Real-Time Next-Bus Displays in Chinese Cities: Technical Lessons from Early Deployments

Real-time next-bus displays at bus stops are often promoted as a flagship “smart city” technology, but their value depends entirely on whether they actually work in everyday service. This article reviews a series of deployments in Chinese cities between 2016 and 2022 and finds that most installations outside Shanghai have either failed completely or operate only partially after one to three years. The primary technical failure mode is not the vehicle tracking algorithms or the control centre software, but the lack of a robust 24-hour power supply and stable communications at the stop. By contrast, Seoul has treated real-time displays as core public transport infrastructure and now provides near-universal coverage across the city, while Shanghai is so far the only Chinese city with more than 100 continuously functioning stops and, in the case of e-ink screens, several thousand units in sustained operation.

Electronic bus stop displays are among the most visible passenger-facing elements of a bus priority or BRT system. They integrate with the automatic vehicle location (AVL) / GPS system and the central dispatch platform to calculate predicted arrival times, show the real-time location and headway of buses on each route, and, in some cases, indicate in-vehicle crowding based on automatic passenger counting (APC) or load estimation models. Well-designed displays can reduce perceived waiting time, improve trust in the service, and support operational control by smoothing passenger loads across successive buses.

In recent years, as many Chinese cities have entered a broad “smart city” development phase, a wide variety of electronic bus stop displays have been installed: large outdoor LCD panels, LED countdown boards, e-ink screens and low-power liquid crystal displays powered by solar panels and batteries. Far East Mobility has carried out field surveys in the cities listed below, interviewing construction agencies, operating companies and equipment suppliers. The case studies document the technical configurations (power supply, communications, hardware), institutional and contractual arrangements, and the reasons why some systems have remained stable while others have largely failed. The aim is to provide technically grounded lessons for cities considering similar investments, especially those planning to scale up from pilot corridors to network-wide deployment.

Case 1: First Batch of Electronic Bus Stop Displays in Ji'an, Jiangxi

Implementation Plan

Beginning in May 2016, Ji'an Bus Company installed electronic bus stop displays at 80 stops on the main central city corridors, including bus stops along Jinggangshan Avenue and Jizhou Avenue. The selected stops were high-demand locations with strong potential for advertising revenue.

Jiangxi Huaxing Information Industry Co., Ltd. adopted a BOT (Build–Operate–Transfer) commercial model. Under the contract with the bus company, Huaxing covered all capital and operating costs for the electronic displays. The bus company provided real-time bus operation data. Huaxing enjoyed the exclusive right to sell and display advertising content in the light-box sections of the units.

Table 1: Key Characteristics of Ji'an’s First Batch of Electronic Bus Stop Displays

Implementing agencies	Ji'an Bus Company; Jiangxi Huaxing Information Industry Co., Ltd.
Time and location	From May 2016, 80 stops along the main central city roads including Jinggangshan Avenue and Jizhou Avenue
Equipment and functions	Free-standing electronic bus stop with an LED screen on top displaying time and date, and a 55-inch LCD screen below. The LCD shows advertising in the upper portion and real-time bus information in the lower portion.
Power supply	Lithium batteries used during the day (charged at night from the street lighting circuit). At night the unit is powered directly from the street light electricity supply.
Data transmission	4G wireless network
Capital cost	RMB 50,000 per unit (including battery storage system, back-office connection equipment and communications hardware)
Operating cost	About RMB 10,000 per unit per year, including battery replacement, electricity and coordination costs
Equipment supplier	Jiangxi Huaxing Information Industry Co., Ltd.

Source: Jiangxi Huaxing Information Industry Co., Ltd.

Field Survey and Analysis

During a field survey in June 2017, Far East Mobility observed that the electronic displays in this first batch were providing highly accurate real-time information, showing many routes and vehicle positions in real time for passengers.

However, when the team returned in March 2021, the electronic display at the Jizhou Avenue stop no longer showed real-time bus information and could only display the time and static route/stop information. The supplier, Jiangxi Huaxing, explained that advertising revenue had proved insufficient to cover operating costs and power supply. As a result, the BOT operating contract was terminated at the end of 2020.

Case conclusion: Where electronic bus stop displays depend entirely on private capital and advertising revenue to fund power and maintenance, the operator will terminate service once advertising revenue can no longer cover operating costs. This was the main reason Ji'an’s first batch of displays could not continue operating.

Case 2: Electronic Bus Stop Displays on Yangming West Road, Ji'an High-Speed Rail New District

Implementation Plan

In December 2019, seven new bus shelters were built along Yangming West Road in the Ji'an High-Speed Rail New District with investment by Ji'an Urban Construction Investment and Development Co., Ltd. Each shelter included two 65-inch high-definition electronic displays.

