Efficiently Managing and Charging an Electric Bus Fleet
Those who operate electric buses in their fleet aim to maximize the uptime of their e-buses and ensure smooth operations. Currently, only 3.9% of buses in Germany are electric, equating to approximately 2,452 electric buses over 8 tons (as of the end of 2023). However, the transition to electric buses is well underway in many transportation companies. But how can the readiness of the buses be optimally ensured while also efficiently managing the charging infrastructure? The key lies in intelligent fleet and charging management, integrated with depot management or route planning tools.
For an efficient e-bus operation and satisfied passengers, it is essential that all electric buses are always ready for service and can reliably complete their daily routes. This requires a well-thought-out charging strategy that is not only aligned with the capacity of the charging infrastructure but also tailored to the specific needs of bus operations. Both overnight charging at the depot and opportunity charging during driving breaks play important roles here. As fleet size increases, the complexity of the charging processes grows, necessitating the use of intelligent and adaptable charging strategies.
E-buses with large batteries and high energy density are typically charged at the depot. Depending on battery capacity and charging power, this process can take anywhere from 3 to 10 hours. These "full chargers" can achieve a range of up to 550 km and soon more, although this range is influenced by factors such as battery capacity, outside temperatures, the heating system, topography, and traffic conditions. This extensive range offers great operational flexibility, as these buses do not need to rely on intermediate charging stations.
"Opportunity chargers," often found in buses with smaller, high-performance batteries, are e-buses that recharge at end stops via fast charging, which typically takes from seconds up to 10 minutes. These buses are also fully charged overnight at the depot. In practice, their range is around 300 km, depending on battery capacity, environmental conditions, and traffic patterns. The battery capacity of opportunity chargers is designed to ensure that charging at every end stop is not necessary, providing flexibility in cases of detours or charging infrastructure issues.
While charging at the depot typically uses a plug-in system, on-the-go charging often involves pantographs, which are either mounted on the vehicle's roof or lowered onto the vehicle from the charging station as inverted pantographs. In the future, contactless inductive charging will also become increasingly interesting, using plates integrated into the vehicle floor. This technology can be utilized for both intermediate charging at stops and full charging at the depot.
Intelligent fleet and charging management is crucial for maximizing bus operating times and optimizing the use of the charging infrastructure. By linking energy and charging management with the route planning tool or depot management, automatic charging planning for e-buses can be implemented. This planning ensures that each bus is charged exactly when needed—whether overnight at the depot or during short breaks in daily operations. Intelligent charging control ensures that all vehicles have the necessary charge to complete their daily routes while also minimizing energy costs and the load on the local power grid.
Bus companies can reap multiple benefits from using intelligent fleet and charging management:
Successfully transitioning to an electric bus fleet requires more than just acquiring e-buses. A well-planned energy and charging management system, closely aligned with mobility needs, is crucial for smooth operations and maximizing the utilization of e-buses. With intelligent charging control, bus companies can optimize fleet operations and achieve long-term cost savings.
Are you planning to transition your bus fleet to e-mobility? Contact us—we support you with customized solutions for efficient fleet and charging management!
