Valencia: sensors on public buses to make passengers happier and cut air pollutants

In Valencia, Spain, new methods are be trialled to monitor the performance of hybrid and electric buses in order to minimise pollution.

As part of the trial, hybrid and electric buses will have sensors to monitor their power consumption and passenger comfort. Researchers will use these data to improve the performance of public transport and to reduce pollution

In many European towns, new models of electric or hybrid buses continue to be introduced, but exhaustive data about the behaviour of these vehicles is still lacking. The sensors being tested in Valencia will monitor the location, speed and power consumption of the buses. The sensors will also provide data about passenger comfort, including temperature, humidity, air quality and noise levels.

Vehicle occupancy is also analysed, since the power required to accelerate the bus depends on its gross mass, and this includes the passengers. By analysing the real-time data, researchers hope to be able to improve the performance of the hybrid and electric buses within the transport fleet.

Pau Arce, researcher at the Polytechnic University of Valencia, explains that the behaviour of public bus drivers is also very important in saving energy: “I am referring to their driving style: how they brake and what level of acceleration is obtained by pressing the pedal. By slicing and dicing all the data, we will be able to advise drivers about how to drive more ecologically.”

The study is carried out under the EU smart city project MAtchUP, aimed at contributing to create a more liveable urban environment.