Trends in bus design: shaping the future of urban mobility.

The principles governing bus design are constantly evolving to meet changing regulations, contracting authorities’ needs, and passengers’ preferences. Current trends include an increasing emphasis on the comfort and safety of travel and the energy efficiency of driving. In the following article, Robert Kordus – Team Manager, Competence Centre Exterior at Endego will outline some of the key factors that are shaping the face of modern buses.

From this article, you will learn:

• What are the characteristics of zero-emission buses and why they becoming a necessity in the context of climate change;
• What modern technologies are finding their way into bus design, improving travel comfort and passenger satisfaction;
• Why the design of the interior of buses is becoming as important as their exterior, and what elements are key to passenger comfort;
• What facilities are making buses increasingly disabled-friendly;
• How modern bus designs place an emphasis on reducing noise emissions and the advantages of using modern, lightweight materials in their manufacture.

Low-emission

With the increasingly pressing issue of climate change, the spread of zero- and low-emission buses is becoming a necessity. Electric and hydrogen public transport vehicles are gaining popularity, reducing public transport-related emissions and contributing to global sustainability goals.

Electric buses are one of the fastest-growing product groups in the industry. They are quiet, have zero emissions and are ideal for urban environments. The design of these vehicles also incorporates charging technology at bus stops, which will make it easier and more practical to recharge the bus batteries.

Technology on board

With the development of technology, there is an increasing focus on providing passengers with internet access and charging their devices. Therefore, modern buses are often equipped with free Wi-Fi and USB ports for charging smartphones and tablets. This significantly increases the comfort of the journey and passenger satisfaction.

Interior design and passenger comfort

The interior design of buses is becoming just as important as their external appearance. Air conditioning is now standard. Modern buses often have ergonomic seats, spacious and well-lit areas, as well as appropriate signage and passenger information. It is also important to provide plenty of luggage space and storage space for bicycles or prams.

Facilities for people with disabilities

Increasing attention is being paid to the friendliness of vehicles for people with disabilities. Modern buses have special ramps, wide doors, and spacious areas for wheelchair users. It is also important to allow access for the visually impaired or blind through appropriate signage and audible signalling.

Reducing noise emissions

Buses are notorious for generating high levels of noise during their journey, which can be a nuisance to passengers and city dwellers. For this reason, modern public transport vehicle designs pay a lot of attention to aspects such as:

• appropriate insulation materials
• or quieter propulsion systems
• are just some of the many solutions currently used to reduce noise emissions.

Use of modern materials

Innovative technologies make it possible to use lightweight yet strong materials, which translates not only into a reduction in the weight of the bus, but also into improved energy efficiency. Aluminium, composites, or metal alloys are particularly popular choices among modern vehicle manufacturers. The use of such raw materials increases design freedom and makes it possible to achieve both functional and interesting design solutions. Under the new regulations, the use of flame-retardant materials for body interiors is also extremely important.

Summary

Bus design is constantly evolving to meet the challenges of today. The industry is moving towards increasingly sustainable, comfortable, and intelligent solutions. The future of urban mobility today is being shaped by innovation combined with concern for the environment and passengers. Autonomous vehicles are also already in the queue for mass dissemination. Contact us to find out what we can do together for the future of public transport.