Route Implementation for Electric Buses

Increasing prices for fossil fuels, the desire to become independent of the turbulences in international commodity markets and the requirement of protecting the local environment as well as the global climate are motivations for many transport operators to consider the introduction of fully electric city buses.

For many transport companies, electromobility is no unknown territory. Trams and even trolleybuses have been used in cities for more than 100 years. If the passenger figures are not sufficient, however, trams and trolleybuses cannot be operated efficiently and their introduction is obstructed by high infrastructure investment costs. In addition, many cities have reservations about the introduction of catenaries in view of the cityscape. In total, the interest in electric buses with energy storages for catenary-free operation has increased significantly.

Due to the current developments in electric energy storages and power electronics, concepts for fully electric city buses have become feasible – even if they did not seem realizable a few years ago. Except for a small number of niche applications, fully electric buses have hitherto been based on a linear energy supply via catenaries. By now, concepts can be realized which include the regular recharging of energy storages on vehicles without the need for catenaries. The feasibility of such approaches depends on the characteristics of the route or the network, including

• the length of the route,
• the cycle time and organization of breaks,
• the elevation profile,
• passenger load as well as
• travel speed.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems offers consulting services for the introduction of fully electric city buses – according to the principle of distinguishing the possible from the impossible and identifying future prospects.

Based on comprehensive knowledge and experience in electric storage and propulsion technologies, bus routes and route networks are analyzed with regard to the possibility of a stepwise introduction of battery buses. Concepts for linear energy supply via catenaries and inductive charging are also taken into consideration. If possible, the concept for a stepwise introduction of electric city buses is designed for a short-term or middle-term time frame. The analyses are unbiased to the result. It is also possible to conclude that a route is currently or in the near future not suitable for the introduction of electric city buses. The risks related to the introduction of a certain technology are always clearly communicated. Issues relating to energy efficiency, environmental impact and costs are also included in the services.

In a first step, the route characteristics relevant for the propulsion concept are recorded. If the initial rough analysis shows that a route or a network could be suitable for the operation of battery-powered city buses, a detailed calculation of the energy and performance balances is carried out using efficient simulation tools. For vehicle modeling in general, and the modeling of the drivetrain in particular, configurations can be made regardless of the manufacturer or manufacturer-specific, depending on the customer's requirements.

The result includes statements on the suitability of a route for battery-powered buses as well as information regarding

• the necessary size of the energy storage,
• the performance requirements and
• possible changes in the operations process.

In a third step, the requirements for the electric energy storage and the drivetrain are compared to technologies which are either already available or will become realizable in the near future.

The results provide decision support for transport operators and can be used for the definition of specifications.

The introduction concept for fully electric city buses includes statements on the gradual procurement and the entry into service as well as information on

• workshop equipment,
• the training of workshop staff,
• the training of drivers and
• regulations and safety risks.

