GERMANY Esslingen Municipal Transportation Authority (SVE) has presented its four new Solaris battery trolleybuses with In-Motion-Charging (IMC) from Vossloh Kiepe to an international trade audience and representatives of the media. These articulated trolleybuses are equipped with lithium titanate (LTO) traction batteries which, with 37kWh of usable energy and an output of 240kW, enable normal operation on sections of the route where there are no overhead contact lines.
Even in unfavourable conditions, the buses have an operating range of 10km in battery mode. This was one of the main reasons why Esslingen opted for this technology.
“On our 113 route the electric hybrid trolleybuses cover two-thirds of the distance on battery power,” said Harald Boog, Head of Operations at SVE. “This enabled us to bring the Berkheim district into our zero-emission mass transit network with no additional infrastructure costs. Ever since they entered service these vehicles have been as reliable as diesel-engined buses. As the main challenges in IMC buses are not so much mechanical as in the electrics, electrical system specialist Vossloh Kiepe lead managed the consortium.”
Visitors showed strong interest in the vehicles’ performance data. The battery trolleybuses have a top speed of 65km/h in both operating modes. With their dual axle drive with 160kW available at each powered axle, the buses offer outstanding performance even on gradients and in difficult weather conditions, and recuperate energy efficiently.
“The key to our success was the development of a new, powerful battery charging concept,” explained Vossloh Kiepe Project Manager Joachim Berndt. “This cleared the way to topping up the battery fast on the short stretches with overhead lines. If necessary the buses can draw on up to 600kW while connected to the overhead wires.”
