STM - Society in motion

The transmission on STM buses is more hi-tech than ever. It now comes equipped with a new program, called Topodyn, for dynamic topography, making fuel-efficient driving automatic while adapting it to road conditions.

When delivered by the manufacturer, all new conventional and articulated buses (2011) come with the Topodyn program integrated in their transmission. The STM is currently retrofitting the program on its older bus models. By the end of 2011, it will have modified 418 such vehicles. This means fuel savings of some 2 million dollars a year for the transit company, in addition to fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

If one considers the service life of a bus, this means some 70 000 tons of GHG that will not be emitted into the atmosphere, thanks to the Topodyn program. Another advantage: it ensures dynamic acceleration and smoother gear shifting upon departure, leading to greater comfort and safety for passengers. Partly financed by Transport Québec, the project proved a sound investment.

Teamwork that produces results

The STM has been working on the Topodyn project since 2008. Bus drivers took part in tests carried out on vehicles that had been equipped with the Topodyn program. Their role consisted of driving the bus along various routes, flat or inclined, to monitor the vehicle’s response during acceleration and braking, while engineers noted the test results. These tests proved conclusive, resulting in the new system being retrofitted and installed on all other bus models during fall 2011. The study is still ongoing with respect to older bus models dating back from 2001 to 2006.