The motorist has been an easy target for governments, when seeking ‘something to blame’ for city centre pollution levels. While a largely untouched subject matter, at some point in their various ministrations they may start to look at the pollution levels created by buildings, which can be immense by comparison with essential transport.
Of course, trains, trucks, vans and buses of all denominations present their own unique environmental hurdles to be overcome. Transporting large numbers of people in one category of transport does help to reduce carbon footprints but, if you have ever been stuck in a queue of very slow-moving commuter buses, or coachloads of tourists, then you will be aware of a need to close the car windows and put the ventilation system onto ‘recirc.’.
While much of the focus tends to be on London (it is where the bankers and politicians are), exhaust pollution is not just the preserve of the nation’s capital. Even smaller county towns, like Lincoln, suffer from poor air quality, which can be shockingly bad at certain times of the day. Hyundai, which happens to be one of the most progressive transport manufacturers in the world, has its corporate fingers in lots of differently sized problems and, as buses form a sizable percentage of its overall business, it is inevitable that sharing technology between its divisions is also a vital aspect of the company’s development portfolio.
To develop the company’s first electric double-decker bus, Hyundai worked for 18 months on a project that allows up to 70 passengers with added accessibility for disabled and mobility impaired passengers. Its all-new bus features a 384kWh water-cooled high-efficiency polymer battery below the floor, with a maximum 186-miles range on a single charge. A full recharge can be completed in an amazing 72 minutes.
The large electric double-decker bus is 12.99m long and 3.99m high. It runs on an independent suspension system in the first driven axle for a more comfortable ride, and a 240kW wheel motor axle combined with a motor in the second axle that minimises electricity losses. A rear-wheel steering system optimises around-town steering agility.
The double-decker electric bus is an environmentally friendly vehicle designed to meet global eco-trends. It will not only improve the air quality ultimately, but also contribute greatly to easing ‘rush hour’ traffic congestion, by accommodating more passengers.
A number of advanced safety features are also fitted on the bus to ensure the maximum passenger safety such as:
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) that helps identify the driver's intended course and maintain control of the vehicle.
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) uses the bus’s front-facing camera to help detect an imminent collision and avoid impact, or minimise damage, by braking autonomously.
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA) helps to prevent accidental lane departure by sensors reading road markings.