Yangming West Road is a newly built road. During construction, underground power ducts were installed. At the time of bus stop civil works, connection pits were built to take power from the underground power ducts directly into each shelter foundation, allowing the displays to connect to a 24-hour municipal electricity supply.

Table 2: Key Characteristics of Electronic Bus Stop Displays on Yangming West Road, Ji'an High-Speed Rail New District

Implementing agency	Ji'an Urban Construction Investment and Development Co., Ltd.
Time and location	December 2019, seven bus stops along Yangming West Road in the High-Speed Rail New District
Equipment and functions	65-inch industrial-grade outdoor LCD screen (around 260 W). The unit is weatherproof, heat-resistant, lightning-resistant and impact-resistant. It displays route and stop names, real-time vehicle positions, the number of stops the next bus is away from the current stop, and public service advertisements.
Power supply	24-hour municipal electricity
Data transmission	4G wireless network
Capital cost	RMB 32,000 per 65-inch LCD display
Operating cost	Not available
Equipment supplier	Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Source: Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. – www.zemso.com

Field Survey and Analysis

In May 2020, Far East Mobility carried out a field survey at the High-Speed Rail New District bus stops. The electronic displays were functioning normally, playing public service advertisements and showing the real-time position of buses on each route passing the stop, including the number of stops away for the next bus.

However, in a follow-up visit in March 2021, the displays no longer showed real-time arrival information. They were only playing public service advertisements and showing static route and stop information. According to Shanghai Zemso, the displays could no longer connect to the back-office system because the 4G data SIM cards had not been renewed. The bus company explained that as the shelters had not yet been formally handed over, they were unable to change the data SIM cards.

Case conclusion: At Yangming West Road in the Ji'an High-Speed Rail New District, the power supply problem was solved at the construction stage by connecting the shelters to 24-hour municipal electricity. However, the system later failed because 4G data service was not maintained, so the displays could not obtain real-time data.

Case 3: Pilot Energy-Efficient Digital Display at Jinggangshan Medical College Stop, Ji'an

Implementation Plan

During an April 2021 field survey, Far East Mobility noted that Ji'an Bus Company had installed a prototype energy-efficient digital LED display at Jinggangshan Medical College stop. The equipment was provided by Jiangxi Yunben Digital Co., Ltd. as a test unit.

Table 3: Key Characteristics of the Pilot Digital Display at Jinggangshan Medical College Stop, Ji'an

Implementing agency	Test equipment provided by Jiangxi Yunben Digital Co., Ltd.
Time and location	Installed April 2021 and removed May 2022, at Jingfu Road – Jinggangshan Medical College bus stop
Equipment and functions	Energy-efficient digital LED display (approx. 12 W). Cabinet outer dimensions 970 mm (H) × 370 mm (W) × 90 mm (D); internal display area 640 mm × 320 mm. Functions included real-time bus arrival information, synchronised audio announcements, and real-time weather forecasts via network connection.
Power supply	Street lighting circuit plus battery storage
Data transmission	4G wireless network
Capital cost	RMB 16,000 per unit
Operating cost	Not available
Equipment supplier	Jiangxi Yunben Digital Co., Ltd.

Source: Jiangxi Yunben Digital Co., Ltd. – www.yunbenshuzi.com

Field Survey and Analysis

From April 2021 onwards, Far East Mobility made several visits to observe this pilot display. Up to May 2022, the display never showed any real-time bus arrival information. The bus company explained that vehicles on the routes serving this stop had not yet had their on-board terminals upgraded, and that the control centre back-office system was also being replaced. As a result, the display was only installed for test purposes and could not actually provide real-time information to passengers.

The supplier, Jiangxi Yunben Digital Co., Ltd., removed the unit in May 2022.

Case conclusion: The Jinggangshan Medical College pilot digital display remained in place for about one year, from installation to removal, but never displayed real-time information because it could not access control centre data. The test was therefore considered a failure.

Case 4: Smart Bus Shelters on Guangzhou Sightseeing Route 2

Implementation Plan

In December 2017, 17 smart bus shelters were constructed along Guangzhou’s “Sightseeing Route 2”. Each shelter incorporated a package of equipment including waiting-time information touch screens, LED displays, one-touch emergency call modules, Wi-Fi modules, USB charging modules, hard-disk video recorders, CCTV cameras, fibre transceivers and network switches. These front-end devices were connected to a back-office system via dedicated links to provide integrated services and real-time information. (Source)

Table 4: Key Characteristics of Smart Bus Shelters on Guangzhou Sightseeing Route 2

Implementing agency	Guangzhou Transport Terminus Construction Management Center Co., Ltd.
Time and location	Accepted and put into operation in December 2017, 17 bus stops along Sightseeing Route 2
Equipment and functions	Suspended LED display screen providing countdown to the next bus arrival in minutes; 32-inch infrared touch-screen terminal showing real-time bus positions and allowing route and stop queries.
Power supply	Seven stops connected to 24-hour municipal electricity; ten stops powered via nearby commercial connections under agreements with property managers.
Data transmission	Dedicated leased fibre links (from China Telecom or China Mobile, varying by stop)
Capital cost	RMB 200,000 per smart shelter including equipment; LED display approx. RMB 1,000 per unit; 32-inch infrared touch-screen terminal approx. RMB 30,000 per unit.
Operating cost	RMB 600,000 per year for 17 shelters, including electricity, front-end equipment maintenance and fibre lease fees.
Equipment supplier	Design and equipment procurement under a patented design held by Guangzhou Transport Terminus Construction Management Center.

