From EBSF to EBSF_2: A Compelling Agenda for the Bus of the Future. A decade of research for more attractive and sustainable buses

EBSF – European Bus System of the Future (2008– 2013) and the recently started EBSF_2 (2015 – 2018) are two research projects led by UITP and funded by the European Union with the aim of developing a new generation of buses across Europe. If the (accomplished) goals of the former were to increase the bus attractiveness by testing innovative vehicles (e.g. providing improved comfort and accessibility for drivers and passengers, and making smart use of energy on board) integrated in the European urban scenarios (e.g. adapted to different cities, featuring new services for passengers and operators, and being the core part of the whole transport network), the latter is committed to raise the image of the bus through solutions for increased efficiency of the system, mainly in terms of energy consumption and operational costs. More comfortable and accessible bus layouts, advanced maintenance tools and processes, energy management, interoperable IT solutions based on European standards and ecodriving are key working areas in both projects. All of the above relies on demonstrators, i.e. the innovative measures are tested on vehicles operating in real urban environments, and performance are independently assessed. The paper describes the methodology and the test process adopted in both projects, and reports the many results so far achieved and the new challenges ahead, with the research objective to provide advance knowledge for further applications beyond the European projects field.