Fast-Charging Electric Bus

The Fraunhofer IVI has been working towards the implementation of fully electric bus operation following the »DockingPrinciple« for over ten years now. The term »DockingPrinciple« stands for a new electric propulsion concept for public transport vehicles, in which an on-board energy storage unit serves as the sole source of energy for the vehicle. The storage unit takes in energy from fast-charging stations (DockingStations) installed along the road and releases it on demand to the vehicle propulsion or the electric auxiliaries.

Over the past years, institute researchers have made major contributions to the further development of key components in the context of several cooperative and in-house research projects. For the implementation and testing of these components under near-regular operating conditions, a consortium consisting of industry partners, transport providers and the Fraunhofer IVI was formed. Within the SEB-subproject EDDA-Bus, which was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the DockingPrinciple was implemented on a pilot bus line operated by the Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe (DVB) AG and demonstrated in passenger service from November 2014 to January 2015.

• »DockingPrinciple«
• High current transmission system for public transport vehicles (in German)
• Investigation of galvanic high current contacts

Based on their previous activities in the field of electric buses, the Fraunhofer IVI takes part in the »E-Bus-Cluster« project, which was initiated by the INDUS Holding AG. The participating company partners are collaborating to increase the overall efficiency, comfort and safety of electric buses.

Amongst other activities, the Fraunhofer IVI provides a 12m electric bus in order to test and demonstrate the new developments of the bus industry. The project focuses on heat pump systems and heating concepts, improved air supply, demand-oriented zone-specific air conditioning, innovative interior design as well as interconnectedness and predictive maintenance of components in e-vehicles.

Website »E-Bus-Cluster«

Development and simulation of conventional, hybrid and electric drivetrains; intermediary vehicles; hybrid, battery und fuel cell buses; energy management and auxiliary control strategies; operational strategies

• Compact range extender
• Innovative powertrain systems

Modeling, configuration and state diagnosis of electromechanical, electrochemical and thermo-dynamic storages and converters; complex development environment for the design and modeling of the propulsion control for vehicles and transport systems; control and regulation of mechatronic systems

• Dual storage for traction applications
• Energy management of hybrid propulsion systems
• Charging device based on network state
• Test environment for the application of fuel cells and energy storage units in vehicle technology
• Battery system development

Consumption displays; feasibility studies; risk analyses

• Simulation tool IVIsion
• Display for fuel consumption and vehicle condition
• Support for vehicle and vehicle component registration

Models of transport demand and transport network for public and private transport; Studies on the implementation of innovative transportation systems; operating concepts for public transport systems; lifecycle cost and cost-benefit analyses

• Analysis of hybrid buses in regular service
• Electric bus systems – introduction concepts
• Transport planning and lifecycle cost analysis
• Energy and power demand in public transport vehicles

Concept for the introduction of electric buses in the entire bus network of the city of Göttingen; 2016; commissioned by: Göttinger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH; contact: Mr. Thomas Zimmermann (Tel.: +49/551/38444830); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances

Support of the introduction of battery buses on five MetroBus lines in the city of Osnabrück; 2016; commissioned by: Stadtwerke Osnabrück AG; contact: Mr. Christian Elixmann (Tel.: +49/541/ 20022360); schedule-based energy balances for the determination of parameters of battery buses and charging infrastructure; elaboration of the specification sheets (contract documents) for the battery buses and the charging infrastructure

ELIPTIC – coordinated by Free Hanseatic City of Bremen; 2015 - 2017; commissioned by: European Commission; contact (Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen): Mr. Michael Glotz-Richter (Tel.: +49/421/3616703);
Use case Leipzig: recommendations for the regular operation of electric 12 m buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances

Concept for the introduction of electric buses on one bus line in the city of Jena; 2015 – 2016; commissioned by: Jenaer Nahverkehr GmbH; contact: Mr. Falk Hamann (phone: +49 3641/414127); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances, use of the electric supply infrastructure for trams

BEEDel – assessment of the operation of electric buses with decentralized charging infrastructure at the example of the Hamburger Hochbahn; 2015 – 2016; in cooperation with Hamburger Hoch-bahn AG; commissioned by: Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI); contact: NOW GmbH (phone: +49 30/ 311611600); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances

Assessment of the electrification of BRT route B1 in the city of Guangzhou; 2015; commissioned by: Baiyun Power Group; contact: Mr. Yi Wang (phone: +86 20/ 86608696); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of route-based energy balances

Concept for the introduction of electric buses in the entire bus network of the city of Aachen; 2015; commissioned by: Aachen municipal administration; contact: Mr. Kai Mohnen (phone: +49 241/ 4326138); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances

E-MoBus – preliminary study – assessment of the operation of electric buses in the Bavarian Forest; 2014 - 2015; in cooperation with VCDB GmbH; commissioned by: Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI); contact: NOW GmbH (phone: +49 30/311611600); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances

Concept for the introduction of electric buses in the entire bus network of the Munich district; 2014 – 2015; commissioned by: MVV GmbH; contact: Mr. Detlev Metzner (Tel.: +49 89/ 21033253); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of route-based energy balances

Concept for the introduction of electric buses in five medium-sized cities in Thuringia; 2014 – 2015; commissioned by: Thüringer Ministerium für Bau, Landesentwicklung und Verkehr (Thuringian Ministry of Construction, Regional Development and Traffic); contact: Mr. Jörg Kallenbach (phone: +49 361/ 3791510); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses in the cities of Altenburg, Eisenach, Mühlhausen, Suhl and Weimar

ZeEUS – coordinated by UITP; 2013 – 2017; commissioned by: European Commission; contact (UITP): Mr. Umberto Guida (phone: +32 2/ 7880124); professional accompaniment of the introduction of electric buses in the city of Bonn in collaboration with SWB-Verkehr GmbH

Concept for the introduction of electric buses in the entire bus network of the city of Bonn; 2013 – 2014; commissioned by: SWB-Verkehr GmbH; contact: Mrs. Barbara Nick (phone: +49 228/ 7112292); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of route-based energy balances

Concept for the introduction of electric buses in five larger cities in Thuringia; 2013 – 2014; commissioned by: Thüringer Ministerium für Bau, Landesentwicklung und Verkehr (Thuringian Ministry of Construction, Regional Development and Traffic); contact: Mr. Jörg Kallenbach (phone: +49 361/ 3791510); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses in the cities of Erfurt, Gera, Gotha, Jena, Nordhausen

SEB – EDDA-Bus; 2012 – 2015; commissioned by: Federal Ministry of Education and Research; contact: project management organization VDI/VDE; Mr. Simon Verleger (phone: +49 30/ 310078381); development of core technologies of fast-charging battery buses in collaboration with industry, conversion of a serial hybrid bus to a battery bus, testing of the battery bus in the bus network of the Dresdner Verkehrsbetriebe AG

Concept for the introduction of electric buses in Niestetal; 2012; commissioned by: Verkehrs-verbund Nordhessen; contact: Mr. Olaf Rohde (phone: +49 561/ 7094928); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of a route-based energy balance

Concept for the introduction of electric buses in the Main-Kinzig-Kreis (distric); 2012; commis-sioned by: KVG Main-Kinzig mbH; contact: Mr. Volker Rahm (phone.: +49 6181/ 9192120); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of a route-based energy balance

Concept for the introduction of electric buses in Jena; 2012; commissioned by: Jenaer Nahverkehr GmbH; contact: Mr. Falk Hamann (phone: +49 3641/ 414127); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of a route-based energy balance