All 43 public articulated buses in the Dutch cities of Eindhoven and Helmond will be electrically powered, starting the Dec. 11, 2016. Together they form the largest zero-emission bus fleet in public transport in Europe, according to fleet operator, Transdev.
It's the first public transport concession in Europe to deploy that many fully-electric buses. London, for example, has 51 electric buses, but these are standard buses. The extra-long articulated buses in Dutch province Brabant can carry more passengers.
One of the biggest problems the Transdev had to solve was the limited operational radius of the buses. The company tackled these issues through a combination of ultra-fast charging technology and an innovative rotation system.
Buses that run out during the day, can be charged within half an hour. The bus terminus in Eindhoven has been converted from a single diesel garage into a charging garage, containing 43 charging points. The buses are equipped with a type of pantograph — known for trams and trolleybuses — which can make contact with the charging point. This construction was never used at this scale in The Netherlands before.
In addition, some electric buses are kept in reserve to replace buses, which run out of power. Also bus drivers start their shifts on fully loaded buses in the terminus, instead of half-way through their appointed route. At night, all buses will be fully charged in the terminus.
The buses will be deployed in urban public transport, where distances are relatively short and air pollution is the highest.
Transdev will share information and experiences through its E-bus Living Lab during an international convention in Paris next year.
