Titanium+ Première
Direcció i projecció del mapping contractat (inclou llicències de software Resolume i hardware de mapping i ordinadors de control/Arduinos). Cost per a 4 dies de sessions de mapping. The distance I have just covered is the equivalent, approximately, to thirty cars. With a single bus we would have spared it. Easy, ah? As you may imagine, to make this programme we have collected a lot of interesting facts about this great means of transport. They are safer, require less consumption, reduce congestion… and a long et cetera that makes them the most convenient and efficient solution to meet the objectives of sustainable mobility in the short and long term. But before we start with all that, I want to make you a question.
If you are watching this, is probably because you work in this sector, Could you tell me when was the last time you used a bus to do an intercity journey? Probably it was longer ago than you would like to acknowledge, like me. What is failing? The levels of pollution of cities like Barcelona or Madrid are unsustainable and there is an attempt to resolve this. Big European capitals opt for a large network of public and shared transport, complemented additionally by electric bikes or scooters. It is logical, otherwise the air will become unbreathable.
However, when it comes to intercity travels, private cars continue to be the main means of transport. Their use has even increased in the last years. It is paradoxical that on the one hand, we are told about the personal responsibility to minimise the impact on the environment and, on the other hand, it seems like they want to incentivise the use of the most polluting option of all. And no, let us not fool ourselves. Even if we did like this and suddenly all the cars in the country were electric, the problem wouldn’t disappear.
The distance I have walked is the equivalent to 90 private cars. Whether diesel, gasoline or electric. 90 cars equivalent to only 3 buses. And I’m not saying this just for the decongestion this would entail, but also for the deterioration of roads, production, accidents… Obviously, the transition towards electric cars is necessary, But if we want to tackle the present environmental challenges, the bus must be a key actor. Governments increasingly think about the environment, but somehow it seems that they are not taking into account the most agile, easiest to implement and sustainable solution.
And even more if we take into account the changes brought by the ‘new normal’. The fast implementation of teleworking has led to more people thinking of leaving cities in search of a life in the suburbs and other well-connected areas. Let’s not forget, any municipality in Spain with more than 50 inhabitants has an intercity bus line. And that’s the key, improve the connection between villages. Unfortunately, today, travelling by bus is not perceived by users as a value-added service.
That is why it is so long ago that you got on such a bus. That is why we are here today, to debunk this myth. To start a revolution. Nogebus, during lockdown, when intercity travels were drastically reduced, started to design a solution for the approaching future. For a future that is already here.
That’s why after many months of work, everything is ready to launch TITANIUM+. A bus able to stand up to the advantages of private transportation. A true titan which not only will become the most sustainable option, it will also be a pleasure to travel in it. A vehicle conceived so that passengers enjoy and the driver is granted enhanced safety while performing their job. We will talk to experts, see the factory on the inside, interview the promoters of TITANIUM+ and even talk to you.
From now on you can send your queries and questions to the email address on the screen. We will answer them by the end of the programme. And if we don’t have the time, the commercial team of Nogebus will get back to you in the next days. Having said that, let’s get started. But before we get to know it, we will provide some context to the current moment.
To do this, we will meet Raúl González. Journalist, expert in sustainable mobility and director of Somos Movilidad, the first Youtube channel about ‘automobility’ in Spanish. Shall we start? Hello. It’s my pleasure to be here with you, Raúl.
Thank you. It’s always a pleasure to talk about sustainable mobility, José Luis. You are at the wheel, Rául. We are ready to listen to you. Before going into greater detail, allow me to talk and reflect a bit on sustainable mobility of passenger road transport and the impact this activity can have on economic development once we finally finish the de-escalation process and leave the pandemic behind. Allow me to specify two concepts. When we talk about sustainable mobility, what are we talking about? The first term, mobility, I think it’s a bit controversial because in general everyone knows that mobility has to do with moving things, goods, from one place to another one or with moving people: we talk about transport of goods or of passengers.
A bit more controversial is the concept sustainability, which is very popular at the moment, but maybe it’s not clear to everyone what we mean by that. Sustainability is all that guarantees the meeting of human needs, but without comprising those of the future generations. We are talking of guaranteeing an economic development in harmony with environmental conservation and of course with the creation of social wellbeing. That’d be the concept of sustainability. Then I think that now that we have made clear what we mean when we talk about sustainability mobility we can move on.
