Electric buses may soon become more commonplace in Spain after Opbrid Transporte Sostenible SL introduced the Busbaar in the country – an overhead, pantograph-based fast charging station.
The technology is inspired by the European rail industry and leverages the rapid charge capabilities of nanotechnology lithium titanate technology batteries to rapidly charge a bus at one or both ends of its route.
The Opbrid Busbaar.
Fast charging can be completed in just five or six minutes while a bus can run throughout the day on 100 per cent electricity from the grid. This will allow upgraded hybrid electric buses to use up to 100 per cent electricity from the grid instead of diesel.
The Opbrid Busbaar has been built by Swiss electric rail supplier Furrer+Frey as well as Germany’s Schunk and is made to be installed in any location as it swings away from the road when not in use. It can be installed in days.
According to Opbrid CEO Roger Bedell, the system could change most of the urban bus systems in the world from petrol to electricity simply by changing diesel buses to fast charged hybrids and installing these charging stations. The large target makes it easy for a bus driver to line up the bus to the charging station no matter what the weather and situation. Meanwhile, all electrical connections are overhead to reduce the high voltage risk and the threat of vandalism.
