The aim of the consortium's project is to automate a 40-foot bus for automated depot operations, which is expected to revolutionize how buses are stored, operated, and charged.

Lightning ZEV4 Type A School Bus, Clean Bus certification and funding, and Lightning Mobile fast charging trailer, are just some of the products and developments the e-Mobility specialist has brought to market this year.

Vehicle deployment is to take place on the 120 acre campus in mid-2024.

A new cover for bus air-conditioning (A/C) systems made using natural fibre composite technology was unveiled at Busworld last month: the ampliTex technical fabric was supplied by Swiss company, Bcomp.

At the show, Schunk demonstrated its latest products from the SLS range of pantographs and presented a new ‘Underbody Charger System’.

According to the terms of the non-binding agreement, Ford Otosan will support Quantron in fitting F-Max trucks with a fuel cell electric powertrain, comprising e-axle, high-power battery, fuel cells, and hydrogen storage tanks.

At its stand, Webasto presented a mock-up of a passenger shuttle “installed” with components from its wide portfolio of electrical products.

The vehicle showcased at Busworld (called the ‘E-Civitas’) was based on a Volkswagen ‘Crafter, while the new flooring concept, called ‘Triflex Air 2.0 Flooring System’, is based on a structure made of aluminium and composites.

Elinta Motors’ electric drive system, which integrates the motor and transmission in a single package, comes in two configurations: a 400-volt product and an 800-volt one.

Telma’s retarders for commercial vehicles do not use drag force from brake pads to slow the vehicle down; instead, they are “induction” or “eddy current” brakes which use electromagnetism to dissipate the kinetic energy as heat, thus slowing the vehicle down without any friction.

The ‘City 45 Electric’, based on the Mercedes ‘Sprinter’ van, is a 7.4-metre vehicle with seating for up to 20 passengers.

The steering concepts have been developed over three years in response to a survey of bus drivers conducted by the RMT, which found that 78% of drivers surveyed said that their work causes them back pain, shoulder pain, and/or neck pain.