• Download complete list of references

Battery buses

• Concept for the introduction of electric buses in Batam and Makassar, Indonesia; 2021; commissioned by: GOPA Infra on behalf of GIZ; contact: Nicholas Kasang (Tel.: 6172/681756); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances; charging infrastructure, TCO calculations
• Concept for the introduction of electric buses in the bus network of Gera; 2020 – 2021; commissioned by: GVB Verkehrs- und Betriebsgesellschaft Gera mbH; contact: Sebastian Krapp (Tel.: +49/0365/7390300); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances; charging infrastructure, training, workshop equipment
• Support with the introduction of battery buses in Flanders (Belgium); 2020 – ongoing; commis-sioned by: De Lijn; contact: Mr. Dirk Lepoudre (dirk.lepoudre.ext@delijn.be); technical analyses, recommendations for bus and infrastructure procurement
• Concept for the introduction of electric buses in the bus network of JES Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH; 2020; commissioned by: JES Verkehrsgesellschaft mbH; contact: Mr. Christian Steudel (Tel.: +49/176/14994425; recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances; charging infrastructure, training, workshop equipment
• Concept for the introduction of electric buses on selected bus lines on Lower Austria; 2019 – ongoing; commissioned by: Verkehrsverbund Ost-Region (VOR) GmbH; contact: Ms. Kuehne (Tel.: +43/1/955553215); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances; charging infrastructure; training
• Concept for the introduction of electric buses in the entire bus network of Saarbahn GmbH (Saarbrücken, Germany); 2019 – ongoing; commissioned by: Saarbahn Netz GmbH; contact: Mr. Torsten Burgardt (Tel.: +49/681/5003604; recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances; charging infrastructure
• Concept for the introduction of approx. 1,000 electric buses in the bus network of Delhi, India; 2018; commissioned by: DIMTS Ltd.; contact: Mr. Nishikant Gupta (Tel.: +91/11/43090134); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances, charging infrastructure, commercial aspects
• Concept for the introduction of electric buses in the entire bus network of OVG Sonneberg; 2018; commissioned by: OVG Sonneberg; contact: Mr. Schneider (Tel.: +49/3675/75290; recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances; charging infrastructure, training
• Concept for the introduction of electric buses for the standard and articulated bus network of the city of Berlin; 2017 – 2020; commissioned by: BVG; contact: Dr. Daniel Hesse (Tel.: +49/030/ 25629500); 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 city of Düsseldorf; 2017 – 2018; commissioned by: Rheinbahn AG; contact: Mr. Jörg Klaeden (Tel.: +49/211/ 5821155); 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 city of Leipzig; 2017 – 2018; commissioned by: Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH (LVB); contact: Mr. Andreas Böttcher (Tel.: +49/341/4922307); recommendations for the regular operation of electric buses with the help of schedule-based energy balances; charging infrastructure, training
• Concept for the introduction of electric buses in parts of the bus network of the city of Cologne; 2017; commissioned by: Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG; contact: Mr. Peter Hasler (Tel.: +49/221/ 5474230); 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 city of Göttingen; 2016 – 2017; 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; charging infrastructure, training
• Support of the introduction of battery buses on five MetroBus lines in the city of Osnabrück; 2016 – 2017; 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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 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
• 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
• 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: Verkehrsverbund 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; commissioned 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

Hybrid Trolleybuses

• 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 Eberswalde: simulation and assessment of three articulated bus routes in Eberswalde regarding hybrid trolley bus operation
• E-Bus Skorpion – hybrid trolley buses on articulated bus routes in Leipzig – projekt of the Schaufenster Elektromobilität Bayern – Sachsen (Showcase electromobility Bavaria – Saxony); 2013 – 2016; commissioned by: Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI); contact: project management organization VDI/VDE (phone: +49 30/ 3100780); assessment of the articulated bus lines in the Leipzig urban area regarding their suitability for the operation of hybrid trollex buses on the basis of detailed energy balance calculations
• ElectroHybridBus Esslingen; 2013 – 2016; commissioned by: municipal transport service Esslingen am Neckar; contact: Mr. Harald Boog (phone: +49 711/ 35123223); simulation and assessment of articulated buses regarding hybrid trolley bus operation
• Vehicle simulation of an electric bus on LVB route 70; 2012; commissioned by: Verkehrs-Consult Leipzig (VCL) GmbH; contact: Mr. Wolfgang Schütze (phone: +49 341/ 9642429); simulation and assessment of articulated bus route 70 in Leipzig regarding hybrid trolley bus operation
• Use of storage systems in the trolley buses of the city of Eberswalde; 2011; commissioned by: Barnimer Busgesellschaft mbH; contact: Mr. Frank Wruck (phone: +49 3334/ 52250); Technical layout of storage units for a trolley bus with an energy storage system for improved energy recuperation and partially catenary-free operation; accompaniment of measuring campaigns

