BW Expo powered by Urbantrans 2022 opened at Crocus Expo

Do you think the most popular mode of transport is a car? But no! Every day, many people around the world use one of the most common types of public transport – the bus.

The name bus itself comes from the abbreviation of the phrase car-omnibus. The word omnibus, in turn, comes from the Latin omnibus- “everyone”. The history of this vehicle, transporting millions of people around the world every day, began more than two hundred years ago.

The very first bus was designed in 1801 by Briton Richard Trevithick. An unprecedented car for 8 passengers drove through the streets of the English city of Camborne, a stoker stood on the bandwagon, and the engine was steam. 28 years have passed, and in 1829 an improved bus model was carrying 28 passengers. The rapid spread of electricity at the end of the 19th century also affected buses. In 1886, the first bus on an electric motor drove onto the streets of London, and on April 12, 1903, the first ever bus run as an urban public transport took place in London.

The Germans did not stand aside, and in 1895 the German plant “Benz” presented the world with the first bus with an internal combustion engine. Outwardly, it looked more like a large cab carriage for 8 passengers, and could reach speeds of up to 13 km / h!

In Russia, the Duks plant was engaged in the production of electric buses. Thanks to his efforts, in 1901, buses appeared on the streets, racing at a speed of 20 km / h, carrying up to 10 passengers. The first bus with an internal combustion engine was built in St. Petersburg in 1903 at the Frese factory. The domestic bus had an open body and could accommodate up to 10 people, speeding up to 15 km/h. As an urban public transport, buses in Russia were first used, oddly enough, in Arkhangelsk. It was made in Germany, weighed 6 tons, and could carry 26 passengers. The bus has gained immense popularity and greatly facilitated the movement around the city.

November 11, 1907 the first passenger bus route was opened in St. Petersburg. On August 13, 1908, the first passenger bus appeared in Moscow, but the first regular bus route of 40 buses was opened only on April 18, 1922.

Since then, the bus has been constantly transformed. The capacity increased, the purpose changed. Today, the number of models is striking in its diversity, and every year their number increases. How does a modern bus live? You can learn about the modern and so popular form of transport at the International Exhibition of Bus Equipment that opened at Crocus Expo BW Expo powered by Urbantrans 2022 — the largest in Russia and Eastern Europe. The exhibition presents a wide range of buses of all categories, spare parts and equipment for maintenance and repair. Official support is provided by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia and Moscow Transport.

Manufacturing companies from Russia, Belarus, China, Turkey will present new models of city, suburban and tourist buses, minibuses, equipment for maintenance and repair, as well as spare parts and accessories. Representatives of more than 80 Russian and foreign companies engaged in urban, suburban and intercity passenger transportation, corporate bus fleet operators, dealers of bus equipment, spare parts and auto components, auto service enterprises demonstrate their products and services to visitors and specialists.

Crocus has a lot of equipment from China this year, but what about import substitution? Everything is in order here. GAZ Group, a leading Russian manufacturer of commercial and passenger vehicles, together with Modern Transport Technologies Group (STT), a distributor of GAZ vehicles, is demonstrating a wide range of new generation buses. Here, vehicles for various purposes are presented: from compact 7-seater minibuses to city cars of medium and large dimensions, capable of carrying up to 90 passengers, and operating on various types of fuel. The cars are designed on the basis of advanced technologies of the world bus construction, they are distinguished by an increased level of comfort and meet the most stringent requirements for ergonomics and safety. The presented line allows solving complex problems of passenger transportation, taking into account the specifics of various types of routes. Particular attention in buses is paid to the requirements of a barrier-free environment and the convenience of passengers with limited mobility. You can see a new small-class electric bus based on the Gazelle car. It is designed for 16 passengers. At the same time, it has wide doors, a floor lowering system and a retractable ramp for passengers with wheelchairs. The new electric bus features a smooth, quiet ride and good maneuverability.

Now small-capacity electric buses are being tested. They will last until August next year. If during this time the cars prove themselves well on city streets, then they will be launched into mass production. Nikita Vasiliev, project manager at the Electric Car Gazelle (Nizhny Novgorod) said: “There are many routes where large buses just run empty, carrying more air than passengers. Our small bus will be much cheaper than the big one. The bus has a power reserve of 150 kilometers and is equipped with Russian-made batteries of 80 kilowatts. There are three charging options: fast, slow, normal. Fast charging can be charged in 30-40 minutes to 80%.

Within the framework of the exhibition, the UrbanTrans Mobility forum is held, in which regional leaders of municipal and public transport take part. The broad business program provides an opportunity for specialists and experts in the bus industry, as well as representatives of government authorities, to exchange views and highlight a wide range of topical issues through participation in panel discussions and round tables.

Mikhail Kovalyov.

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