Public transport is an essential part of sustainable mobility. Its use by citizens, as an alternative to private transport, not only reduces air pollution but also noise pollution and traffic congestion in cities. This point is of increasing concern to various stakeholders, especially those who have to cover long distances, as is the case in larger cities.
For its part, society increasingly demands a firm commitment to universal accessibility for people in transport, as well as more environmentally friendly mobility.
Betting on sustainable mobility is one of the main aspects that Castrosua promotes when offering bodywork solutions adapted to each client, especially when we talk about the public transport sector.
Public transport, a key factor for ecomobility
According to data from the Association of Urban Public Transport Management Companies (ATUC), road traffic is one of the main causes of air pollution, responsible for 50% of the emissions recorded in urban centers.
Well, of that 50%, 90% is caused by the transit of cars and motorcycles. Specifically, the use of public transport avoids the emission of five million tons of polluting gases into the atmosphere per year, according to ATUC.
If we look at the specific case of the bus, the emissions from one of these vehicles can avoid the pollution generated by 50 passenger cars. This has not prevented the number of cars in circulation from increasing by 8% in the last decade.
The advantages of public transport do not end with the environmental aspect. Excessive motorization in cities causes widespread traffic congestion. As indicated by Tussam (Urban Transport of Seville), traffic jams represent “a generalized degradation of the quality of life of citizens”, among other problems that would be avoidable if fewer citizens depended on private vehicles.
And not only that. Public transport is safer than private transport. This is reflected in several reports prepared by the National Road Safety Observatory. Passenger cars are the vehicles most involved in accidents with victims: they are present in 4 out of 5 accidents, 56% of the total. This figure contrasts with that of the bus, which occupies the last place in the ranking, involved in only 1.5% of accidents with victims.
Hybrid buses as a present solution to reduce emissions
All of us in the collective transport sector play a very important role in building more sustainable cities. In recent years, it has become especially urgent to renew fleets in order to definitively phase out the most polluting vehicles. It is our responsibility to develop, through the latest technological advances, vehicles that are increasingly responsible towards the environment.
The hybrid bus is one of the best examples of the sum of technology and the sector’s desire to seek more sustainable solutions. These buses have two types of storage and also use energy accumulation. Thus, as indicated by the Official College of Industrial Engineers of Madrid, a global reduction in emissions and consumption of 30% can be achieved.
This is the case of the Magnus.H Scania Castrosua, our new hybrid model, the first units of which are already in operation. In its development, we placed special emphasis on it being a combination of functionality, reliability, and comfort, while also being a more environmentally friendly bus with lower energy consumption. Our goal: to offer a solid alternative to traditional vehicles.
Magnus.Hybrid Scania Castrosua
More inclusive transport means more sustainable transport
At Castrosua, we believe that for buses to connect different points, we must offer solutions so that all people can reach their destinations in an inclusive way.
The different buses that provide these services must include all citizens, and for this, the bodies must be prepared to accommodate all travelers, whatever their condition.
That is why at Castrosua we try to consolidate a model in which barriers for people with reduced mobility are eliminated, not only when accessing buses through automatic and manual access ramps, but also by designing low-floor buses and low entry models.
Facilitating access for all types of travelers is paramount, as is their comfort during the journey they wish to make, whether for school, work, or leisure. Our models, adapted to each client and their needs, offer spaces for wheelchairs and eliminate barriers, shelves, and steps.
Castrosua’s commitment to advances towards sustainable urban mobility
Innovation is one of the pillars on which our work is based. Through a firm commitment to R&D&I, we have launched various research and development programs for low-emission vehicles.
The latest technological advances and our concern to be at the forefront in terms of functionality and design have allowed us to be the first Spanish company to body low-floor buses and to be pioneers in the bodywork of ecological vehicles: buses powered by liquefied gas, compressed natural gas, and bioethanol, all capable of contributing to the reduction of polluting emissions. Finally, we manufactured the first hybrid bus in Spain.
For a sustainable future, we need an attractive and efficient alternative to the use of private vehicles. Therefore, we reinforce our commitment to the development of public transport vehicles capable of accessing urban centers under the best conditions, incorporating solutions aimed at reducing atmospheric and acoustic pollution and the search for more inclusive and energy and environmentally efficient models.
