FlixBus trials e-paper bus stops to revolutionise the bus travel industry

FlixBus, Europe’s largest intercity bus provider, is furthering its mission to change the way millions of people travel in Europe by teaming up with Papercast to trial solar powered e-paper bus stop technology.

Launched in 2013, FlixBus established Europe’s largest intercity bus network in just three years, attributing success to the digitisation of traditional bus travel. The company is said to be revolutionising the industry with advanced smart mobility technologies, such as e-ticketing, the FlixBus-App and GPS Live Tracking. The entrepreneurs have now turned their attention to digital bus stops as a replacement to paper timetables, partnering with Papercast to trial e-paper passenger information displays.

“We want to improve the overall experience at the bus stop and give customers accurate service information with live arrival times and updates on delays. We are looking for a solution that aligns with our mission to digitize mobility with smart, green technologies and we are very impressed with Papercast so far,” comments Martin Mangiapia, FlixBus spokesperson for DACH region.

FlixBus has installed the Papercast 32” interactive e-paper display in Heidelberg, Germany, as part of the trial. It is completely self-sustainable with solar power and wireless connectivity, therefore meeting the criteria for an environmentally friendly technology.

It also satisfies other requirements, according to Martin: “Papercast’s web-based management system is very easy to use, offering flexible display layouts that can show a lot of information in a simple format. The high-resolution e-paper screen provides crystal clear content and the interactive function lets the user choose their preferred language, essential for long-distance bus services in Europe”.

Papercast is transforming the way operators provide passenger information at the bus stop. The unique attributes of e-paper make it ideal for outside use, with unbeatable screen visibility, even in direct sunlight. Couple this with wireless connectivity and exceptionally low power consumption, and the displays can be continuously solar powered – no power or connectivity cables are required.

Launched in 2016, Papercast e-paper bus stop displays experienced significant innovative enhancements during 2017 to elevate its position as the most advanced solution on the market. With increasing adoption around the world, e-paper is becoming the technology of choice in keeping passengers better informed at the bus stop.