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Automatic Passenger Counters for Improving Public Transport

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Fleet companies that operate cabs, buses, and coaches and companies that manage public trains and trams need to keep data on the number of passengers boarding and alighting for accountability. Earlier, manual counting was the only way to record such data.

But today, technology has really changed how things are done. These public transport vehicles are fitted with automatic passenger counting (APC) devices that will actually transmit the tally in real time to a remote location.

The availability of such technology is a big invention in the public transport sector that has brought numerous positive changes. Let us dive deeper into how the sector has changed through using APC devices. [Read more…] about Automatic Passenger Counters for Improving Public Transport

How driverless shuttle vehicles can get safely from A to B

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Project 3F, a consortium of six partners led by Bosch, has presented its results for automated driving in the low-speed range. (See video below.)

Their main finding is that the vehicle can continue driving despite deviations on the specified route and technical failures in the system.

The transport of people and goods were tested on test tracks in Renningen and Aachen, Germany. [Read more…] about How driverless shuttle vehicles can get safely from A to B

Autonomous buses and shuttles reflect ‘strong societal trends’, says report

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Autonomous buses and robotic shuttles reflect “strong societal trends”, such as ageing populations who are less mobile and the record numbers of people moving to cities, according to a new report.

These are among the findings of a study by IDTechEx, Robot Shuttles and Autonomous Buses 2020-2040, said to be the first in-depth report on the subject.

Robot shuttles are an important new, reconfigurable form of transportation for goods and people that may even function as mobile offices, workshops, restaurants and more. [Read more…] about Autonomous buses and shuttles reflect ‘strong societal trends’, says report

Volvo receives Europe’s largest order for electric buses

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Volvo Buses has received the largest single order for electric buses in Europe. The company will deliver 157 electric articulated buses to European transportation giant Transdev starting in 2020.

The buses will operate on a number of routes in Gothenburg.

With their introduction, emissions and noise will be significantly reduced, and the electric buses will be able to operate in sensitive areas or zones with special restrictions. [Read more…] about Volvo receives Europe’s largest order for electric buses

Alstom unveils recharging system for electric buses

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Alstom has launched the latest innovation in its range of ground-based recharging systems – SRS dedicated to electric buses.

The premiere, as part of the “Paloma” pilot project currently under way in the southern Spanish city of Malaga, sees a prototype of SRS for e-buses operating at a bus stop in front of the University of Malaga’s School of Industrial Engineering.

It is equipped with a 200 kW charger and is associated with a 12-metre Linkker e-bus which is running on Bus Line 1, operated by EMT, the local transport operator. [Read more…] about Alstom unveils recharging system for electric buses

Eltec Elektronik launches wireless router for trains and buses

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Eltec Elektronik is expanding its wireless routers family through the addition of the CyBox GW-P, which combines the functions of a Wi-Fi access point and a communication server in one compact system solution. The CyBox GW-P was developed specifically for deployment in trains and buses.

Thanks to the bundling of up to four LTE channels and data speeds of 600 Mbit/s (downloads) and 200 Mbit/s (uploads), the CyBox GW-P supports broadband vehicle-land data sharing communications.

A Wave 2 module provides data speeds of up to 1.7 Gbit/s and 4×4 MIMO as well as two Gigabit Ethernet interfaces for local communication.

[Read more…] about Eltec Elektronik launches wireless router for trains and buses

AkaSol shows next generation high-performance battery systems for e-buses

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AkaSol is currently showcasing its AkaSystem original equipment manufacturer battery system as a complete roof installation including the chiller and other additional components at BusWorld Europe, which is on now. 

The new battery system has allowed AkaSol to be “very successful” in the market for electric and hybrid buses, says the company.

From 2018, two well-known European bus manufacturers will be using the technology in Germany, with plans to equip around 10,000 e-buses over the next few years.  [Read more…] about AkaSol shows next generation high-performance battery systems for e-buses

ABB and Nova Bus announce collaboration on electric transportation

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abb nova buses electric charging
ABB links up with Nova Buses for electric charging. Picture: Anna Rehnberg for ABB

ABB and Nova Bus have partnered to meet what they see as the “growing need for electric buses and charging infrastructure in North America”

ABB, an engineering company specializing in automotive energy technologies, and Nova Bus, the North American buses manufacturer and division of Volvo Buses, have entered a business collaboration that consists of the delivery of the first ABB’s electric bus “opportunity charger” in North America.

This is the latest development in ABB’s growing network of electric charging infrastructure.

This collaboration reflects Nova Bus plans to keep investing in climate action by offering charging stations and electrified bus solutions to major cities in the United States and Canada.

Derek Monk, general manager, ABB in Canada, says: “Transportation can be one of the biggest contributors to climate change. Supporting Nova Bus with ABB’s innovative charging solution will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Volvo Buses, it represents a major step in the advancement of electric buses in public transit in North America and it will be the first ABB electric bus opportunity charging station in the Americas.”  [Read more…] about ABB and Nova Bus announce collaboration on electric transportation