EU-funded EBSF_2 project launched at UITP World Congress

The EBSF_2 (European Bus System of the Future 2) project has launched at the UITP World Congress and Exhibition in Milan.

EBSF_2, part of the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, heralds the start of a three-year project that will continue to drive bus system innovation that began under the first successful EBSF project that ran from 2008 to 2012.

The project will bring together manufacturers, operators, research institutes and authorities in order to test and evaluate a set of technological solutions to improve the efficiency and attractiveness of urban and suburban bus systems.

EBSF_2 will be predominantly funded by the EU providing €10 million of a €12.4 million budget. The project will address several areas for innovation through demonstrations in real service across 12 cities. Themes include energy management and auxiliaries, driver assistance, exterior and interior bus layout, IT standards and the interface of the bus with the system in terms of both intelligent garage and urban infrastructure. In order to ensure a wide market uptake after the end of the project, these technological innovations will deal with various bus systems, from BRT to local lines and all with current propulsion technologies.

 Alain Flausch, Secretary General of UITP spoke at the launch of EBSF_2: “As an association, we have a strategy to double the market share of public transport by 2025. The EBSF_2 project is undoubtedly part of that agenda.

“Bus systems offer a huge potential to attract new public transport customers and promote low-carbon and resource-efficient mobility.”

The EBSF_2 project launch also revealed Transport for London’s Mike Western will chair the new UITP bus Committee.