The question of widespread electric vehicle uptake is no longer a matter of “if” but rather of “how soon”. For cities, this means electric bus fleets. For industries, electric semis and freight transport. And for the public, electric personal vehicles. However, the current state of charging infrastructure is inadequate to satisfy demand and enable the growth of this new transportation era. Investment in novel and lasting electrical solutions has never been more urgent.
eMobility impact : How the industry is shaping the future of urban transport
ABB "flash-charging" buses go live in Geneva
The city of Geneva, Switzerland undertook an ambitious project to electrify their public bus fleet. Their vendor, Tosa, needed a charging solution that was convenient, reliable, and guaranteed minimal downtime. By incorporating Hitachi Energy’s 20-second flash-charging technology in their design, buses connect to an overhead high-power charging contact during stops. This allows the bus to charge while passengers enter and exit, with no interruption to normal routes.
- Digitalize operations
- Optimize energy
- Charge everywhere
The charging infrastructure of tomorrow must respond to the complex needs of large-scale providers. Because transportation networks grow organically as ridership increases, electrical solutions must be scalable. For agility, solutions must be modular. And to accommodate the unique geographical realities of each city, they must be customizable.
eBuses and metros need to be equipped to handle higher passenger loads and the modern public’s demand for fluid operations and zero downtime. To achieve this, operators are seeking technology that lets them automate and control routes in a more reliable way, with a focus on asset and management work solutions.
Gain a 360-degree view of your system
Operators need a single, unified view of the electrical system powering their network of vehicles. This includes charging infrastructure as well as the vehicles in motion. With advanced SCADA tools custom-designed for public EV fleets, you can monitor and manage all assets in real-time, and take knowledgeable actions to ensure operational integrity.
Reduce maintenance costs by 10-15%
Advanced diagnostics allow you to address equipment deficiencies in a timely and preemptive fashion. It alerts you to probable failures at discrete system nodes in advance. Condition-based maintenance enables constant monitoring of your assets and informs you when and where you need to take action on upgrades and repairs.
Reduce manual diagnostics by over 60%
Manage energy intelligently
The energy lifecycle of a vehicle fleet in an urban environment is complex. Innumerable and dynamic factors like user demand and traffic conditions all impact when and how much energy a vehicle consumes. By adopting an energy management system, you can optimize your fleet size and reduce the environmental footprint across your network.
Establish a reliable communication foundation
Urban public transportation networks consist of thousands of moving parts interacting with chaotic and unpredictable real-world conditions. This involves security risks and potential interruptions to mission-critical communication. Multi-service technology ensures reliable, secure, and manageable communication for all network actors.
The charging infrastructure of tomorrow must respond to the complex needs of large-scale providers. Because transportation networks grow organically as ridership increases, electrical solutions must be scalable. For agility, solutions must be modular. And to accommodate the unique geographical realities of each city, they must be customizable.
For electric fleet operators – whether public or industrial – optimizing routes and adhering to schedules should be guaranteed no matter how difficult the terrain is. Fast charging solutions that are accessible in all types of locations allow continuous movement and minimal downtime. This requires world-class charging solutions that reduce charge times to less than 15 seconds. This keeps vehicles on schedule, minimizes operational impacts, and allows for maximum vehicle availability.
Conserve energy at every step
To achieve total energy efficiency, you must have the ability to manage it for every system plane. This requires a scalable, vertically-integrated digital ecosystem that takes into account every vehicle and charging infrastructure asset. Adopting a total energy management system is crucial.
Charge more with less
Operators of large-scale public transport and commercial fleets need a reliable way to charge at a system level, beyond simply a charging-product based approach. One that is fast-to-install and can hook-up with any type of power network, integrating with grids to harness even more renewable energy. Digital analysis monitors the battery life data, route data, traffic simulation and depot control to ensure that efficient power use, energy storage and overnight charging is optimized.
Charge in 15 seconds
Leverage high-quality power
For maximum efficiency and cost savings, electrical equipment must consume energy supplied to it optimally. This requires harmonics, power factor, and voltage stability of the highest order. With power quality solutions, you can lower the burden on local distribution networks and stave off additional investments. Operators can also comply with the grid code and other regulations.
Timing of transport routes can be difficult to predict, which makes the positioning of charging depots all the more important. Strategic placement of charging infrastructure – to support long interstate routes, for example – means balancing access with prudent allocation of capital investment. Ultimately, electrical solutions must provide flash-charging that optimizes operational cost while maintaining availability for fleet operators.
Charging points must be configured to ensure full operability of an EV fleet. Coverage should cover vast geographical terrains, and technology should be robust.
Achieve balance with flash charging
To minimize cost wherever possible, operators need an optimization tool for their battery-powered transportation line deployment. The solution must navigate the trade-off between charging infrastructure and onboard battery.
Minimize risks to equipment
The transition to electric means a new range of equipment that needs to be managed and maintained throughout the lifespan. Robust cooling systems can ensure high availability of equipment by protecting installations from overheating and reducing the risk of fire.
Knowledge base
