Electric bus with dynamic recharging

The innovative dual-mode buses can be operated both in the trolleybus mode and in the battery mode

The public transport company in Esslingen, the “Städtischer Verkehrsbetrieb Esslingen” (SVE), has placed an order for four modern trolleybuses with battery drives with the traction specialist Vossloh Kiepe and the vehicle manufacturer Solaris Bus & Coach. Vossloh Kiepe lead manages the environment-friendly project.

The innovative dual-mode buses can be operated both in the trolleybus mode and in the battery mode

The innovative dual-mode buses can be operated both in the trolleybus mode and in the battery mode. The batteries are recharged dynamically during the passenger operation (in-motion charging).

The lithium titanate traction batteries, which have high storage capacities, store the energy from the overhead contact line and the energy recuperated during braking and make it available afterwards to the vehicles on sections without overhead contact lines. Thus, this regular and gentle recharging method makes it possible to operate fully electric articulated vehicles on route sections without overhead contact lines.

The operation of battery trolleybuses in Esslingen allows the SVE to develop new line sections without having to consider the overhead contact line system. The advantage: No investment in new OCL infrastructure. Moreover, the positive environmental balance of the city of Esslingen is improved as less carbon dioxide, fine dust and noise are emitted.

Vossloh Kiepe delivers the entire traction and on-board power supply equipment as well as the batteries for the articulated buses. The vehicles have dual-axle drives, i.e. two motors drive two of the three axles. This design ensures good acceleration and safe electric braking with a high degree of recuperation of the braking energy. The energy consumption of the articulated buses is optimised by the energy management system from Vossloh Kiepe.

The first two environment-friendly buses are to be delivered by the end of 2015 and the other two electric buses in 2016.