Located in the third branch of Jinhua Public Transport Group, there are 14 brand-new new energy buses standing in line, ready for deployment. Installing signs, sticking interior decoration, cleaning Windows, crew was busy preparing for the opening of the operation.

Though these buses’ appearance look like ordinary buses, in the carriage, there is a unique large passage and full flat floor design, which is similar to the metro. In addition, it is powered by new energy and runs smoothly and noiseless, so it is called Bus Metro Transit (BMT).

In according, the BMT applies Lanxi PanGood Power global leading wheel side drive system, low-floor and full flat carriage layout designed by Jinhua Public Transport Company as well, which is unique in the world.

“We’ve been paying attention to the research and development of domestic and overseas cutting-edge bus technology for a long time. At present, there is no such model in the world.” Lou Yikang, city bus group chairman, said. The first batch of new energy metro buses in the world will be launched in Jinhua, providing the world's leading bus service to the public, which is also the pride of Jinhua, and will enhance the international image of the city for hosting the 2022 Asian Games in Jinhua.

Building green bus Jinhua leading the way

It is no accident that Jinhua firstly innovate the new energy metro bus in the world, but another major breakthrough in the continuous exploration and innovation of new energy and new technology of public transportation for a long time.

As a national demonstration city for the promotion and application of new energy vehicles and China's automobile and motorcycle industry base, Jinhua is the prefecture-level city with the largest promotion and application of new energy vehicles. In recent years, Jinhua has made great efforts to innovate the business operation mode, focusing on the steady promotion and gradual promotion of new energy vehicles in the public transport sector.

The municipal public Transport Group adheres to the concept of "environmental protection first" and devotes itself to creating "green public transport" and "smart public transport". From gasoline and diesel vehicles, to natural gas, gas-electric hybrid, and then to pure electric vehicles, new energy vehicles have become the main force of Jinhua public transport with the acceleration of iteration and renewal of vehicle models.

At the beginning of 2015, Jinhua BRT1 line was officially opened, becoming the first pure electric zero-emission BRT line in China, marking that pure electric buses, which are smoother, more comfortable and cleaner, begin to step on the historical stage. In 2017, BRT1 line was awarded the national New energy bus Demonstration line.

On the electric bus charging ways, Jinhua bus is also constantly innovation, exploring wireless charging, batch using GongChong, gun filling and filling in combination, but also to the construction of press pantograph system, through the WIFI control, automatic charging, reducing the driver's labor intensity and security risks, shorten the charging time and improving charging efficiency.

Seen No.503 bus to Yangbu as a example, from 2018, all-electric buses have been extended to Jinhua urban and rural bus lines, and urban residents can also enjoy comfortable bus service. Up to now, Jinhua bus has a total of 1,200 operating vehicles, of which 832 are new energy vehicles, accounting for about 69.3%.

Jinhua is one of the four host cities in the province for the 19th Asian Games in 2022. According to relevant requirements, the buses running in urban areas during the Asian Games must be new energy vehicles. The hosting of the Asian Games, presses Jinhua new energy bus upgrade "fast forward" button. By the end of 2021, all buses entering the completed urban areas will be upgraded to eco-friendly new energy vehicles.

Cancel the drive axle Overall optimization of vehicle models

In accordance with the requirements of accelerated iteration innovation of new energy buses, Jinhua Public Transport has focused its research and development of the next generation of buses on the future development trend of low floor, large capacity and full flat floor, so as to further improve the ride comfort of buses.

It is understood that all the previous operating models of Jinhua Bus, including BRT, due to the limited space taken up by the drive shaft and bridge, the whole rear of the bus must be raised, through the steps up and down. The layout of the carriage is low in front and high in back, and passengers are prone to fall and other safety hazards. What's more, the rear of the car is not suitable for standing, and passengers are crowded in front of the car during peak passenger flow, which is unevenly distributed.

At this moment, Lanxi emphatically introducing project PanGood Power into the sight of Jinhua bus. The number of patent applications of PanGood Power in axial magnetic field motor and its applications ranks first in the world. Its wheel-side drive system has the advantages of small volume, low energy consumption and high efficiency, as well as is more suitable for the arrangement of low floor bus.

"The application of the PanGood motor has revolutionary significance for the optimization of bus models." Chenghui Wu, city bus group maintenance equipment manager, told reporters, after the adoption of the PanGood motor, the cancellation of the vehicle shaft and the vehicle rear axle, wheel side drive system is smaller, transmission efficiency is higher, which is on the inside of the rear wheel, so that makes the whole flat low floor car layout happen.

Since this year, through joint research and development, Lanxi PanGood Power wheel drive system + Jinhua bus carriage layout innovation + Xiamen Jinlv bidding OEM, has achieved the world's first new energy metro bus line, which is soon to replace and update the existing model of Jinhua No.24 Bus.

"This is a major breakthrough in optimizing the layout of bus carriages." Chenghui Wu said, the change of a full flat and low floor, and no step in the bus carriage, is especially suitable for the elderly, women, children, disabled people, which can bring passengers a safer, more convenient, comfortable ride experience.

It is worth mentioning that the metro bus is also the pioneer of energy conservation. Due to the cancellation of the traditional heavy transmission device, and compared with same length buses, the body of the bus can be reduced by at least 1 ton, the energy consumption of electricity can be reduced by about 20%, and the driver will be able to drive more freely.

Subverting the traditional bus Unique in the world

The first impression of the new energy metro bus is "different". In the Sanfen public transportation company, the reporter saw the rear door of conventional bus carriage is designed in front of rear wheel, namely the middle of the carriage; and the rear door of metro bus is designed behind rear wheel, which realized the real meaning of "getting on the front door, getting off the back door". It is said that the design is unique in the world.

Chenghui Wu explained that the rear of a traditional bus has to be raised significantly due to the large space taken up by the propeller shaft and engine, and the rear door can only be designed in the middle of the car. When getting off, the front and back passenger flow all to the middle crowded, with the steps up and down mixing together, affecting the ride comfort. The new design of metro bus breaks through the limitation of traditional bus, the passenger flow will flow smoothly from front to back, which will be very orderly.

Walking into the carriage, a variety of heart-warming design can be seen, which highlights the humanization of the bus. The front and rear wheels are raised and the seats are extra-wide. This is an elaborate mother-child seat for parents with small children. Six USB double-hole charging sockets are designed along the sides of the middle three rows of seats, which can charge 12 mobile phones simultaneously. The driver's driving area is equipped with two electronic mirrors, which can display four astern scenes at the same time through the monitor, eliminating blind spots in rain, snow or crowded passengers, making driving safer. At the end of the carriage is a wheelchair area with a special back and seat belt.

How disabled or walking using the wheelchair, getting on and off the bus? Do people need to carry up? Reporter wanted to ask this question, the driver just control driving device, the side of the car over, at the same time from the rear door of the open pedal, an instant out of the disabled channel. "It's a futuristic tech that uses an air suspension that allows the car to turn sideways and the doors to go up and down at will." Mr. Wu said. According to the field measurement, the door can be changed between 25 cm and 40 cm away from the ground, in case of meeting the old and infirm, lowing the door, getting on the car will be much easier.

It is reported that the municipal Public Transport Group has designed and purchased light self-service vending machines, which will be installed on metro buses after operation to further facilitate passengers. It will also be a first on downtown buses.