Testbed Bus

Within the framework of the collaboration platform ElectriCity, electrified buses and technologies and services for them have been demonstrated since 2015 through route 55 and EL 16 in Gothenburg. The tests and progress connected to these buses made ElectriCity one of Sweden's and Europe's most interesting demonstration arenas. In connection with Västtrafik's large-scale introduction of 150 electric buses in regular traffic in Gothenburg, Mölndal and Partille during December 2020, the buses on route 55 and EL 16 were taken out of service and the existing test and demonstration arena for public transport came to an end. Since the involved actors identified a need for continued of new products and services, Testbed Bus was initiated.

The project provides opportunities to test, develop and evaluate new ideas and innovations in real traffic environments, together with and with funding from national and international actors and makes it possible to lower development costs and shorten the time-span from idea to commercialization. This joint platform is also an important arena for different stakeholders in the value chain to collaborate and learn together.

The testbed is used, among other things, to test various IT solutions, such as in the Bus-as-a-Service project, but also to test:

• Physical design of buses
• Geofencing
• Vehicle-related tests regarding electrification and energy storage
• Projects where public transport customers, travelers and citizens, are involved as co-creators in the innovation process
• Automated functions, such as driver support of various kinds

The tests carried out on the project's so-called Innovation buses, the two all-electric articulated bus prototypes from line EL16, may be financed and operated outside the current project, but their use of the testbed is coordinated within the framework of the project. The buses that are used are not dedicated to a specific route, but are used flexibly on the routes and traffic routes that provide the best data, information and experience based on the specific projects.

Contact