Source: Guangzhou Transport Terminus Construction Management Center Co., Ltd.

Field Survey and Analysis

Far East Mobility carried out a field survey in February 2021 with the following observations:

• 20 February 2021: At Zhujiang Park South Gate stop, the LED display was showing estimated arrival times, while the 32-inch touch screen was black (no power or no display).
• 23 February 2021: At three stops (Haixinsha Park, Liede, and Liede East), both the LED display and touch screen were disconnected from power; at Zhujiang Park South Gate stop, the LED display had power but no real-time information, and the 32-inch touch screen was still black.

Far East Mobility asked Guangzhou Transport Terminus Construction Management Center to explain the reasons for the equipment failures. The main reasons were:

• The LED displays and 32-inch touch screens had been in service for six years. The equipment had aged and become difficult to repair, and there was insufficient funding to replace them with new units.
• Power conduits feeding the shelters were frequently damaged by nearby municipal works and were difficult to repair.
• For stops powered from surrounding commercial properties, supply depended on annual negotiations and contract renewal with property managers, making stable power supply hard to guarantee.

Case conclusion: Difficulties in securing a reliable power supply and high operating costs were the key reasons the smart bus shelters on Guangzhou Sightseeing Route 2 could not be operated sustainably. This included the cost and difficulty of repairing power conduits, negotiating commercial power contracts, and maintaining or replacing equipment. No additional electronic bus stop displays have been installed in central Guangzhou since then.

Case 5: Smart Electronic Bus Stop Displays in Central Kaili, Guizhou

Implementation Plan

In July 2019, Kaili Municipal Transport Bureau actively promoted smart bus development. Intelligent electronic bus stop displays were installed at 20 high-demand locations such as the east, west, south and north approaches to the “Big Crossroads” intersection, the High-Speed Rail South Station, the railway station and the municipal government service centre to improve the passenger experience. (Source)

Table 5: Key Characteristics of Smart Electronic Bus Stop Displays in Central Kaili

Implementing agency	Kaili Municipal Transport Bureau
Time and location	Completed July 2019, 20 stops in central Kaili
Equipment and functions	Free-standing electronic bus stop display, 2,500 mm (H) × 1,000 mm (W) × 310 mm (D), using a 55-inch industrial-grade outdoor LCD screen. Functions include real-time bus arrival information, information on onboard crowding/comfort, audio stop announcements, weather forecasts, multimedia advertising, video surveillance and light-box advertising.
Power supply	24-hour municipal electricity (the 20 locations were chosen from stops already connected to the municipal power grid)
Data transmission	4G wireless network
Capital cost	RMB 30,500 per stop
Operating cost	Not available
Equipment supplier	Zhengzhou Tiamaes Technology Co., Ltd.

Source: Zhengzhou Tiamaes Technology Co., Ltd. – https://www.tiamaes.com

Field Survey and Analysis

In October 2021, Far East Mobility surveyed four stops with electronic displays (Chengnan Coach Station, Big Crossroads East – city centre, Municipal Tax Bureau and Prefectural Postal Administration Bureau). At all four stops, the displays clearly showed estimated arrival times, real-time vehicle positions and bus crowding/comfort levels. Kaili Bus Company explained that passenger counting sensors had been installed at the front and rear doors of some buses. These feed real-time load factors to the displays, which show crowdedness: red indicates “crowded”, yellow indicates “moderately crowded”, and green indicates “comfortable”.

Case conclusion: Kaili selected only stops already connected to 24-hour municipal electricity for installation of electronic displays, thus avoiding power supply issues. The system has operated stably and reliably.

Case 6: E-Ink Bus Stop Displays in Central Shanghai

Implementation Plan

In September 2019, Shanghai Jiushi Bus Group started deploying solar-powered e-ink electronic bus stop displays at intermediate bus stops without existing power connections. Display technology choice has a direct impact on power, connectivity and maintenance needs. E-ink panels, for example, are more expensive per unit area than conventional LED or LCD, but in Shanghai they have proven durable and remain in operation several years after installation. Their static-image nature and very low power draw mean they can be driven by small solar arrays with battery backup, greatly reducing dependence on utility connections. Low-power LCD panels used in Shanghai’s suburban corridors follow a similar logic. For cities that cannot easily provide a full municipal power connection at every stop, standardising on low-power hardware is often the only realistic route to network-wide coverage.

