Jonathan Welch speaks to electrification specialist Furrer+Frey about the firm’s range of charging products for the e-bus sector
As the demand for electric buses grows rapidly across the UK and Europe, more companies are looking seriously at the bus sector with a view to either expanding their current offering, or breaking into a new market segment. Operators are starting to realise that the adoption of e-buses is no longer about replacing a diesel bus with an e-bus, expecting it to do the same day’s work, then return to the depot at night. A new way of working is becoming the norm, and that can include a choice between overnight charging at the depot, and opportunity charging at locations along the route.
In the same way that e-buses will fit some roles better than hydrogen and vice versa, nor is it a clear-cut choice between the two methods of charging. Depot chargers might seem easier at first glance; all the infrastructure is in one place, can be installed in one go, and under the direct and easy supervision of depot staff. On the other hand, this means massive disruption during the change-over period; it means buses have to return to base as their batteries run down; and it means that a lot of high-power infrastructure needs to be installed in a small area, taking its toll on the local grid.
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