ABB has supplied Dutch bus operator Qbuzz with more than 100 connected chargers to electrify part of its fleet.
The high-power and fast chargers will charge the company’s 99-strong all-electric bus fleet overnight and on route, resulting in zero-emission transportation during the day.
ABB has installed 62 100kW high-power charging stations with a voltage range of 150-850V across Qbuzz depots in Emmen, Appingendam, Stadskanaal, Oude Pekela, Zoutkamp, Surhuisterveen and Assen.
Meanwhile, in the south-west, within the DMG Dordrecht concession, ABB has installed 38 Terra 54 50kW depot-fast chargers with a voltage range of 150-920V.
ABB has also supplied six HVC-300 Pantograph Down (PD) smart charging solutions for on-route charging as required.
These chargers have been installed at locations throughout the regional network around Dordrecht, including Drechtsteden, Alblasserwaard and Vijfheerenlanden.
Each 300PD charger delivers 300kW and will charge the bus for three-to-six minutes, depending on the power the bus needs to finish its route.
The solution is based on so-called ‘opportunity charging’, a concept for electric bus charging with direct current using a pantograph mounted on the infrastructure.
According to ABB, this allows buses to be charged at the end of the line, without impacting the normal operation of the route.
Tim van Twuijver, EV programme manager at Qbuzz, said: “As an ambitious and innovative player in the Dutch regional mobility market we look to partner with like-minded organisations to realise our ambitions of a sustainable transport future for the Netherlands. ABB was a natural fit for us.”
The addition of ABB Ability connected services will ensure 24-hour availability of the charging infrastructure, with Qbuzz able to perform tasks remotely such as monitoring diagnosis and upgrades, online payments and energy management.
In future, the Terra 54 50kW depot-fast chargers will enable Qbuzz to provide charging for private cars alongside its normal operation.
Frank Muehlon, head of ABB’s global business for e-mobility infrastructure solutions, said: “This is part of our future-proof approach to solutions, which allow operators to extend their service offering when the time is right.”
