Electreon builds inductive electric bus chargers in Haifa
Specifically, it concerns the 104-kilometre BRT route network in Haifa. BRT stands for Bus Rapid Transport and refers to bus routes with their own separate lanes. That means the express buses are less susceptible to traffic jams or delays and are thus more similar to underground railway systems – except that they run on the road rather than on rails.
In Haifa, however, only a fraction of the BRT route will be equipped with inductive charging loops, with “select segments totalling 1.6 km ” – i.e. one hundredth of the BRT routes. The majority of charging processes will take place at the stationary systems installed at the last stops. The dynamic charging processes during the journey are probably more of a supportive nature.
Electreon will provide a combination of its wireless dynamic charging infrastructure and its wireless stationary systems at the final stops along the route. The project in Haifa aims to extend the range and operating time of the articulated electric buses. That is because the battery-electric buses currently still have to be swapped for other vehicles during the day. However, Haifa has so far relied solely on depot charging at night. There is thus still the option of using other rapid charging systems along the routes instead of inductive charging in order to extend the operating times of the electric buses.
The project is initially scheduled to run for three years. As part of the 36-month agreement, Electreon says it will take on installation, operation and maintenance for around $4.2 million. There is an option to extend the project by 24 months and to equip further BRT lines with the system. As part of the project, the inductive charging solution is to be evaluated with regard to the energy management of the buses, the operating time and also the return on investment – after all, it is quite conceivable that the technology will run smoothly during the test period, but a nationwide installation would be more expensive than other charging solutions for electric buses.
“Electreon’s dynamic wireless charging technology perfectly suits BRT routes, such as the Metronit, extending travel range, reducing battery size, and easing depot electric load,” said Oren Ezer, CEO of Electreon. “It tackles key challenges of the shift to electric mobility. Alongside a similar project in Norway, it offers a comprehensive solution for the BRT market segment, which is gaining momentum both domestically and internationally.”
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