🚌Electric Buses: How do you even charge them?

Good Morning, this is your Electric Daily. The email that gives you a daily jolt of electric vehicle trends, insights, and predictions, in 5 minutes or less.

In Today's Email:

• 🔋 How Are Electric Public Buses Charged?

• 📈 4 Electric Bus Companies to Keep an Eye on

• 😜 Elon Giveth and Elon Taketh

—Riz Nwosu

How Are Electric Public Buses Charged?

Public buses as a concept are good for the environment because they help reduce the number of cars on the road, helping to reduce carbon emissions. However, when mass transit buses are electrified, they become even more environmentally friendly.

Running a fleet of battery-powered buses smoothly means the operator has to implement a charging solution. How does this work, and what does the operator have to consider when implementing an electric bus fleet charging solution. Find out by reading the rest of this article.

Electric public buses around the world

Battery-powered buses are making in-roads into urban mass transit systems worldwide. For example, the city of London plans to deploy electrified versions of the iconic red double-decker buses. Similarly, Moscow is on its path to deploying its 1000th electric bus.

China, however, continues to set the pace in battery-powered public buses, with about 400,000 units currently in operation.

How are electric public buses charged?

Most charging of electric public buses takes place at the depot, usually with a plug-in system. However, other methods include induction or a pantograph.

The charging is usually scheduled for the night or during times in the day when the buses are idle for extended periods. Bus operators can use fleet charging management software to optimize time and power by scheduling the charging sessions efficiently.

Depot charging is supplemented by interval charging. This happens when the buses are charged in transit. For example, an electric bus can charge at bus stops using inductive charging while waiting to pick up riders. This method of charging is ideal for longer routes. However, the disadvantage is that the buses may only spend a short time at a spot before getting back on the road. It is also expensive because it requires significant electrical infrastructure.

To maximize charging, fleet operators rely on DC rapid chargers. This is because the large battery packs have to accept as much power as possible. Manufacturers include battery management software to lessen the effect of rapid charging on the battery.

Electric public bus charging costs

When fleet operators calculate their charging costs, they consider three main components. The first is the energy cost, which is the kWh accrued by the operation. The cost may vary based on peak periods. This is why fleets are usually charged overnight. The second component is the grid usage fee, which is based on the network charges, while the third component is load management, which seeks to reduce charging costs through dynamic load management.

4 EV bus companies to keep an eye on:

#1 - Proterra

Proterra manufactures and designs heavy-duty electric vehicles, zero-emission, enabling bus fleet operators to significantly decrease costs of operating when clean delivering. Proterra’s revolutionary battery-electric transit vehicles helps in reducing costs of operating, operators abandon fossil fuels, enhance environmental quality.

#2 - BYD

BYD is one of the top high-tech enterprise in china, which is specialized in New energy, IT, and automobile. The company is one of the largest supplier of rechargeable batteries in the globally. It has the largest market share for handset Li-ion batteries, keypads, cell-phone chargers, and Nickel-cadmium batteries. Also, BYD holds the second largest market share for cell-phone shells in the globally.

#3 - Volvo Group

Volvo Group is a manufacturer of diesel engines, truck, industrial engines, buses, marine, and construction equipment. Also, AB Volvo gives solutions for service and financing. The segments of AB Volvo involves Construction Equipment, Trucks, Group functions, Buses, Financial Services, and Volvo Penta.

#4 - VDL Groep

VDL Groep manufactures, develops, and sells automotive products. VDL Groep also provides various solutions such as mechatronic systems, chassis modules, packaging machines, surface treatment, cigar-making, heating, plastics processing, air-technical systems, cooling, car assemblies, and metalworking. VDL Groep provides a complete range of accessories and spare parts for coaches and buses and is also included in the car assembly.

Unfortunately for you big spenders, this company is still private.

Elon Giveth and Elon Taketh

Remember that one time when Elon Musk "accidentally" tweeted about a Tesla electric bus and then immediately deleted it. IMO, it's only a matter of time before Tesla takes over the bus game. They already have the framework with the Tesla Semi which can be downsized to a bus without too much complexity.

Consider yourself 80% charged. Why 80%? Well, according to legend, charging your battery to 100% repeatedly will damage it faster than you can say...[Insert clever saying here]!

What'd you think about today's email?

• ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡ Fully charged

• ⚡⚡ Meh - was ok

• ⚡ Not even close

Written by Riz Nwosu

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