Gaussin Acquires a Worldwide License from Bluebus (Bolloré Group Subsidiary) For the 6-Meter LMP® Bus 22 Passengers
- The bus will be renamed Cit-e and manufactured through Gaussin’s network of licensees
GAUSSIN (EURONEXT GROWTH ALGAU – FR0013495298) announces the acquisition of a worldwide license (outside France) from Bluebus, a Bolloré Group subsidiary, for its 6-meter LMP® bus 22 passengers. The vehicle will be renamed Cit-e and manufactured through Gaussin’s current and future network of licensees. The royalty bearing license is valid for 20 years and will allow Gaussin to provide the advantage of the localization model to its network of licensees to penetrate the different markets with a strong focus on the Middle East, where the demand and the adoption of smart and clean mobility systems is growing fast.
Cit-e, a Proven Solution for the First and Last Mile
Cit-e is a transport solution for private or public transport applications of the 1st and last mile focused on safety, performance and respect of the environment. Marketed mainly in France since 2010, it is now in operation with more than 60 cities.
With a 22 persons capacity, Cit-e embarks 90 kW/h of batteries and can run up to 50 km/h.
A Unique Electric Mobility Solution for Hot Countries
Cit-e is equipped with LMP® batteries from Blue Solutions, the Bolloré Group’s subsidiary specialized in batteries.
Produced by Blue Solutions in its French and Canadian factories, the LMP® batteries are the result of a unique “all-solid” lithium metal technology that gives them a very high level of safety, without thermal runaway, and the ability to withstand outside temperatures of up to 65°c without cooling. Their composition, free of cobalt and nickel, guarantees the independence of the technology from materials that are increasingly criticized from a social and environmental point of view. At the end of their life, all components will be recycled or recovered.
Cit-e has a significant competitive advantage on OPEX (operating costs) thanks to the consumption savings linked to the absence of a cooling system for the LMP® batteries, to the large capacity of the latter and to its capacity of 22 passengers. The cost per passenger per km is particularly low.
A New Mobility Experience
Cit-e stands out for the quality and finish of its interior equipment, its easy access for people with reduced mobility and its various “infotainment” features (information and entertainment) on board. Several screens and tablets are available on board so passengers to interact with the bus or associated services: define a destination, receive practical and personalized information, etc. The on-board experience is improved for the passenger and these new services allow the operator to diversify its revenue sources.
Cit-e Autonomous
Gaussin has deployed its autonomous driving vehicles in different sites around the world, gaining valuable experience in different environments leveraging decades of domain experience to identify better ways of delivering value to our customers.
Cit-e platform is available in Autonomous version “Cit-e Autonomous” and will be equipped with Gaussin Virtual Driver®, our inhouse autonomous driving stack that includes world-class components to enable fully autonomous operations in mixed traffic within gated areas.
Combining our deep knowledge of real operations with revolutionary robotics algorithms Gaussin Virtual Driver® provides effective solutions to reduce accidents, improve safety and productivity.
By building solutions that work in a variety of environments, we enhance deployment effectiveness, reduce time to value — and accelerate the benefits of autonomous technology.
Our resources, knowledge of mobility processes, world-class partners, and technological approaches have made us an industry leader Autonomous Driving and winner 2 years in row of the World Challenge for Self-Driving Transport.
The Electric Mobility Market Is Booming, Especially in the Middle East
According to a recent study by Qualiket Reasearch, the cumulative sales of electric buses in the Middle East will reach 3 billion euros between 2022 and 2027 with a CAGR of more than 9% driven by new forms of smart mobility, the development of smart cities and the integration of clean and smart mobility as a pillar of economic and environmental development.
This article was originally published by Gaussin.
