Huebner develops steering technology for high-capacity buses

KASSEL, Germany—Public transport components supplier Huebner Group has developed a new steering technology that will enable high-capacity buses on rubber wheels.

Displayed during the InnoTrans trade fare in Berlin Sept. 20-23, the "world first" technology is a modular steering system that is claimed to intelligently control the six axles of high-capacity buses, the group said.

Up until now there have been no systems for road vehicles that can control more than two axles to this extent safely, Huebner said in a Sept. 16 statement.

"A reliable steering system is crucial for the safe operation of high-capacity buses in order to control the means of transport in urban traffic," said Uwe Bittroff, head of the transition systems division for road vehicles.

The Huebner technology, Bittroff continued, has been developed in such a way that "there is no danger to passengers or the environment in the event of a fault."

Developed in accordance with the current requirements of ISO standard 26262, the steering system can be used individually by bus or train manufacturers in the production of high-capacity buses.

In addition, the system includes an interface connection for autonomous driving, meeting potential future requirements for public mobility solutions.

High-capacity buses look like trams on rubber wheels and are particularly well suited for cities that need large transport capacities in a short time.

The buses consist of three wagon parts with a total of six axles and two transitions, with a length of nearly 100 feet.

With a transport capacity of around 300 people, they combine the advantages of buses and trams.

The vehicles are not dependent on an infrastructure with their own route like classic trams and offer the flexibility and versatility of a bus.

In direct comparison to local rail transport, the buses are more cost-efficient, ready for use more quickly and can also be integrated into the existing road infrastructure at short notice.