• Concept for the introduction of fuel cell buses for the whole bus network of Regionalbus-Gesellschaft Unstrut-Hainich- und Kyffhäuserkreis mbH; 2020 – ongoing; commissioned by: Regionalbus-Gesellschaft Unstrut-Hainich- und Kyffhäuserkreis mbH; contact: Mr. Haßkerl (Tel.: +48/3601/40865201); technical feasibility of fuel cell buses, dimensioning of fueling infrastructure, training, workshop adaptation
• Concept for the introduction of fuel cell buses for the whole bus network of OVG Sonneberg; 2018; commissioned by: OVG Sonneberg; contact: Mr. Schneider (Tel.: +49/3675/75290); technical feasibility of fuel cell buses, dimensioning of fueling infrastructure, training, workshop adaptation
• Concept for the introduction of fuel cell buses for the whole bus network of Rheinbahn AG in Dusseldorf; 2017; commissioned by: Rheinbahn AG; contact: Mr. Jörg Klaeden (Tel.: +49/0211/ 5821155); technical feasibility of fuel cell buses
• Concept for the introduction of fuel cell buses for the whole bus network of LVB GmbH in Leipzig; 2017; commissioned by: LVB GmbH; contact: Mr. Andreas Böttcher (Tel.: +49/341/4922307); technical feasibility of fuel cell buses
• Concept for the introduction of fuel cell buses for the whole bus network of Göttingen; 2016 – 2017; commissioned by: Göttinger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH; contact: Mr. Thomas Zimmermann (Tel.: +49/551/38444830); technical feasibility of fuel cell buses

• SaxHybrid^PLUS – energy storage systems for hybrid buses with qualified energy management – project of the Schaufensters Elektromobilität Bayern – Sachsen (Showcase electromobility Bavaria – Saxony); 2013 – 2016; commissioned by: Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI); contact: project management organization VDI/VDE (phone: +49 30/ 3100780); adaptive energy and performance management system for plug-in hybrid buses, test of a plug-in hybrid bus in Dresden and Leipzig
• Scientific and technological accompaniment of the long-term testing of a hybrid bus in comparison; 2014 – 2015; commissioned by: ViP Verkehrsbetrieb Potsdam GmbH; contact: Mr. Oliver Glaser (phone: +49 331/ 66141000); recording of the operating data of a hybrid bus in comparison; assessment in terms of energy efficiency; acceptance of hybrid bus technology with driving staff
• Testing program of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Building (BMU) “Analysis of efficiency, costs and deployment for the regular operation of diesel hybrid buses”; 2014 – 2015; commissioned by: VCDB as contractor of the BMU; contact: Mr. Jürgen Lange (phone: +49 351/ 4823124); route analysis and recommendations for optimized regular operation of hybrid buses on the basis of different operating conditions; demands made of driving staff and analysis of driver influence on vehicle efficiency
• Accompanying research “Hybrid buses for more environmentally friendly public transport”; 2010 – 2012; commissioned by: VCDB GmbH as contractor of the Federal Ministry for the Environment. Nature Conservation and Building (BMU); contact: Mr. Jürgen Lange (phone: +49 351/ 4823124); assessment of hybrid technology regarding energy efficiency; recording of operating data in the transport association RegioHybrid; acceptance of hybrid bus technology; recommendations for operation in the transport association RegioHybrid
• Professional accompaniment of the introduction of different hybrid bus types in Munich; 2011; commissioned by: MVG; contact: Mr. Franz Fendt (phone: +49 89/ 21914210); assessment of hybrid technology regarding energy efficiency and costs; comparative recording of operating data of different hybrid and diesel bus types, survey on the acceptance of hybrid bus technology with drivers and passengers
• Professional accompaniment of the introduction of a Solaris articulated hybrid bus in Hannover; 2008 – 2009; commissioned by: üstra; contact: Mr. Jens Ernsting (phone: +49 511/ 16682685); assessment of hybrid technology regarding energy efficiency and costs; comparative recording of operating data of a hybrid bus and a diesel reference bus
• Professional accompaniment of the introduction of a Solaris articulated hybrid bus in Dresden; 2008 – 2009; commissioned by: DVB AG; contact: Mr. Mino Weber (phone: +49 351/ 8571454); assessment of hybrid technology regarding energy efficiency and costs; comparative recording of operating data of a hybrid bus and a diesel reference bus, optimization of the hybrid bus with regard to diesel consumption, recommendations for regular operation