Electrify the „bus world“

26/10/2023
Electrify the „bus world“
While the EU is currently discussing the CO2 targets for heavy duty commercial vehicles and the date for phasing out internal combustion engines for city buses (probably 2035, not 2030), the exhibitors at busworld 2023 in Brussels presented a whole range of solutions on the way to emission-free public transport and bus travel.
Yet the philosophies of the city bus manufacturers continue to differ in terms of drive concepts. Daimler or BYD rely on e-portal axles or wheel hub engines - especially with a view to low entry buses. MAN or Yutong continue to use central drives for their models.

On the supply side, ZF has presented its second generation of e-portal axles, but also offers central drives (whereby the new 2-motor central drive in particular is more suitable for heavy-duty transport). Representatives of central drives for buses at the trade show included Voith and BAE Systems.

Also interesting was the range of city buses with hydrogen drive, e.g. Iveco, Otokar, Safra, Caetano/Toyota, Daimler (as range extender), whereby the coach fraction was not missing (e.g. Irizar, Temsa).

Beyond that, here are some other personal highlights of busworld 2023:
  • Bus chassis concepts with (more or less) integrated electric powertrain and battery, e.g. Daimler, Scania, Yutong or BYD (with LFP "Blade Battery").
  • LFP or NMC cells as a question of the overall concept, e.g. BYD, BorgWarner, Plastic Omnium, Freudenberg, FPT, Webasto
  • Scaling challenges in fuel cell systems and the question of the "better" bipolar plate - graphite vs. metallic (e.g. EKPO, Refire, Ballard, Freudenberg, Symbio, HTWO)
  • Van Hool: 24-meter double-articulated e-bus for BRT in Paris as progressive concept in Europe
  • Bus articulation top dog Hübner Kassel with new competition (PEI Mobility, JOST)
  • Charging technology providers on the way from "state of the art 500 Ampere" solutions to MegaWatt charging, e.g. from Huber+Suhner, Phönix Contact, Kiepe Electric, Schunk

If all this is too cryptic for you, you can have a look at a short overview from electrive (https://lnkd.in/ejv9bWV8)
or of course just contact me:

Sebastian Lüttig
Partner, Director Mobility and Transportation
Phone +49 6201 9915 67

Sebastian.Lüttig@SchlegelundPartner.de