Siemens Industry Sector
Drive Technology Media Newsletter
Drive Technologies Division  April 16, 2013
Low-emissions mobility: Siemens supplies drive system for dieselhybrid buses in France
Siemens Drive Technologies Division is supplying a hybrid propulsion system as its contribution to the
innovative Mettis transport project to ease traffic congestion in the center of Metz, a city in eastern
France. Van Hool, independent manufacturer of buses, coaches and industrial vehicles, is equipping 27
buses with drive motors, generators, power electronics and control software supplied by Siemens. A
diesel generator set powers the electric motors in the low-emission, fuel-efficient diesel hybrid vehicles,
and a battery system stores surplus energy. A permanently excited drive motor also ensures reliable,
low-maintenance operation. The gearless motor installation reduces noise and vibration levels, which in
turn improves overall passenger comfort.
The double-articulated buses are 24 meters long and 3.3 meters high. They will travel through the city in
dedicated lanes separate from other traffic. Their fuel consumption is similar to that of conventional, 12 -meter
diesel buses, but they can carry almost twice as many passengers. At the same time, the diesel -hybrid drive
also reduces environmentally harmful exhaust emissions - and should cut fuel consumption and CO2 emissions
significantly down to the lowest emissions-level in this market-segment
A generator connected to a diesel engine supplies electricity to the electric motors. Braking energy is
recuperated by the drive motor and fed into the battery system. . Previously, only one battery was used in the
hybrid drive systems. For this project we developed a redundant battery system which increases thus the
lifetime of each battery because each battery delivers less power. The battery system used is specially
developed for this application and is ideally suited to the starting and braking cycles of public transport buses it can rapidly store large quantities of energy and deliver it again just as quickly.
Siemens is supplying the vehicles with reliable, low-maintenance, permanently excited motors. The drive
machines can be installed directly on the axles, and do not require an intermediate transmission unit. This
reduces noise and vibration, thus improving overall passenger comfort.
Construction work on the Mettis Project began in 2010. This alternative means of transport is scheduled to start
running on two routes with a total length of 23 kilometers by the end of 2013. Metz City Council expects it to
initially carry 25,000 passengers per day. Later on, up to 36,000 passengers are anticipated to use the new
transport system as an attractive alternative to conventional urban buses, trams and private cars.
Drive Technology Media Newsletter
Background Information:
The growing need for mobility is leading to a significant increase in city traffic, making the use of private
cars more and more uneconomical. This has resulted in a growing demand in our major cities for innovative
alternatives in the field of public transportation. Electric drive systems can make buses and other commercial
vehicles in our cities both environmentally friendly and low in energy consumption.
With its ELFA modular hybrid drive system, Siemens has a solutioncapable of meeting every possible
requirement.
For more information please visit
http://www.siemens.com/press/en/feature/2013/industry/drivetechnologies/2013-01-hybridbus.php
Innovation in dedicated lanes: the diesel-hybrid buses are scheduled to enter service at the end of 2013.
(Copyright: Van Hool)
Low emissions and fuel-efficient: diesel-hybrid buses will be operating in the city of Metz in eastern France
thanks to green Siemens drive technology. (Copyright: Van Hool)
Media Contact:
Siemens AG, Media Relations
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Drive Technology Media Newsletter
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Franz-Ferdinand Friese, Phone:+49 (0)911 895-7946
E-Mail: franz.friese@siemens.com
The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world’s leading supplier of innovative and environmentally friendly products
and solutions for industrial customers. With end-to-end automation technology and industrial software, solid vertical-market expertise, and
technology-based services, the Sector enhances ist customers’ productivity, efficiency, and flexibility. With a global workforce of more
than 100,000 employees, the Industry Sector comprises the Divisions Industry Automation, Drive Technologies and Customer Services
as well as the Business Unit Metals Technologies. For more information, visit www.siemens.com/industry
The Siemens Drive Technologies Division (Nuremberg, Germany) is the world's leading supplier of products, systems, applications,
solutions and services for the entire drive train, with electrical and mechanical components (Integrated Drive Systems). Drive
Technologies serves all vertical markets in the production and process industries as well as the infrastructure/energy segment. With its
products and solutions, the Division fulfills the key requirements of its customers for productivity, energy efficiency, and reliability. For
more information, visit http://www.siemens.com/drivetechnologies