Why? Because mobility will be sustainable or it won’t exist. We have been talking about sustainability for more than 4 decades, we have proved how important mobility is for the economy and modern societies. There is a shared project, a common future horizon, in civil societies, in international organizations, in different countries, that are setting the trend on sustainable mobility. There is no alternative to sustainability with regard to mobility, either it’s sustainable or there won’t be mobility. Why? Well, because from United Nations, first, the European Union, later, which has committed itself to the objectives adopted by UN, in the Paris Agreement and later on through the 2030 Agenda which is a roadmap that defines the SDGs: sustainable development goals. Some of them affect sustainable mobility. Mobility can only be sustainable, I insist, or it won’t exist at all. This has different implications, from the economic perspective, they are evident, there is a sector devoted to the transport of goods and to the transport of persons.
From the environmental perspective, it has to be done in harmony with nature, and this has to do with vehicles’ emissions. And of course, creating social wellbeing, improving people’s quality of life, and we can think how this can be achieved from the perspective of a client, a traveller, a passenger on the bus. But there’s more, authorities don’t only set the 2030 Agenda as a roadmap, but also legislate, they tell us what can and cannot be done. And besides legislating, they promote policies with incentives towards sustainable mobility that are creating a new market environment, a new mobility economy. And not only that, with those incentives they also generate possible competitive advantages for those companies of the sector, companies and cities, to be the first ones to be targeted towards this new scenario of sustainable mobility.
Sustainable mobility is so important for the administrations that the incentives, investments and subsidies for mobility are placed in a very prominent position within the “Next Generation” programme of the EU and the “European Recovery Funds”. In fact, 20% of all the money that the EU is going to allocate to those subsidies, has to do with sustainable mobility programmes. Then, in this regulatory framework, do you think the bus sector will be one of the main actors? No doubt! The competitive advantages of the bus as an extremely efficient form of mobility are proven. Spain has the most dense and efficient passenger road transport network in mainland Europe.
For you to have an idea, any municipality with over 50 inhabitants has an intercity bus line providing service to its neighbours. Undoubtedly, the bus will be a main actor. Due to its capillarity, it gets everywhere. Due to its flexibility, understood in multiple ways, for instance, that accessibility, adapting itself to the specific needs of each territory.
And I give you two examples: areas with a low population density where few people live, a bus can get there. And on the contrary, urban territories, big cities having huge traffic congestion and pollution problems, the bus is an extraordinary tool to bring down not only congestion but also to reduce emissions. A fact, also to answer your question directly and make the efficiency of the bus clear.
The bus is the means of motor transport with lowest CO2 emissions, only surpassed by the train. Measured per passenger and kilometre. But then the COVID-19 arrived… and, even if we start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel… What impact has the pandemic had on the transport of passengers? Well, I think it is in the public domain that the transport of passengers has probably been the most affected activity by COVID, due to the restrictions imposed on that activity in particular. During the worst part of the lockdown, those terrible weeks after March last year, the estimated drop in the transport of passengers, both urban and intercity, were huge. In terms of urban transport, a bit less, but the intercity transport is estimated to have dropped between 80% and 90%. With a great percentage of the population vaccinated, eager to move around, to recover the activities that we were developing before the pandemic, it is foreseeable that there will be a boom in mobility and consequently much more activity in the transport of persons, both urban and intercity. Probably now it’s time to make the most of this increase in mobility, that boom, and properly position the bus option.
So, according to you, now is the time to show courage? Absolutely! Just as the bus has been the most competitive option for the passenger road transport, it is destined to remain as such. Essentially because of the regulation that authorities are developing to guarantee sustainable mobility. At the moment, there are two regulations that need to be taken into account. The first is the new Law on Climate Change and Ecological Transition which was passed a few weeks ago, on 13 May. And the second is the Law of Sustainable Mobility and Financing of Transport, which is now at a consultation stage and will be passed by the end of the year. But let us stop and look at the first one. First, there is a commitment to reduce polluting emissions.
