FRANCE
On 21 September, Keolis, Iveco Bus and Forsee Power signed a partnership agreement to improve knowledge of how electric bus batteries function by pooling their own specific expertise, with a goal of gaining tighter control over the ageing of batteries and optimising their use, which they say will constitute a central technical and economic challenge in electric bus systems.
The first trials will take place in the Aixenbus network in Aix-en-Provence, in south-eastern France, which has a fleet of 41 electric buses. Pierre Gosset, Industrial Director of Keolis Group, said: “This partnership marks an important step for Keolis Group in improving our knowledge of batteries. The fleet and the network in Aix-en-Provence offer us the opportunity to conduct a life-size experiment that will enable us to monitor the equipment over time, in different seasons and conditions in the field. I would like to thank our public transport authority partner, the Métropole Aix Marseille Provence, which is supporting us in this project. The goal is to better our understanding of batteries, then to control the battery ageing process, in order to improve their reliability, reduce risks and, if possible, extend their lifespan. By sharing their knowledge, the partners will be able to assess the actual performance of the batteries in service, and the factors that affect their lifespan, more precisely. This information will be fundamental for predictive maintenance and the reduction of energy consumption. These results will obviously be shared with the public transport authority.”
