Electrically Powered Maneuverable Public Transportation With High Capacity

Electric and hybrid vehicles will be conquering the cities: cars, bicycles, buses and trains. This is why new ideas are in demand for individual and public transportation. In “Fraunhofer’s System Research for Electromobility” researchers are coming up with solutions for tomorrow’s mobility.

The AutoTram® is as long as a streetcar and as maneuverable as a bus. It doesn’t need rails or overhead lines because the “BusBahn” rolls on rubber tires and simply follows white lines on the street. Another plus is the fact that people waiting at stops will not have to smell exhaust fumes in the future when a bus stops and starts again because tomorrow’s means of transport will be using electricity, hydrogen or a combination of various regenerative drives.

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UTC Hydrogen Fuel Cell Sets Performance Record on Oakland AC Transit Hybrid Electric Bus

A UTC Power PureMotion 120 System hydrogen fuel cell in an Alameda-Contra Costa Transit (AC Transit) hybrid electric bus has set a performance record by running more than 10,000 hours on its original cell stack, the Hartford, Ct.-based manufacturer announced recently.

More than 50% efficient, around double that of diesel-powered buses, the proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell is powered by hydrogen that isn’t produced from natural gas. As a result, AC Transit’s hydrogen fuel cell-powered hybrid electric buses emit nothing but water vapor. They produce zero greenhouse gas emissions and no particulates.

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Europe 'falling behind' in green investment race

Electric vehicles, zero emission motorbikes and even innovative bicycles tend to hog the ‘green’ limelight. But, buses with their much higher passenger carrying capacity, have the potential to contribute to a greater degree of sustainable efficiency. The green approach can even be holistic, because of their(buses) status as a definitive component of public transportation. Taking all of these into account, industrial designer Francesc Gasch has conjured up the hybrid powered B2us, which is a low emission public bus, proposed for the renowned city of Barcelona.

Hybrid bus for Barcelona by Francesc Gasch

 

The concept form exhibits a clean, uncluttered linearity combined with smooth curves at the corners. The simplistic color combination of black, red and white also is easy on the eyes, even as the efficient features on the inside of the bus is what really stands out. The transmission will be hybrid, with part of it being guided by clean solar power. The solar panels are installed on the top roof. The advanced suspension would be based on magnetic levitation (a method by which an object is suspended with support from magnetic fields).

All said, the most striking attribute of the B2us will be its utilization of OLED (Organic LED) technology. The element of novelty will become much more apparent, as the side facades would display information (on the inside) regarding location of the bus and seat availability. According to the designer, the OLED panels will allow imaging of complex surfaces with significant efficaciousness. So at the end of the day, we will have an aesthetically simple, eco friendly bus that accentuates the sustainable facet of public transportation as well as that of the overall city.

Source: ecofriend
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