By the end of 2020, 5,639 pre-arrival displays had been installed in the central city, of which 3,870 were e-ink units. (Source)

Table 6: Key Characteristics of E-Ink Bus Stop Displays in Central Shanghai

Implementing agency	Shanghai Jiushi Public Transport Group Co., Ltd.
Time and location	From September 2019, at previously unpowered intermediate bus stops in the central city
Equipment and functions	31.2-inch black-and-white e-ink display (Taiwan E-Ink), approx. 3.5 W power consumption. Displays real-time bus arrival information, onboard comfort level, date and weather.
Power supply	Solar panel plus battery storage, with solar panels mounted on the shelter roof
Data transmission	4G wireless network
Capital cost	RMB 35,000 per unit, including the e-ink display, solar panel and battery
Operating cost	Relatively high; e-ink screens generally need replacement after roughly three years, at about RMB 30,000 per unit
Equipment supplier	Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Source: Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. – www.zemso.com

Field Survey and Analysis

On 11 June 2022, Far East Mobility surveyed the e-ink electronic display at Beibaoxing Road–Minyan Road bus stop in Hongkou District. The display clearly showed estimated arrival times for the next and following buses and the onboard comfort levels.

Case conclusion: The e-ink bus stop displays in central Shanghai have operated stably since their deployment in 2020, with reliable real-time information. This is a successful large-scale application.

Case 7: LCD Electronic Bus Stop Displays in Fengxian District, Shanghai

Implementation Plan

From late 2019 to early 2020, Shanghai Fengxian Bus Public Transport Co., Ltd. piloted electronic pre-arrival information displays at several bus stops. These pilots were well received by passengers. By 30 September 2021, Shanghai was providing real-time bus arrival information for 36 suburban bus routes: four routes each in Jiading, Baoshan, Chongming, Songjiang, Jinshan, Pudong, Qingpu, Minhang and Fengxian districts. Reported prediction accuracy exceeded 85%. (Source)

Table 7: Key Characteristics of LCD Electronic Bus Stop Displays in Fengxian District, Shanghai

Implementing agency	Shanghai Fengxian Bus Public Transport Co., Ltd.
Time and location	September 2021, Fengxian District
Equipment and functions	31.2-inch digital LCD screen (two panels combined), approx. 10 W power consumption. Displays estimated real-time bus arrival times, date and weather.
Power supply	Solar panel plus battery storage, with solar panels mounted on the shelter roof
Data transmission	5G wireless network
Capital cost	RMB 30,000 per unit including LCD screens, solar panel and battery
Operating cost	Screen maintenance cost is relatively low with a 5-year warranty. Batteries need replacement after about three years at around RMB 1,000 per set.
Equipment supplier	Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Source: Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. – www.zemso.com

Field Survey and Analysis

On 8 June 2022, Far East Mobility surveyed five bus stops in Fengxian District. At all five stops, the low-power LCD displays were clearly showing estimated arrival times for the next bus. The predicted arrival times were consistent with actual arrival times, with high accuracy.

Case conclusion: Since going into operation in September 2021, the solar-powered LCD bus stop displays in Fengxian District have operated stably with accurate real-time information. This is another successful application of low-power display technology combined with solar and battery systems.

Case 8: Smart Bus Stops in Futian Central District, Shenzhen

Implementation Plan

On 25 August 2021, the Futian Central District Transport Facilities and Public Space Enhancement Project in Shenzhen held its completion and handover ceremony. The project included ten subsystems such as smart streetlights, smart bus shelters, and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) systems, all designed to improve the travel experience and overall quality of the public realm. (Source)

Table 8: Key Characteristics of Smart Bus Stop Electronic Displays in Futian Central District, Shenzhen

Implementing agency	Shenzhen Jian’an (Group) Co., Ltd.
Time and location	Completed August 2021, 54 bus stops in Futian Central District
Equipment and functions	Suspended full-colour LED display (approx. 200 W) and 86-inch high-brightness interactive LCD screen (approx. 2,200 W). The LED display provides real-time countdowns to the next vehicle arrival. The interactive LCD screen provides touch-based queries, including bus route maps, local area information, real-time bus information, metro connection information and information on surrounding commercial clusters.
Power supply	24-hour municipal electricity, with dedicated power conduits installed to each stop during construction
Data transmission	Optical fibre, with fibre ducts installed to each stop during construction
Capital cost	Full-colour LED display approx. RMB 5,600 per unit; 86-inch high-brightness interactive LCD screen approx. RMB 51,000 per unit
Operating cost	Not available
Equipment supplier	Dongguan Yangtian Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Source: Dongguan Yangtian Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. – http://ibrights.corp.dav01.com

Field Survey and Analysis

On 5 April 2021, Far East Mobility surveyed the Information Hub Building bus stop in Futian. At that time, the suspended LED display clearly showed how many minutes remained before each route arrived, providing a good waiting experience.

