European Bus Systems of the Future 2: Design Charter for Innovative Electric Buses

Summary

In 2016, UITP took the lead to draft the first ever Design Charter for Innovative Electric Buses, in collaboration with designers from Attoma, MAN Truck & Bus AG, RATP and Yellow Window. As part of the European Bus System of the Future 2 project (EBSF_2), which came to a close at the end of April 2018, the Charter was meant to use the transition from fuel to electricity as an opportunity to improve customer experience. 

Electrically-powered buses allow designers to envision a new architecture for revamping the bus experience on its own terms, matching mobility industry trends and the wider social evolution. The Charter consists of illustrated design principles which are translated in coherent and understandable architecture hypothesis for e-buses. Such architecture hypothesis are not stylistic and aesthetic recommendations for the design of future buses, but principles that manufacturers might be able to interpret and adapt according to their own design culture and processes. To get the full perspective of the bus ecosystem, the Charter integrated the views of passengers, operators, manufacturers and city leaders.

The structure of the Charter is designed like a journey, from the vehicle’s exiting the garage to the end of its run in the depot. The first element presented in the charter is the presence in the city or how recognisable the e-buses are in the urban landscape, followed by the first contact of users at the stations, the access at the station and the boarding.