, each tank is subjected to a hydraulic test at 300 bar during production. The average burst pressure of 580 bar is far higher than this and exceeds the legal requirements of 470 bar by far.
Buses
In November 2020, new bus and coach registrations in the EU slid back by 5.1% compared to November last year. Although all major Western European markets – Italy (+27.0%), France (+13.4%), Germany (+11.6%) and Spain (+5.8%) – posted positive results, Central European countries (-22.6%) dragged down the overall performance of the region. From January to November 2020, EU demand for buses and coaches has decreased by 23.5%, counting 25.532 new registrations in total. Among the largest EU markets, Spain (-41.3%) and Italy (-27.3%) continued to struggle 11 months into the year, while losses were more limited in France (-9.5%) and Germany (-2.4%).
Moditech Rescue Solutions continuously monitors all queries in the Crash Recovery System. We also listen to requests from the market! As a result, we have expanded the bus database with the CNG versions of the following Irisbus models: The Citelus 10.5M and 12M in 2-door version and the Citelus 10.5M and 12M in 3-door version. These buses have four CNG tanks placed longitudinally on the roof, a point of attention for rescue services.
Make sure you are up-to-date and install this update via the update management in the settings of your Crash Recovery System.
Crash Recovery System – Know what’s inside, see what to do!
