18 | AutoPartsAsia | NOVEMBER 2017
transport, electrification of buses will
contribute to changing city designs, for
example, having indoor bus stops in
shopping malls or hospitals, and even
in libraries –considering that electric
buses cause zero emissions and zero
noise. That will be the city of the
future.
Q: The footprint is the same for a
passenger car, whether electric or
diesel. Is it the same for buses?
A: Yes, it is. One of the challenges for
public transport is to make it socially
attractive, to really make people choose
the bus over other means of transport.
Indoor bus terminals will certainly
contribute to this. Attractiveness of
public transport will be a key factor
for future cities; city planners have
to take this into account and make it
sustainable. Sustainability has three
major factors: Social, economic and
environmental. All the innovations
in automation should be related to
these factors to make it all viable. I
personally feel automated technologies
will come into commercial vehicles
before they enter passenger cars; it’s
possible because it makes economic
sense. ‘Automated’ buses can use
limited space in city traffic much more
efficiently; it will enhance sustainability
in the social framework.
Q: The three pillars you
mentioned: Social, economic and
environmental, are the vertices of
a triangle, pulling apart. So there
is always a trade-off. How do you
see this and what kind of inputs
will you give to the designers and
manufacturers
at Volvo Group?
A: If you can find
the sweet spot
inside these three
areas, then you
would have a
real winner as far
as sustainability
goes. For
example, if you
make a green
product meeting
environmental
norms, there
is generally a
big trade-off
with economic
sustainability. So
when we develop a solution we look
at a wider perspective than just the
technology related to the vehicle. We
discuss both with our suppliers and
customers as well as all stakeholders
for the product to get the most
optimum solution possible.For example, in mining, the industry
is an important stakeholder; for city
buses, the Mayor and city planners
are important stake holders. We have
to find the sweet spot both for Volvo
and for our customers; of course, it is
very hard to find the sweet spot and
here, taking a collaborative approach is
important.Q: Even if you do find the sweet
spot, to address it would be very
expensive. The cost factor could
escalate things manifold; therefore,
is the challenge not to look at it
from the economic perspective?A: Economic sustainability is very
important as it leads to good business
for us, our customers and society as
a whole. If you manufacture a really
green product, you cannot build a new
city around it if it is not sustainable for
the citizens.Q: Sustainability starts from the
vendor’s vendor to your customer’s
customer, it’s all encompassing.
You are only a part of the big value
chain. When you initiate certain
things downstream and it’s not
effectively used, then the initiative
taken by you is lost. This may
happen in the emerging markets,
probably not in the mature
markets. Is there a mechanism you
are developing to identify such
attempts and then address them?A: I do not think it is just limited to
developing markets; it is easy to make