Beijing, November 20 (IANS). Faster, more innovative and affordable buses equipped with autonomous navigation systems and other technologies provide ride-hailing services to residents in some Chinese cities. For just 2 yuan (about Rs 22), people can instantly call online to reserve a bus and travel within 5 to 10 minutes using a “virtual bus stop”.
Developed by Chinese automaker CRRC Electric Vehicle Co Ltd, the buses are 5.33 meters long and use technologies such as Peitou satellite navigation system and big data analysis. They may travel on narrow highways without any fixed route or designated stops.
Through the company’s self-developed reservation platform, driving routes can be automatically optimized for passengers. When multiple ride requests are received, the platform combines nearby or similar destinations to create efficient shared routes.
This way, buses can be precisely scheduled to deliver direct, point-to-point service, allowing each journey to respond flexibly to real-time demand rather than following predetermined stops.
Such bus depots not only promote low carbon transportation but also increase the intelligence of bus operations. It has great potential, given applications in urban communities and remote industrial parks. China has an extensive urban public transportation system.
By the end of 2023, 79,800 urban bus lines will be operational across the country, with a total mileage of 1.73 million kilometres. Currently, 6,82,000 buses are in operation, of which about 81% are new energy vehicles.
Many cities have used new technologies and tools to customize bus routes for specific communities and implement intelligent changes such as real-time traffic conditions.
(Courtesy- China Media Group, Beijing)
–IANS
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