The administration wants less contaminating vehicles and sets objectives. These are not only set by the Spanish government, but also by the EU. By 2050, and is important for the sector’s businesspeople to take this into account, there’s a commitment towards a carbon footprint neutrality.
We want, the administration, the society, we want the vehicles to pollute less to avoid, as we all know, the global warming of the planet. But, additionally, we not only want and have that objective by 2050, but also by 2040 the administration, the government is even more specific. The sales of combustion vehicles in the case of cars and light commercial ones will be banned. In the case of the other regulation, the Law of Sustainable Mobility and Financing of Transport, it mentions again the reduction of emissions, digital transformation, which conveys a message to encourage the sector to be much more efficient, investing in digitalization tools for their companies.
Therefore, it is important to take into account those two regulations. Anticipate, sector companies and professionals need to have a good knowledge of what each of these regulations says and in what way they can impact the bus sector. It is critical, is essential to be able to generate competitive advantages when the time comes to move to the new mobility market of the passenger road transport. In this sense, the initiative of companies such as Nogebus is fundamental, which anticipates the future that leads the way. Not only to develop the sector, but also to make it visible how the sector can contribute to making the bus become the winning option of the passenger road transport. Well, knowing all this… I assume that there is already a very intense race to lead this opportunity.
Which are the trends and challenges to lead the sustainable intercity transport of passengers? The big word defining the trend is sustainability. We have explained it already. It’s crucial to anticipate the trends linked to sustainability. One needs to know which is the regulation, and ultimately handle those new game rules that have to do with sustainability. I insist, regulation, technologies…and why not say it, new customer expectations, of those passengers who will ultimately decide if they opt for the bus, the train or the plane. It’s important to have that in mind. Leading the sustainable mobility is a fantastic opportunity. Make the most of the technologies that can be incorporated into the vehicles, into the digitalized, autonomous, connected buses.
It’s an extraordinary opportunity for the development of the sector, for some companies to have real competitive advantages as compared to those that don’t have these vehicles. In essence, it’s an extraordinary opportunity, the one that we have had today to enjoy the future, to see what the mobility of passenger road transport will look like. When the de-escalation process is over, when people go back to travelling, make the most of all those values behind the bus as opposed to other forms of passenger transport. In this sense, José Luis, the Titanium+ represents a true turning point because it places us on this horizon that is already arriving, that is within reach, of a new sustainable mobility for the passenger transport.
From this perspective, it’s an extraordinary opportunity, the one we had today by joining and furthering Nogebus’ goals with this Titanium+, which are to a great extent the goals of all those sector companies that want to make the most of that new mobility economy to ensure that the bus is the best mobility option for passengers. Thank you very much, Raúl. Your intervention was very pedagogical and realistic. We say goodbye here and continue our way to the next stop.
Thank you very much! We have seen with Raúl the great challenges that we face. Now, let’s meet the solution: TITANIUM+. How it’s made, it was born and the impact it has on the society. We will explore the Nogebus factory on the inside.
TITANIUM+ was born to mark a new milestone both at a technical and design level. A disruptive concept ready to conquer the road. Although it is hard to believe that all this innovation comes from a family business. Currently, Miquel Genabat, both father and son, run the company. Two generations that complement each other to offer the excellence of a wide experience together with the spirit of transformation of the young people.
TITANIUM+ was born out of their initiative and we will talk to them about the new developments, the history of Nogebus and the steps the company will take to keep being competitive in the future. Let’s talk to them. Good morning! Miquel and Miquel, it is a pleasure to be here with you. Same, thank you. For me it’s also a pleasure to be here with you. Very well, I would like to get to the point. Which are the most significant changes of Titanium+ regarding the previous version?
I could list a number of them. Among the most significant ones is the weight reduction, of 250 kg, leading to a lower consumption and as a result making Titanium+ a more sustainable and cleaner product. Both the interior and exterior design are innovative. We have taken care of all details, incorporating comfortable and antibacterial materials.
