A whisper generating E-momentum in the north
In the last few years light vehicle manufacturers have significantly extended the
range of electric models – hybrids, plug in hybrids and (pure) EVs - available on the
European market. In terms of cars and vans (<3.5 tons), this reaction is the result of
a relatively modest but persistent growth in demand, a corresponding increase in
infrastructure provision and driver incentives, but perhaps above all the recognition
that future automotive solutions need to be more sustainable and respond to EU
(and national) mobility policies and emission regulations. In the larger vehicle
categories, heavy vans and trucks, progress towards more electric options has been
much more hesitant. This has led to some remarkable pioneering efforts by
companies and agencies wishing to develop or exploit e-mobility - converting
conventional vehicles to test the electric option as a viable business strategy for their
logistic or transport activities. The EVUE project has already reported on the
experience of the parcel delivery company UPS using battery converted Modec vans
for inner city delivery in their London operations.
The public transport sector, especially bus companies, has been at the forefront in
introducing a range of clean(er) alternative fuelled vehicles into the mobility mix,
with coachbuilders providing CNG, hydrogen, diesel hybrid and electricity automotive
solutions. This often involves conventional engine use in journey segments outwith
the urban perimeter - city to city - and automatic transfer to i.e. electric power
within the built-up or central area (low emission zone). The experience of the city of
Umeå in the north of Sweden provides a particularly interesting example of the
pioneering spirit in respect of larger vehicle categories combining both: the testing of
the e-mobility option first by converting conventional city buses, and; the
subsequent mainstreaming of the pilot project into concrete service provision using
state of the art electric vehicles and charging technology.
In 2010 the municipality of Umeå took the decision to invest intellectually and
financially in the development phase of a project set up by an international
consortium of 3 companies – Hybricon AB (Sweden), E-traction NV (Netherlands) and
Opbird SL (Spain). The initiative was to develop an effective charging station
meeting specific public transport requirements and trial 2 super fast rechargeable,
electric buses (converted conventional units). An opportunity for city and private
stakeholders to explore the viability of replacing the existing public transport fleet
with affordable, sustainable, silent, low carbon buses. Following initial testing on the
route connecting city and airport, the Hybricon Arctic Whisper E-Bus was brought
into service on Umeå`s busiest bus line 1 in November 2011, linking Umedalen to
the city centre. This launched a period of in service winter testing, extremely
important in feasibility terms when using electric propulsion in an urban area so close
to the Arctic Circle.
A key element in the pilot project was the installation of an innovative fast charging
station (the Opbird Busbaar developed by the Spanish partner) located at the end of
the route in Umedalen. Buses could be slow charged at night in depot, common
practice for electric fleet operations, and without fast charging the Arctic Whisper
was capable of an all electric runtime of 2-3 hours depending on temperature and
number of passengers carried etc. However during daily service, after each journey
the bus would halt under the “Busbaar” in Umedalen where a 12 metre section of
conductor rail swings over the vehicle. Two pantographs fitted on the bus then raise
contacting the rail to start the fast charging process. This solution allowed the test
bus to operate the route completely electrically in normal conditions with maximum
10 minutes of charging, even less in the summer. A backup hybrid diesel generator
was foreseen in the prototypes to ensure operation when more power was needed
for example in conditions of extreme cold temperatures or heavy passenger load.
However this was rarely found to be necessary thanks to a very good energy use per
km, derived from the efficiency of E-traction wheel mounted motors and the capacity
of the vehicles for brake energy regeneration.
In 2011 the calculation was made that the e-mobility option represented a
significantly lower operating cost than conventional bus types, estimated at 15 SEK
as opposed to 55 SEK for 10km of travel. The positive results have encouraged the
Hybricon company to develop 2 buses for the commercial market: the HAW 12LE a
fully electric 12 metre long low entry city bus, and; the HAW 18LE articulated 18
metre, 4 wheel drive model. These buses achieve an hour of driving and heating
based on a 5 minute ultra fast charging stop. The HAW also collect data via a
telemetric in-bus system, where parameters (200 in total) ranging from battery
condition to passenger compartment conditions can be remotely and continuously
monitored.
For the city, the advantages of no harmful emissions, no fossil fuel burning or CO2
emission (electricity generation in Sweden is essentially carbon free derived from
hydro or wind resources), and minimum noise represent an important component to
advance its action plan for air quality and sustainable development. Local climatic
conditions often produce temperature inversions in winter and in cooperation with
the Swedish government the city has developed a plan to counter air pollution
including the use of mobility management measures and the diversion of major
connecting, through traffic routes away from the city centre. This is a key facet of
the city`s integrated environmental strategy which saw Umeå shortlisted as one of
the 5 finalists for the label of European Green Capital 2016. In May of this year
(2014) the city ordered a 65% transformation of the local public transport fleet (33
out of a total 51 buses), to operate fully electric services covering all main lines in
the city within the next 5 years. The process from 2011 characterises a concrete
project solution which was awarded the Swedish Future Transport Award. It links in
very well with the kind of measures being explored by the EU ZeEUS project, an
EVUE/FREVUE partner in the European Electromobility Stakeholder Forum, and may
present valuable experience for the EVUE city Suceava planning to develop an
electric bus network with Swiss cooperation from 2015 onwards.
Philip Stein
Lead Expert EVUE II – July 2014
http://umea.se/download/18.3f589399144bbe9c366a2e0/1396538844671/Ume%C3
%A5%2BCity%2Bintroduction%2Band%2Bcontext.pdf
http://hybricon.se/word/projects/buses/
2
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