Co-development of Low-speed Electric Community Buses for Local Area Revitalization

Abstract

This paper describes the development of low-speed electric community buses (LSECBs) designed by the author's group and their spread situation in Japan. LSECBs are electric vehicles that can travel on public roads at speeds of less than 5.56 m/s (20 km/h). The university, local government, local businesses, and residents with a co-design approach developed the LSECBs. They have various advantages such as safety due to low speed and low energy consumption. In particular, the LSECBs have features not found in ordinary vehicles, such as the ability to friendly talk with other passengers in the vehicle and to see the surroundings. The purpose of using LSECBs is mostly for sightseeing, but they are also used to enhance the mobility of elderly people in the community. In Japan, public transportation plans are formulated by each local government, but local governments with weak finances do not provide sufficient financial support to the companies responsible for public transportation. As a result, public transportation services have been reduced or eliminated due to the business conditions of private companies, and many elderly people with reduced mobility, called "people with shopping difficulties," have been left behind. Under these situations, it is necessary to discuss what kind of contribution LSECBs can make. Moreover, the LSECBs require special driving methods so as not to cause traffic congestion when mixed with other ordinal vehicles. In this paper, we report on the development concept, features of the LSECBs, their special driving method, positioning as a transportation policy, and their potential as stainable mobility.