Electric buses are a sustainable solution to reduce the emissions of urban transportation. However, they face a number of challenges when it comes to their efficient operation.
Their considerable power draw and constant operation clashes with the limitations of battery energy capacity. Because of this, modern technologies are required for electric buses to be integrated in urban environments.
In this article, we dive into the challenges of electric buses and discuss the possible technologies that can help overcome them.
Buses and trucks represent less than 8% of vehicles but are responsible for more than 35% of CO2 emissions from road transportation. This highlights the need for electrification as we move into a sustainable future. However, there are key challenges that need to be addressed before widespread electrification can take place.
Electric road charging systems are dedicated infrastructure that charge EVs wirelessly through electrified roads. These roads have copper coils below their surface that can wirelessly charge buses that have specialised charging components installed.
These systems pose a dynamic solution for electric buses to be able to charge whilst in operation. This eliminates the challenges of energy capacity, driving distance and power consumption.
Battery swapping technology is an innovative system that is seeing widespread use in the region of China. It describes the process of using dedicated battery swapping stations that enable the quick and simple swapping of depleted batteries with fully charged replacements.
Battery swapping can be performed in as little as two minutes, which is plenty of time for the dwelling times most bus routes include. This eliminates long charging times and can efficiently power a fleet of buses with zero downtime by charging depleted batteries whilst not in use.
Pantograph charging systems are an innovative solution to minimising the charging times of electric buses. They describe overhead pantographs that are reminiscent of those used in trams and trains.
Electric buses will temporarily stop under an overhead pantograph system that is lowered onto a charging receiver that is installed on the roof of the bus. The buses have low capacity batteries that take around 10 minutes to charge, but are charged frequently along a route to counteract this limited capacity.
Pantograph charging systems directly overcome the challenges of bus electrification. With dedicated infrastructure, they can maximise their efficiency by effectively eliminating the need for charging.
Dynamic road charging, battery swapping and pantograph charging systems each represent innovative new solutions for electric buses and EVs in general. That said, they each require specialised components with high voltage capabilities to be usable. This is especially true for electric buses with their high power demands and constant use.
Electric buses need high performance relays, contactors, terminals and more to perform efficiently. Without them, the high voltages involved can cause damage to surrounding components. The constant operation of electric buses reinforces the need for these components to protect the wide number of necessary systems outside of the powertrain.
For any electric bus or electrification project, you need to know which components are best suited to overcome battery-related challenges and protect surrounding components. That way, you can get the most out of your vehicle in terms of driving range and overall performance.
At Dalroad, we provide a wide catalogue of EV components that showcase the best-in-class of performance, reliability and functionality. Our team of engineers and specialists can help you in arriving at the right components for your design to maximise efficiency.
To find out more about our components and get support for your design, contact a member of our team today.