On 20 May 2022, the team revisited the same stop. Both the suspended LED display and the 86-inch interactive LCD screen were functioning normally, and real-time information accuracy remained high. This suggests that the operation and maintenance regime for these smart bus stop displays is working well.

Case conclusion: At the smart bus stops in Futian District, power and optical fibre conduits were laid at the time of construction, ensuring a stable 24-hour power supply and reliable data transmission. More than one year after completion, the displays remained in normal operation. This is a successful smart bus stop implementation.

Case 9: Smart Bus Stops in Chancheng District, Foshan

Implementation Plan

In October 2021, the first phase of the Public Transport Intelligent Upgrade Project in Chancheng District, Foshan – invested by Chancheng District Transport Bureau – began upgrading 79 bus stops with smart facilities. By late 2021, 60 stops had been upgraded, with the remaining upgrades scheduled for completion in October. The smart bus stops include interactive electronic screens, electronic displays, video surveillance, cloud broadcast systems, air quality monitoring systems and solar power systems. (Source)

At Huaying School (West Gate) stop, a new-generation smart bus shelter was piloted. A solar power system supplies part of the electricity for the light-box advertising and LED displays.

Table 9: Key Characteristics of Smart Bus Stop Displays in Chancheng District, Foshan

Implementing agency	Chancheng District Transport Bureau, Foshan
Time and location	October 2021, 79 bus stops in Chancheng District
Equipment and functions	Suspended full-colour LED display, 55-inch high-brightness low-power LCD pre-arrival screen, and 55-inch high-brightness low-power interactive LCD touch screen. Functions include real-time estimated arrival times, number of stops away, real-time vehicle positioning, and interactive query functions for government information, journey planning, public information and local attractions.
Power supply	24-hour municipal electricity. At Huaying School (West Gate) stop, solar power is combined with 24-hour municipal electricity.
Data transmission	4G wireless network
Capital cost	RMB 10.1385 million for the electronic display system for all 79 stops
Operating cost	Not available
Equipment supplier	LED and LCD displays and touch screens supplied by Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

Source: Foshan Public Resource Trading Center website

Field Survey and Analysis

On 31 May 2022, Far East Mobility surveyed four smart bus stops in Chancheng District: Huaying School (West Gate) – East Health City, Xin Fukang Dingfeng Bus Hub and Fancun South. At three of the stops, the LED and LCD pre-arrival screens clearly showed, for each route, the number of stops the next bus was away, the estimated minutes to arrival, and real-time positions of vehicles. The interactive touch screens were functioning normally and provided a good user experience.

At Fancun South stop, the LCD pre-arrival screen showed no real-time data and the LCD touch screen did not support interactive functions. According to the supplier, communications ducts in the area had been cut during nearby construction works, preventing the displays from receiving back-office data.

Case conclusion: The smart bus stop displays in Chancheng District were designed with connections to 24-hour municipal electricity, successfully avoiding power supply issues. However, the stability of data transmission remains a challenge, as accidental damage to communication ducts can interrupt service.

Case Analysis and Lessons Learned

Survey Results and Success/Failure Analysis for Nine Electronic Bus Stop Case Studies

	City / Case	Survey results	Analysis of success or failure
1	First batch of 80 electronic bus stops in Ji'an, 55-inch LCD displays	Same stop surveyed twice: functioning with real-time data in June 2017; no real-time data in March 2021.	System depended entirely on private capital to solve power supply and ongoing maintenance. Advertising revenue was insufficient to cover operating costs, leading to shutdown.
2	Seven smart bus shelters on Yangming West Road, Ji'an High-Speed Rail New District, 65-inch LCD displays	Same stop surveyed twice: functioning with real-time data in May 2020; no real-time data in March 2021.	Power supply was properly solved at construction stage, but operations were unstable. The displays could not access back-office real-time data due to 4G network/data issues.
3	Pilot digital display at Jinggangshan Medical College stop, Ji'an (one stop, energy-efficient digital display)	Installed April 2021, removed May 2022 – never showed real-time information.	Display could not obtain data from the bus control centre back-office. The pilot test therefore failed.
4	Smart bus shelters on Sightseeing Route 2, Guangzhou – 17 stops with LED displays and 32-inch infrared touch terminals	Surveyed five stops in February 2021: only 20% were functioning normally. One stop showed real-time data; three stops had no power to the displays; one had power but no real-time data.	Electronic displays could not be sustained. The key reasons were difficulty securing power supply and high operating costs (electricity, fibre, maintenance).
5	Smart electronic bus stop displays in central Kaili, Guizhou – 20 stops, 55-inch industrial-grade LCD screens	Surveyed four stops in October 2021, with 100% functioning normally and showing real-time data.	Successful implementation. Stops were selected from locations already connected to 24-hour municipal electricity, avoiding power supply difficulties.
6	E-ink electronic bus stop displays in central Shanghai – 31.2-inch black-and-white e-ink screens (E-Ink)	Surveyed one stop in June 2022, with 100% functioning normally and showing real-time data.	Successful implementation. Many e-ink displays use solar plus battery power systems, taking advantage of their very low energy consumption.
7	LCD electronic bus stop displays in Fengxian District, Shanghai – 31.2-inch digital LCD screens	Surveyed five stops in June 2022, with 100% functioning normally and high prediction accuracy.	Successful implementation. Low-power LCD displays, in some cases powered partly or fully by solar plus battery systems, have operated stably.
8	Smart bus stops in Futian Central District, Shenzhen – 54 stops with suspended LED displays and 86-inch interactive LCD screens	Same stop surveyed in April 2021 and May 2022, with 100% functioning normally and showing real-time data both times.	Successful implementation. Power and fibre conduits were laid during construction, ensuring stable 24-hour power and data transmission. The system remained in normal operation more than one year after commissioning.
9	Smart bus stops in Chancheng District, Foshan – 79 stops with 55-inch LCD pre-arrival screens and 55-inch LCD touch screens	Surveyed four stops in May 2022, with 75% functioning normally. Three stops showed real-time data; one had power but no real-time data.	Design and construction planning were sound, with 24-hour municipal electricity connections. However, operational stability remains an issue, mainly due to data transmission interruptions.

