Action 1: Preliminary activities
The implementation of the following preliminary activities was necessary to support the starting of the project.
The collection of documents, information, quantitative and qualitative data has enabled partners to investigate environmental issues and local knowledge, as well as being prepared and trained to carry out the actions presented in the ETRUSCAN project.
Specifically, all information relating to European legislation on environment and climate change was collected and surveyed, relevant data for the design of educational itineraries in the province of Viterbo was also analysed. Additionally, a review of local stakeholders interested in the topics of transport and mobility was carried out and a meeting took place with stakeholders to optimize project results and collect project proposals and ideas.
Finally a cost and benefits study was carried out to analyse the advantages of the use of waste oil as biofuel.

Action 2: Development and creation of prototypes and filling stations
The most visible and concrete action of the ETRUSCAN project will definitely be the creation of two prototype buses. A team of engineers will design, assemble and monitor the construction of the two shuttles. The entire work is entrusted to the Oregon Group, a company placed in Savona.
It is expected that the first shuttle could be up and running by December 2010 and the second in January 2011, offering their services to students and tourists in the province of Viterbo.
The innovative aspect of the shuttle is in its double hybrid engine. In fact, both engines, one solar and one engine recharged with waste oils, will be installed to enable the shuttles to travel outside urban areas.
The shuttles will need to recharge to allow passengers to use the service. For this reason, two charging stations for electric batteries and two filling stations capable of transforming vegetable oils into biofuel will be installed.
The buses will use clean energy to move thus respecting the environment and public health.

Action 3: Educational itineraries
When finally the prototypes and the recharging stations will be ready the real journey of the shuttle buses will begin. One of the objectives of the project is to demonstrate that such buses can travel outside town (extra-urban) effectively and provide better service to students and tourists.
The municipality of Acquapendente will be responsible for designing and managing the educational tours/itineraries, highlighting the uniqueness and the beauty of the Province of Viterbo. In order to raise awareness of the artistic and environmental heritage of the area, trained and skilled guides will accompany students and tourists during the educational tours, in April and May. These routes will be carefully designed so as to allow them to be crossed on foot or by bicycle as well as with shuttle buses to encourage sustainable tourism for all.
To demonstrate that the shuttles are also an excellent means of transport within the urban centre other itineraries will be developed to facilitate the mobility of students from the Tuscia University, extending commuter students’ benefits and advantages using this service.

Action 4: information campaign and training
Finally, an important objective of the ETRUSCAN project is to raise awareness around environmental issues and renewable energy for sustainable mobility. To achieve this goal, the partners decided to focus on a rich and engaging information campaign.
Action 4 will be coordinated by the cultural association Punti di Vista, which has an extensive working experience on these issues and will develop and deliver the information campaign as well as the training activities.
Four public events and workshops will be organized over the three years with the aim of raising awareness around the ETRUSCAN project and themes. These four workshops will target a variety of participants including students, designers, public administrators and experts in the public transport sector. The seminars will focus on themes such as sustainable mobility and climate change.
Additionally, an ‘infopoint’ placed in Acquapendente will be equipped to encourage citizens to use the shuttle service and to supply all relevant information on shuttle itineraries, bookings and dissemination of the information material produced.