Matched with an indirect led light to achieve an unbeatable harmony. Everything makes it a 100% customizable product. Besides all these changes, we have replaced the rear-view mirrors with cameras. And we have also included a 360º camera system to reduce the blind spots, which entails an increase in the passive and active safety of the vehicle. Along the same line, we have added a touchscreen with all the functions of the vehicle reducing the distractions while driving. That way we have improved the driver’s ergonomics and thus their driving experience.
Then I assume that not all innovations are targeted at the passenger but you also emphasize the driver’s comfort. Which are the exact improvements that the driver will perceive? That’s right, it’s a bus that has not been developed exclusively for the passenger’s comfort but also for the driver. In this sense, we have equipped it with a broad driving space and a data screen that integrates all the functions such as: Bluetooth, sound control, phone on/off, control of the air conditioning and of all the bus features. Bringing all the comfort so that the driver doesn’t have to take their eyes off the road. In this sense, we wanted to improve the passive and active safety, replacing mirrors with cameras, adding 360º cameras which reduce the blind spots, and thus making it possible to react to any unexpected event.
Additionally, we have added a driver seat that allows them to get in and out easily. Safety without sacrificing comfort. But…is it really possible to offer passengers a disruptive experience? Of course, it is. We understand the needs of our clients and their users; for this reason, we offer a streaming service where each passenger, with their mobile device, can choose ‘on demand’ the films and the entertainment they want to enjoy. This system contributes to the comfort because the shared entertainment is eliminated, so the decibels are reduced and the shared sound is completely eliminated.
And what inspires this design? A well-done teamwork in order to achieve excellence. We wanted to materialize all the innovation and efforts in this new project whose origin is the previous Titanium model that we started commercializing almost 20 years ago. We want to thank the whole human team, both internal and external, both internal and external, which has made every effort to carry out this project.
We also want to thank Andreu Carulla for the design, a person who has been committed since the first day, and thanks to his commitment and design we have made the Titanium+ become a benchmark in the sector. For all of us, it is an honour to be able to present this new product today. Well, I would like to change the subject a bit, make a detour and ask you about the path travelled.
How did you get here? As you may imagine, through a lot of effort, dedication and illusion. Focusing 100% on our clients, listening to their suggestions and solving them, with a proven technical solvency, setting ambitious goals and basing our work on a continuous improvement. We started our trajectory in 1960 building urban buses and almost 20 years later, in 1979, we decided to opt for long distance buses. And I imagine that with this history you’ll have plenty of stories to highlight. Tell us about the major milestones of the company! As you may imagine, there have been many and I’d like to highlight four. The first and most relevant one was to change strategy.
We used to make urban buses and we focused all our efforts on barging in and consolidating our presence in the market of the long-distance bus. In 1995, we created a new product range, called Touring, it was ground-breaking, since it changed the traditional way buses were built. We used to assemble the pieces separately on the chassis and we changed that.
How? Assembling all the pieces and once assembled, putting them together on the bus. This model was bus of the year 1996, awarded by the magazine "Viajeros". We exported this bus across Europe and both we and our clients were completely satisfied. The second challenge was creating a very emblematic bus, the Titanium, born in 2003.
It was ground-breaking in its design and in the technological solutions it provided. Essentially the solution to be highlighted was that it integrated all services within a screen, a touchscreen, and its design as I have told you, at that moment it was a turning point until today. And after so many years, the crisis caused by the COVID and the months of lockdown, is this the worst crisis you have faced? Undoubtedly is the worst crisis after several ones throughout our trajectory It has deeply affected mobility, the essential element of our clients and as a result also Nogebus activity. The drop has been dramatic and we have had to adapt to the situation, without abandoning all the innovation projects we had in order to emerge stronger.
The first sample is the product we are presenting you today: Titanium+. And to finish the interview, are you already working on a future innovation? At Nogebus we have never stopped innovating. We have several projects that make us get up every morning and be eager to keep researching. The main one is that we are investing in a new technology to substantially reduce the weight of the vehicle. This will make us achieve the incorporation of new alternative technologies without minimizing the passenger capacity, the volume for luggage or the autonomy. Three essential factors in the sector of occasional service vehicles.