The single largest challenge for electronic bus stop displays is securing a reliable power supply. Based on the nine case studies above, the optimal solution is to connect bus stops to 24-hour municipal electricity wherever possible.

Summary of Power Supply Options from the Nine Case Studies

	Power supply option	Advantages	Disadvantages	City experience
Option 1 (recommended)	Connect to municipal electricity via dedicated conduits and connection points installed by the power utility.	Reliable 24-hour supply; billed at municipal tariff; straightforward management.	For new roads, power ducts and cabinets must be included in road construction. For retrofits, roads must be excavated to connect to the nearest distribution cabinet.	Futian smart bus stops, Shenzhen Central Kaili smart displays Chancheng smart bus stops, Foshan Yangming West Road smart bus stops, Ji'an High-Speed Rail New District Some Sightseeing Route 2 stops, Guangzhou
Option 2	Negotiate power supply agreements with nearby commercial properties.	24-hour supply possible; relatively straightforward management where agreements are stable.	Electricity billed at commercial tariff; contracts must be renegotiated annually; risk of non-renewal.	No fully successful long-term cases yet. Some Sightseeing Route 2 stops in Guangzhou initially used commercial power but later lost supply when contracts could not be renewed.
Option 3	Street lighting power plus batteries: at night the display uses street lighting circuits and charges the batteries; during the day the batteries power the displays.	Street lighting circuits are common on main roads; with batteries, 24-hour operation is theoretically possible.	Higher operating costs due to regular battery replacement. Power reliability depends on street lighting – which can be unstable or switched off in off-peak hours.	First batch of electronic bus stops in Ji'an, which could not be sustained due to commercial and operational issues.
Option 4	Solar panels plus batteries: solar panels convert light to electricity, which is stored in batteries to power the displays.	Enables 24-hour supply at suburban or otherwise unpowered stops.	Panels must be free from shading; for high-power displays, battery packs must be large, leading to weight and space issues if placed on shelter roofs. Batteries need replacement every 2–3 years.	E-ink displays in central Shanghai LCD displays in Fengxian District, Shanghai Huaying School (West Gate) stop in Chancheng, Foshan (In Foshan, solar provides only a portion of the electricity)

Comparison of Ten Electronic Bus Stop Systems

City / system	Functioning one year after installation?	Number of installed stops	Proportion functioning at time of survey	Displays commercial advertising or slogans?	Installed at all new bus stops?	Expanded citywide?
2016 first batch of electronic bus stops in Ji'an	Yes	80	0%	Yes	No	No
2019 smart bus shelters in Ji'an High-Speed Rail New District	No	7	0%	Yes	No	No
2021 pilot digital display at Jinggangshan Medical College stop, Ji'an	No	1	0%	Yes	No	No
2017 electronic bus stop displays on Sightseeing Route 2, Guangzhou	No	17	0%	Yes	No	No
2019 smart electronic bus stop displays in central Kaili	Yes	20	100%	Yes	No	No
2019 e-ink bus stop displays in central Shanghai	Yes	3,870**	100%	No	Yes	Yes
2021 LCD bus stop displays in Fengxian District, Shanghai	Yes	(n/a)	100%	No	No	No
2021 smart bus stops in Futian Central District, Shenzhen	Yes	54	100%	Yes	No	No
2021 smart bus stops in Chancheng District, Foshan	Yes	79	75%	Yes	No	No
2022 electronic bus stop displays in Xi’an	No	600	25%	Yes	No	No

* Data based on field surveys and information provided by bus companies and suppliers.

