Have you ever taken one of these high-tech buses?

The environment in big cities is getting worse and worse, and everyone is calling on each other to take public transportation. However, for every ordinary person, although buses are very cheap and environmentally friendly, sometimes the distance to the bus stop is too far or it is inconvenient to take the bus, which becomes an obstacle to our public transportation travel.

Now, a new generation of public transportation systems has appeared all over the world. Whether it is buses, coaches or bus stops, with the promotion of new technologies and new energy, taking the bus is no longer a very troublesome thing. Let's take a look at how the high-tech buses that have appeared now will bring convenience to our environment or life.

Electric bus with a range of 400 kilometers

When it comes to improving the environment, electric or hybrid vehicles are undoubtedly the most popular ways. In the field of civilian vehicles, hybrid and electric vehicles are developing rapidly, and in fact, we have also seen them in the field of large passenger vehicles.

The biggest problem for electric buses is the limited range. Now, an American company has launched a model that is said to have a range of more than 402 kilometers. This model, called "Proterra Catalyst XR", is said to have the best energy consumption performance among 12-meter commuter buses.

The model uses a new energy storage technology, achieving a capacity of 257kWh through 8 battery packs. According to the company, they have not only made improvements in battery technology, but also tried their best to improve the energy efficiency of the vehicle itself. The streamlined body is made of carbon fiber and advanced composite materials, giving it stronger aerodynamic performance. At an average speed of 48 km/h, the Catalyst XR achieves a range of 415 kilometers, with an average energy consumption of 0.5 kWh/km.

Driverless Bus

Autonomous driving, like electric cars, is also the hottest technology in the automotive field, and many automakers have stated that truly autonomous cars will be on the road by 2020. Currently, manufacturers including Google, Volvo, Nissan, and Audi are developing and testing autonomous cars, but autonomous buses have already appeared quietly.

Recently, the UK's first driverless bus to run on the road was unveiled in its capital London. This passenger bus is mainly converted from an electric bus at London Heathrow Airport and will not be restricted to dedicated tracks. It is reported that the driverless bus is part of the GATEway project, which is used to test driverless cars to prove that it is one of the most effective transportation options in the UK.

Currently, a total of seven buses have been converted and will be tested on Greenwich Road in July this year. The test route is still being planned. After that, these driverless buses will be used as airport shuttle buses, transporting 1.5 million passengers each year and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 tons.

New York City buses with Wi-Fi, screens and USB charging stations

In addition to the new power source, New York City will make some necessary technical upgrades in its public transportation. It is reported that New York will invest $1.3 billion to purchase 2,042 new buses to meet the needs of the new era. They will be equipped with high-tech Wi-Fi hotspots and ports for charging mobile phones. In addition, there will be electronic signs on the bus to display relevant information. The New York Transportation Authority (MTA)'s plan also includes upgrading and renovating existing buses, adding charging ports and Wi-Fi hotspots.

It is reported that the new buses will be put into use in Queens in April first, and then gradually extended to the whole New York City. The new buses have "European style, streamlined design is like the Ferrari of buses". Of course, the cost of each new bus is not cheap. The cost of $755,000 includes $2,000 for Wi-Fi service and $3,000 for USB charging port installation. At the same time, the new electronic digital information signboards will provide passengers with a variety of convenient and concise transportation and life information. This transformation adds $15,000 to the cost of each bus.

London E-ink Bus Stop Sign

I believe many people have had this experience: when you are in a hurry, you wait for a bus but no one comes, but those buses that can't go to the place you want to go pass by one by one. Now, London will use a new electronic bus sign to provide passengers with real-time travel information. In this bus sign, the map location, timetable and arrival schedule of the bus will be clearly displayed in real time. Although it can't help the bus run faster, it can at least tell you the real-time situation of the bus, so that passengers can reduce unnecessary waiting time.

According to reports, the size of this screen is similar to that of an ordinary bus sign, equivalent to three A4 papers placed vertically together, and it also provides color buttons for lighting and page turning. This new type of sign can bring higher readability and environmental protection. Like Kindle, the content they display can be easily seen even under strong sunlight, and the energy consumption is also lower than that of traditional full-color screens.

This facility will bring great changes to our lives, allowing users to improve efficiency and reduce time waste. In order to save energy, this bus sign is powered by solar energy and connects all the bus stops with the bus through the 4G network to tell passengers the information they want to know in real time.

Paris Smart Bus Booth

In 2015, Paris renovated several smart bus shelters. In addition to instant information, when pedestrians and passengers scan the signs at the bus shelters with their smartphones, the signs equipped with near-field communication equipment can display the latest bus conditions, timetables, maps and other information for the entire Paris city area, and can be stored in the phone for easy transfers.

In addition, these bus kiosks also help pedestrians and tourists explore the neighborhood. They can search for practical and convenient life information from the touch screen, such as nearby restaurants, which convenience stores are open after midnight, or recommended entertainment venues.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.