Yesterday, on May 24, the participants of the National Consortium for Development of Autonomous, Connected and Electric Vehicles – KAMAZ PTC and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) – signed an agreement of cooperation in developing a modular platform for buses, electric buses, trolleybuses.
The document was signed by Sergey Kogogin, Director General of KAMAZ PTC, and Andrey Rudskoy, Rector of SPbPU, member of Russian Academy of Science. The agreement was signed at the 2018 Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum as one of stages under the project Universal Modular Platform for Buses, Electric Buses, Trolleybuses. Its purpose is to create an innovative, universal modular platform for a new lineup of medium, large and extra-large buses, electric buses, trolleybuses with different types of engines (diesel, gas, electric, hybrid). The universal passenger platform (UPP) means unification of exterior and interior modules to reduce time and financial expenditures for vehicle production, maintenance and repair, lower the curb weight, thus, improving environmental performance.
The project involves the application of advanced production technologies. The matter is about new and promising materials of special usage, additive manufacturing technologies, industrial robotics, development of digital twins of various versions of the UPP, its elements and related production. It is also planned to design virtual testing grounds and virtual testing of the UPP for compliance with certification requirements. The main executor of the project is Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.
"The passenger transportation market is demanding fr om the point of view of product customization, and a universal passenger platform which can be quickly customized is a long felt need," said Sergey Kogogin. "Partnership with Saint Petersburg Polytechnic University opens up new prospects for us and helps us strengthen KAMAZ's positions of the top Russian vehicle producer." KAMAZ's head also explained that joining efforts with the top Russian university will enable the company to expand the innovative lineup of vehicles, including electric buses. Besides, it's important that the company will develop environmentally efficient technologies together with Russian experts.
"St. Petersburg Polytechnic University – in particular, Engineering Centre of SPbPU – is a successful experienced developer in digital design and simulation for the largest Russian and foreign vehicle producers. I'm sure that partnership between SPbPU and KAMAZ PTC will be no less successful and guarantee the appearance of new, globally competitive products in passenger transportation," commented on the signing Andrey Rudskoy.
The project is implemented under the National Consortium for Development of Autonomous, Connected and Electric Vehicles the memorandum on which was signed at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2017. The document was signed by Denis Manturov, Minister of Industry and Trade of the RF, Maksim Oreshkin, Minister of Economic Development of the RF, Maksim Sokolov, Minister of transport of the RF, and Sergey Sobyanin, Mayor of Moscow. After the working meeting wh ere this project had been presented, all members of the National Consortium, including KAMAZ, Rostelecom, SOLLERS, ROSSETI, the Center for Strategic Research North-West Foundation, NAMI, SPbPU, were invited to take part in the development of the universal passenger platform for buses, electric buses, trolleybuses. All participants of the consortium expressed interest in this idea.