Objective
Demonstrate the viability of integrating hybrid electric city buses into existing urban transportation environments.
To use an innovative, modular designed, low floor city bus, a high efficiency hybrid/electric power unit and new approaches to fast charging and energy load leveling, for this demonstration. The goal of this project is to demonstrate that this system will :
- be energy efficient
- have very low to zero emissions
- have competitive life cycle cost to present offerings
- require a minimum and affordable infrastructure
- be accepted by the public : comfort, safety
- be accepted by the drivers
- be flexible in use.
This demonstration project will be used on the national level (Energy Agency), on the European level (CITELEC, Energy Agency), and on the world wide level (DELPHI).
DELPHI's goal is to design and manufacture a propulsion system for a bus that can operate throughout the day on pure electric power and that can also serve areas outside the city centre. The solution was for Delphi and Scania DAB to integrate technologies that overcome traditional barriers to the use of electric vehicles.
These include integrated energy management systems with regenerative bracking, a hybrid power unit that provides a small petrol engine (unleaded petrol) to partially recharge the batteries on the move when operating outside the city centre, and the unique new Fast Charge system, which can increase battery charge by up to 40% in only 12 minutes.
Housed in a small unit decorated by local art students, the Delphi Fast Charge Station stores power taken from the national electricity grid at low night-time rates. The electric bus can then recharge at the bus station throughout the day, without interrupting normal operations. Three vehicles will be operated by the City of Luxembourg.
At the heart of the Charge Station is a bank of Delphi batteries that are designed to allow maintenance free operation over many cycles, with a high depth of discharge. These are charged at night-time electricity rates, drawing less than 10 kW from the grid, to give sufficient energy to operate the bus throughout the day. The bus batteries can then be charged at a very high rate without drawing a high current from the grid. A full recharge can be achieved overnight in under six hours and particular attention has been paid to the safety of the system, whic can be installed in any convenient location.
Delphi and Scania DAB have achieved further gains in efficiency and flexibility through the integration of battery, drivetrain and power systems into a Modular Propulsion Unit. Mounted in a subframe in the rear of the bus, this novel approach allows all propulsion and support systems to be replaced by one man in less than half a day.
The proposed project is to operate a part of the Luxembourg city public transport system with hybrid/electric buses. The vehicles will use an unique architecture which allows a flat low floor (230 mm or 165 mm when lowered) and which has been designed for public acceptance. This vehicle is in production in Denmark. The unique drive unit, mounted in the rear compartment, is using all the latest DELPHI components (drive, controller and batteries), validated in proof of concept a field test prototypes. They have been developed for maximum efficiency.
Three buses will be built and will operate for two years on selected routes in Luxembourg. These vehicles will be used in flexible operation ranging from pure electric to the hybrid mode.
Charging of the batteries will be accomplished using three different methods; conventional overnight stations, quick change battery pack stations, and high current charging stations. The charging schemes are intended to minimize infrastructure investment and power grid reaction.
The Energy Agency will promote this type of transit for other applications.
Independent organizations like CITELEC and institutions like INRETS will evaluate and disseminate all the aspects and results of the two years operation period. The information will be used to help further implementation in other European cities.
After completion of the project, the city of Luxembourg will proceed with plans to expand their city Hybrid/Electric bus transit system.
Programme(s)
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
DEM - Demonstration contractsCoordinator
2010 Luxembourg
Luxembourg