We hope to have the solution of the weight reduction, the objective is 1500 kg, by the end of this year and the incorporation of alternative energies by the beginning of 2023. At the beginning, we have given the audience the email address of Nogebus so that they could send us their questions. Is it okay for you if we look at them now? Sure. Great, there we go. I want to remind those who are at home that if any question remains unanswered you will be contacted by the commercial team of Nogebus in the next days.
Well, it looks like TITANIUM+ has raised big expectations, we have even received a video. fantastic Let’s start with this one. Which is the value proposal of TITANIUM+? Following our brand philosophy, I’d say design, reliability and technological contribution. Improvement in the passengers’ comfort, creating a safer and more comfortable workplace for the driver. In addition to this, this vehicle helps the environment, thanks to the weight reduction, generates less emissions, and consequently the new clients of Titanium+ will see their costs being reduced because of the low consumption.
So let’s move on to the next one: As a bus driver, what are the improvements I will notice? Beyond what we have already mentioned, I’d highlight the reduction of the turning radius by removing the external rear-view mirrors. What do we achieve? A much more efficient manoeuvrability by reducing the necessary space. Then I’d stress the weight reduction, lowering the centre of gravity, the bus is much more stable and the comfort is optimal. Very well, we move on to the next one, which is a video sent by the first client who has purchased the Titanium+. Let’s see their impressions. Well, regarding the new model by Nogebus, Titanium+, it truly is, for all of us who feel this sector and who like the bus sector, it is amazing.
Being able to drive a Nogebus, today it means the crème de la crème. What can I say after so many years in this sector, what happens is the comparison we usually make: before we used to have so many travels and no proper buses, now we have proper buses but no travels. The truth is, if this could serve as a catalyst it would be such a success for all of us I want to congratulate my friend Miquel and those around him. Well, besides what Juan has mentioned, besides revolutionizing the sector of passenger transport again from the inside, offering, putting the best technologies and the best design at the service of transport and of driving, I think that Titanium+, seen from the passenger’s perspective, will also offer so many new experiences. Our sector has, needs to make changes such as the ones made by other sectors and show that the passenger road transport still has so much to offer to passengers, to tourists, to travellers willing to get on a bus. And the Titanium+ without any doubt will offer them a different travel perspective.
And we are so happy that our clients can be the first ones experiencing the new experience of travelling on a Titanium+. +. For our part, we can only wish Nogebus every success, not only regarding Titanium+, which is going to revolutionize the sector without any doubt, but also because it is at the service of our sector, of the passenger transport, as it has always been. And of course, the Hispa Bus group will not only opt for fleet renewal, for increased safety standards in our vehicles, but also for offering new designs and new ways of travelling to all our clients. And we will keep walking hand in hand with Nogebus whenever possible in our future. So, bravo, congratulations and the greatest success! We want to express our deepest thanks to Juan and Carolina from Hispa Bus for always trusting us.
We also want to thank all of you for having joined us today. We are faced with the TITANIUM+, I’m sure it won’t leave you indifferent. Is a completely exclusive product and we hope to see you soon in person and show it to you. Today we have talked a lot about TITANIUM+, but we haven’t seen it yet and I think I’m speaking on behalf of everyone when I say: we want to see it! Of course! Absolutely! Absolutely! We are very excited for you to see it! A world premiere? Without a doubt, it will make a difference.
Thank you so much. Let’s watch the video. This is the TITANIUM+. A bus ready to lead the change of model in intercity mobility.
Ready to offer a really sustainable alternative. It does because it’s logical and the most efficient option. But also because it’s necessary. It is much more than a shared transport. It’s a vehicle that meets the expectations, meets the passengers’ demands, that makes every journey a travel well worth doing, that understands the moment, and that features a pioneering design that only pursues one objective: excellence.
But TITANIUM+ is much more. It is a step towards the future, towards the new ways of travelling and working, making the driver and safety its priority. But all of this has just started… Before I leave, I want to suggest you a game.
A very easy game in which you only have to use your imagination. I want you to picture what the future will look like. But I want it to be a realistic exercise.
Taking into account all the parameters we have seen today. In an increasingly diversified society, and where policies will emphasize sustainability more and more. In a world where the transition towards the electric model will require time, but in which the climate emergency will require to take quick action. In that future, how would you like to move around?
2021-06-29 00:03
