Hyundai Motors unveiled their new electric double-decker bus in Korea.
Hyundai Motors’ electric bus is part of the company’s effort to help reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. It was unveiled at the ‘Land, Infrastructure, and Transport Technology Fair’ in Korea, which will last from May 29 to 31, 2019.
Beginning in 2017, the project and took 18 months to complete and was supported by the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport. The bus would allow up to 70 passengers onboard–11 seats on the first floor and 59 seats on the second floor–offering 1.5 times as many passengers as compared to that of a regular bus. By implementing two fixed-in-space wheelchairs, an automatic sliding ramp, and low floor design, the double-decker bus also provides accessibility for disabled and mobility impaired passengers.
“The double-decker electric bus is an environmentally friendly vehicle optimized for global eco-friendly trends,” said ByoungWoo Hwang, Head of Commercial Vehicle Advanced Engineering team at Hyundai Motor. “This will not only ultimately improve the air quality but also contribute greatly to easing commuting hour traffic congestion by accommodating more passengers.”
The bus itself is 12,990 mm long, about 3,995 mm high and is equipped with 384kWh high-efficiency water-cooled polymer battery that enables a driving distance of 300 km on a single 72 minutes full charge. Moreover, it runs on an independent suspension system in the first driving axle, and a 240kW wheel motor axle combined with a motor in the second axle the minimizes the loss of electricity. A rear-wheel steering system works with the steering system of the first axle, which improves overall steering performance.
Some of the advanced safety features equipped on the bus are:
- Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC)–helps identify the driver’s intended driving direction and maintain vehicle control;
- Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA)–uses the car’s front-facing camera to help detect an imminent collision and avoid impact or minimize damage by braking autonomously; and
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)–helps prevent accidental lane departure by sensing road markings.