** Source: https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20201225A0BWJ000

Implementing and Operating Agencies for Ten Electronic Bus Stop Systems

City / system	Implementing agency	Operating agency	Supplier and warranty period
2016 first batch of electronic bus stops in Ji'an	Ji'an Bus Company; Jiangxi Huaxing Information Industry Co., Ltd.	Jiangxi Huaxing Information Industry Co., Ltd. (BOT model)	Jiangxi Huaxing Information Industry Co., Ltd.; contracts renewed annually.
2019 smart bus shelters in Ji'an High-Speed Rail New District	Ji'an Urban Construction Investment and Development Co., Ltd.	Ji'an Bus Company	Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.; 2-year equipment warranty.
2021 pilot digital display at Jinggangshan Medical College stop, Ji'an	Test equipment provided by Jiangxi Yunben Digital Co., Ltd.	Pilot test only; no formal operation	Test failed; equipment removed.
2017 electronic bus stop displays on Sightseeing Route 2, Guangzhou	Guangzhou Transport Terminus Construction Management Center Co., Ltd.	Guangzhou Transport Terminus Construction Management Center Co., Ltd.	Equipment procured under patented design held by the Centre; display warranty period 3 years.
2019 smart electronic bus stop displays in central Kaili	Kaili Municipal Transport Bureau	Kaili Bus Company	Zhengzhou Tiamaes Technology Co., Ltd.; 1-year equipment warranty.
2019 e-ink bus stop displays in central Shanghai	Shanghai Jiushi Public Transport Group Co., Ltd.	Shanghai Jiushi Public Transport Group Co., Ltd.	Some displays supplied by Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.; 5-year warranty.
2021 LCD bus stop displays in Fengxian District, Shanghai	Shanghai Fengxian Bus Public Transport Co., Ltd.	Shanghai Fengxian Bus Public Transport Co., Ltd.	Some displays supplied by Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.; 5-year warranty.
2021 smart bus stops in Futian Central District, Shenzhen	Shenzhen Jian’an (Group) Co., Ltd.	(Not available)	Dongguan Yangtian Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.; 3-year equipment warranty.
2021 smart bus stops in Chancheng District, Foshan	Chancheng District Transport Bureau, Foshan	Chancheng District Bus Company, Foshan	Shanghai Zemso Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.; 3-year equipment warranty.

* Data based on information provided by bus companies and suppliers.

In addition to the initial capital costs for displays and back-office systems, ongoing operation and maintenance require stable funding. It is therefore essential that construction agencies, design institutes and long-term operating entities jointly consider equipment selection (prioritising low-power devices where possible) and maintenance funding strategies at the planning and design stage. Only with secure power supply, data connectivity and maintenance funding can electronic bus stop displays remain reliably in service and provide high-quality real-time information to passengers.

Some Lessons Learned

Ensure All-Day Power Supply at the Construction Stage

Real-time next-bus information displays are only useful if they have a stable, all-day power supply. In many cities the hardware was installed at a small number of “pilot” stops, but the displays were only connected to street-lighting circuits or other limited sources. In Ji’an, for example, power at most bus stops was available only at night when the street lights were turned on, so the displays were dark during the daytime peak. Xi’an, which is not covered in detail in this article, installed real-time displays at several hundred stops, but after about one year only a few dozen were still connected to reliable power; the remainder were effectively dead infrastructure.

The rapid roll-out of electrical outlets for charging electric cars, scooters and delivery bikes in hotels, apartment buildings, offices and along roadsides shows that connecting small distributed loads is technically straightforward. The real challenge is institutional: clarifying who owns the meter, who pays the monthly bill, and which agency is responsible for fault response. Cities that have been successful tend to treat bus stop power as core public transport infrastructure, with a clear budget line for connection fees, monthly electricity charges and electrical maintenance, rather than assuming that advertising contractors or nearby businesses will somehow absorb these costs.

Connecting to 24-Hour Municipal Electricity

Based on the nine city case studies, connecting stops directly to 24-hour municipal electricity is the most robust solution. Some practical lessons include:

• Ji'an High-Speed Rail New District, Yangming West Road: Power ducts were built concurrently with the new road, and connection pits linking stop foundations to the underground duct network were installed during construction, allowing the displays to connect to municipal power.
• Kaili: Only stops already connected to 24-hour municipal electricity were selected for display installation, avoiding the need for new power infrastructure. This approach works well where coverage is modest and focused on key stops.
• Futian Central District, Shenzhen: Power and fibre conduits were both installed during construction, ensuring stable power and data transmission from day one.
• Chancheng District, Foshan: Municipal power conduits were added when upgrading existing stops, again ensuring 24-hour supply.

