Solar-powered, colour e-paper bus information display under testing by LTA
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
A solar-powered bus display that is up for testing and feedback, near Little India MRT station on May 11.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
- LTA and NCS are trialling solar-powered, colour e-paper bus arrival displays at Little India until Oct 2026. This tests technology advancements and low-power systems.
- The new e-paper display operates 24/7, showing clear bus times even in strong sunlight. It is easier to read and more eco-friendly than current LED boards.
- This trial addresses issues from a failed 2016 test. Commuter feedback via QR code will inform LTA's future plans and technical feasibility.
AI generated
SINGAPORE - A solar-powered colour electronic paper display, which looks like ink on paper, is being trialled in Singapore – a decade after an earlier version of the technology was tested.
The Land Transport Authority said during the first trial in 2016 that e-paper was meant to be easier to read than other displays that use light-emitting diode (LED) technology.
However, the trial then found that the display faded under strong sunlight.
As the technology has advanced, LTA is again testing its performance in displaying transport information for commuters under outdoor conditions. LTA is also testing the effectiveness of solar and battery systems to sustain low-power display devices, it said.
It is partnering with tech services firm NCS to test the e-paper display from April to October 2026, at a bus stop outside Little India MRT station. LTA did not say how many other bus stops will have the e-paper display during the trial.
When The Straits Times visited the bus stop in Little India on a sunny Monday evening at 6pm, it was observed that the bus information screen was smaller and the colours were duller than those on an LED display. The bus stop surroundings were also reflected on the e-paper screen, making it harder to read the information on it.
NCS, which manufactured the colour e-paper display, declined to disclose how much the display costs, compared with other bus displays currently in use, when asked by ST.
Top stories
Explore top stories from all sections in one place
Asia
Trump touts business wins as China airs Iran, Taiwan concerns
Opinion
Xi Jinping has just rewritten the rules of US-China rivalry
Business
H&M lays off staff in Singapore, moves regional headquarters to Malaysia
Singapore
‘Gerry and Mandy’: What goes on behind the scenes?
Singapore
Turning the economic strategy vision into reality will be key challenge for 4G leadership
Singapore
No foul play suspected in father, daughter found dead in Sengkang flat in 2025: Coroner
Singapore
Jail and caning for nurse who repeatedly molested understudy in hospital
Singapore
First condo launches in Tengah and Bayshore ignite April jump in new private home sales
Commuters are encouraged to share their feedback by scanning the QR code on the trial panel.