A Smarter Stop: How BMAC and EnOcean Reinvented the Bus Bell Push
April 14, 2026
For decades, BMAC had supplied wired bell push systems to the transport industry. But in 2006, a UK bus builder challenged them to do better. The question was simple: Can we get rid of all the copper cables? Then came the second challenge: Can the buttons work without batteries?
A New Chapter in Public Transport
That’s when BMAC discovered EnOcean. With energy harvesting and compact wireless modules, the EnOcean technology seemed almost too good to be true. But after a few prototypes, the tests in BMAC’s workshop showed promise. They called the bus manufacturer for a demo.
“When the engineer pressed the button and saw the receiver light up, he asked, ‘Where’s the battery?’” remembers the BMAC team. “We told him there wasn’t one. That’s when his face lit up.”
A Wireless Solution Takes Off
That first successful demo led to a breakthrough. BMAC integrated EnOcean’s wireless and battery-free modules into their bell push system. No wires. No batteries. Just clean, simple energy harvesting technology.
The result? A system that was easier to install and far more reliable. No more broken cables, short circuits, or hours of troubleshooting. Just press and go.
“Wireless and battery-free energy harvesting is a real game changer,” explains Stephen Bennett, Head of Sales at BMAC. “It saves time during production and makes fault finding in the field much easier.”
Scaling Up and Going Global
From that first meeting in 2006, the partnership between EnOcean and BMAC has grown steadily. Together, they’ve built a product range that now includes special seatback buttons, multi-frequency variants for global markets, and smart grouping features for accessibility.
A standout moment came when Transport for London asked BMAC to design a bell push for their new Routemaster buses. The result was a custom golden button nicknamed the “Pig Snout,” now featured in nearly 1,000 buses across London.
“We’re proud to see our technology on the most iconic buses in the world,” says Stephen Bennett.
One Million Buttons and Counting
Over the years, BMAC has installed over a million buttons on buses and trams around the globe. The innovation once seen as a curiosity has now become a new standard in public transport.
“The early days weren’t easy,” reflects the BMAC team. “There were still a lot of doubters who preferred wires. But we believed in the technology—and now it’s everywhere.”
Looking Ahead
BMAC and EnOcean continue to explore new ways to bring wireless, energy-harvesting solutions to transportation. From product design to functionality, the partnership remains strong.
“Dependable, innovative, collaborative,” summarizes Stephen Bennett when asked to describe the relationship in three words. “The trust between our teams is what makes this work.”
As buses and trams evolve, so too will the technology inside. But one thing is certain: you’ll still hear that familiar ding—powered by the invisible force of EnOcean.