Using Solar Power for Low-Power Displays

An alternative way to achieve 24-hour operation – especially at locations where grid connection is difficult – is to select ultra low-power displays and use solar panels with dual-battery systems. Central Shanghai’s e-ink displays and Fengxian District’s low-power LCD displays require relatively little energy. According to Shanghai Zemso, displays using only solar charging plus batteries at suitable locations have so far operated reliably.

Choosing the Right Type of Real-Time Display

Electronic bus stop systems in China currently use a range of display technologies:

• Suspended LED displays (as in Shenzhen and Foshan): relatively low-cost, robust and clearly visible, very suitable for basic countdown information showing the next bus arrival time.
• Large LCD screens (as in Ji'an, Kaili, Shenzhen and Foshan): higher cost but capable of showing richer content such as route maps, multi-route information, real-time vehicle positions, crowding levels and video.
• E-ink displays and low-power LCDs (as in central Shanghai and Fengxian District): higher initial cost per screen but extremely low energy consumption and good daylight visibility, compatible with solar/battery systems.

If budgets are limited and the primary goal is to show only the next bus arrival time, a simple suspended LED countdown display (such as the Shenzhen units, around RMB 5,600 per unit) may be sufficient. If richer information is needed, such as real-time onboard crowding for each bus, larger LCD or e-ink solutions (such as Kaili’s 55-inch LCDs or Shanghai’s 31.2-inch e-ink displays at around RMB 30,000 per unit) are more appropriate. Where budgets allow, interactive screens as in Shenzhen and Foshan can provide additional functions such as route planning, local area maps and public service information.

Ensuring Long-Term Maintenance

In many cities, displays operate for a few months and then fail due to water ingress, power surges, vandalism, communication faults or simple component failure, and are never repaired. To avoid this, the operator of bus stop assets (often the municipal bus company or a dedicated station management entity) needs to be involved from the outset in selecting the real-time display technology and must hold a clear, funded maintenance contract. At a minimum this should define service-level targets (e.g. percentage of displays operational at any time, maximum fault repair time), periodic inspections, spare parts and replacement strategies for high-failure items such as modems, power supplies and batteries.

Given the substantial initial capital costs for displays and back-office systems, and the ongoing costs for data services, power and maintenance, long-term funding mechanisms should be agreed in advance rather than relying on short-term advertising income or ad-hoc budgets.

Persevere – Don’t Give Up on Real-Time Displays

Many major cities, including Guangzhou, appear to have largely given up on providing real-time next-bus arrival information at stops, deterred by past failures, high operating and maintenance costs, and difficulties in securing power connections. As a result, these cities often have impressive bus control centres showing real-time positions of vehicles across the network, but little or none of this information reaches passengers at bus stops.

A common justification for not providing stop-level real-time information is that it can be accessed via mobile apps. In practice, checking a phone app is far less convenient than simply glancing at an arrival display while waiting. Korea is one of the world’s most highly connected countries, yet in Seoul people do not need to consult their phones at bus stops to see real-time arrival information.

Design: Learn from Seoul

Seoul’s real-time next-bus display system has evolved over more than a decade and continues to be refined. Among Chinese cities, Shanghai, Kaili and (in a more limited coverage area) Shenzhen have demonstrated that technically robust systems are feasible, especially where power and communications are designed in from the start. However, these systems remain corridor-scale pilots rather than citywide networks, and the design of the physical displays and their placement is still relatively basic compared with Seoul.

A key distinction is that Seoul treats real-time displays as part of a standardised stop design toolkit. Different form factors are specified for large shelters, narrow sidewalks and pole-only stops, with consistent information layout, viewing angles and luminance standards. Displays are oriented primarily towards waiting passengers rather than the roadway, sized for legibility at typical waiting distances (10–20 m), and integrated with seating, weather protection and lighting. None of the Chinese systems yet apply this kind of hierarchical, citywide design manual: for example, many Shanghai displays are mounted facing the carriageway, making them difficult to see from the waiting area, and there is no systematic gradation of display types for small, medium and large stops as in Seoul.

Include Bus Crowding and the Next Two Arrivals in Real-Time Displays

Many “smart city” concepts remain slogans, but real-time information that combines arrival predictions with bus crowding levels has clear, practical value. Where automatic passenger counting devices or reliable load estimates are available, a simple three-level crowding code (for example, “seats available”, “standing but comfortable”, “crowded”) can be derived and displayed alongside the next two arriving buses. Shanghai has partially implemented this and Seoul has integrated bus occupancy into next-bus displays since 2017. Operationally, this helps smooth peak loads: passengers can choose to wait for a less crowded following bus if the first one is full, reducing dwelling times and bunching while improving perceived service quality.

Similar ideas are being applied in metro systems to help distribute passengers more evenly along trains. Seoul is also a leader in this area, having incorporated bus occupancy levels into real-time next-bus arrival signs since 2017.