CRRC goes to the next city: BUD lands in Brazil! November test is imminent!

The Government of Paraná has announced that it will be the first to introduce Bonde Urbano Digital (BUD) in the Curitiba metropolitan area , digital city tram) - a modern public transportation system without physical rails and relying on "virtual tracks". On September 4, Governor Ratinho Junior (PSD) presented the BUD prototype to the public. The first section will connect the cities of Pinhais - Piraquara with a length of about 13 kilometers and is expectedImplementation will be launched within a few weeks, and testing and passenger commissioning will begin in November.

Photo credit: Antônio Nascimento/Banda B

Key information at a glance

• Standard features: rubber wheel guide, no solid rail; Relying on "virtual tracks", digital markers and high-precision sensors to achieve path guidance; It has functions such as automatic tracking, automatic guidance, and active electronic protection, and can still drive accurately under adverse conditions such as rain, vibration, and road wear。

• Vehicle parameters: 30 m long, three-axle, two-way drivingUp to 70 km/h, with a full load of about 280 people, equipped with air conditioning.

• Energy replenishment solution: 600 kWh lithium-ion battery; The roof of the platform is quickly charged by pantograph, and can travel 3–5 km in about 30 seconds; The garage can be fully charged at night to support continuous operation for about 40 km; Reserve conditions for hydrogen energy upgrades.

• Route and passenger flow: ≈13 km in the first section; The existing bus system in the coverage area has an average daily travel demand of about 10,000 people.

• Fares and timeliness: R$5.50, in line with existing metropolitan buses; Travel time remains unchanged (comparable to existing buses).

• Milestones: August vehicles arrived in Pakistan via the port of Paranagua; After the display, the manufacturer's technical team will complete the assembly in the garage; In November, the test and passenger trial operation were launched; A 15-month contract with the company, which can be extended as appropriate, will be reported to Amep regularly (Paraná State Metropolitan Affairs Agency) to submit a progress and use report.

• Economy: The official construction cost is about one-third of that of VLT, and the implementation cycle is short. The vehicle has a lifespan of approximately 30 years (about twice that of a traditional double-articulated bus).

The Pakistani side revealed the reason for choosing CRRC

• Faster landing and better cost: No laying of solid rails, less impact on existing roads, short cycle, construction cost about 1/3 of VLT.

• Intelligence and resilience: Virtual track + multi-sensor fusion, combined with automatic guidance and electronic protection, improves availability and safety redundancy in complex weather and road conditions 。

• Clean and forward-looking: The 600 kWh fast charging system is suitable for high-frequency operation scenarios and reserves a hydrogen energy evolution path.

The Pakistani side said that the contract with CRRC is for 15 months and can be renewed. CRRC will submit a report on the progress and use of BUD to the Metropolitan Affairs Bureau.

From the prototype to the first landing, CRRC BUD reshapes the balance point of "cost-efficiency-experience" with virtual track, fast charging and full life cycle maintenance, proving that the Chinese solution has moved from "technology leading" to "scene leading", and handed over the demonstration answer sheet of the "Chinese solution" going overseas.

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