2024-02 SUSTAINABLE BUS

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Next capsules can operate
as a single ‘wagon’ or
connect to other modules
according to real-time
transport demand. During
peak hours, the vehicle
can connect to other ‘pods’
to cope with increased
demand. When docked
together, up to three pods
create a single vehicle without
joints. When more than
three pods are connected,
the vehicles become selectively
articulated.
tor, where the vehicles could be used to connect
the car parks to the terminal». The NX23
model is currently undergoing homologation,
while «the other pod module we have already
tested in Padua has passed homologation tests
for M1 Vat», the start-up’s founder explains.
Between Italy and Dubai
The company operates globally with headquarters
in Padua, Veneto, in north-west Italy,
and an assembly plant in Dubai, where
Next has been collaborating with the transport
agency RTA since 2016. 15 people are
employed between the headquarters, where
research and development and prototype production
are located, and the Emirates. An important
milestone was reached in mid-2023
with an investment agreement by Paradigma
Management Consultancies, which injected
2.5 million euros into Next Modular Vehicles.
To date, around 10 vehicles are involved in
pilot projects, while 50 vehicles will start rolling
off the production lines in 2024, destined
for the European and Middle Eastern markets.
Next has so far concentrated on product
validation. Small-series commercialisation is
expected to start in mid-2024, while «in 2026
we expect to start mass commercialisation.
For marketing on public tenders and in the
public transport sector, we are discussing a
partnership with an Italian bus manufacturer,
which will allow us to scale up this challenging
market and move to larger production
volumes, over 500 units per year», Gecchelin
reveals.
Coming to technical specifications, the vehicle
features full electric drive with a peak
power output of 90 kW. The lithium-ion
battery operates at 400 volts and provides
a maximum capacity of 47 kWh. But «the
next model will have about twice the capacity»,
Gecchelin guarantees. There are five
passenger seats on board, to which is added
free space capable of accommodating up to
ten additional standing passengers, in compliance
with the permitted masses, for a total
capacity of 15 passengers.
Offsetting some undeniable acerbity in production
quality is the fact that the one we
tried is a pre-series product still immersed in
a process of progressive improvements and
upgrades.
But not only passenger transport is in the
spotlight. Applications in the freight market
are also in sight, particularly in last-mile services.
Gecchelin tells us: «Another possible
application is the connection between a first
pod used for passenger transport and a second
pod used for freight transport. In Padua, we
are about to launch a dynamic locker project
ID CARD
Length mm 3,676
Height mm 2,935
Width mm 2,450
Wheelbase mm 2,300
Seatings n. 5 + 1
Passenger capacity n. 15
Doors width front/rear mm 730
Side door width mm 1,120
Entrance height mm 350
Floor height from ground mm 650
Glass-to-glass width mm 2,410
Glass-to-glass length mm 3,200
Interior height mm 2,270
Empty weight kg 3,000
Peak power kW 90
Battery capacity kWh 47
as part of a European tender that we won. The
pods will be used for the delivery of goods.
In the event that some packages are not delivered,
they will be placed in a pod parked
in a strategic location in the concerned area
at the end of the day. The recipients will be
informed of the locker location so that they
can collect their parcels».
And another project is about to start: «In the
summer of 2024, we will launch a new project
in the tourist destination of Courmayeur,
through a partnership with the municipality
and the operator Arriva».
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