Australian company puts charge into Geneva buses

This story first appeared in the August issue of EVTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The world’s fastest flash-charging connection technology – taking less than 1 second to connect electric buses to the charging point – has won a US$16 million (NZ$22.14 million) contract from Transports Publics Genevois (TPG), Geneva’s public transport operator, and Swiss bus manufacturer HESS for Aussie firm, ABB Group.

The 15-second flash charging technology developed by ABB will be used for for 12 TOSA (Trolleybus Optimisation Systeme Alimentation) fully electric buses, which will run on Line 23, connecting Geneva’s airport with suburban Geneva. The electric buses can help save as much as 1000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, when compared with existing diesel buses.

As part of the TOSA project in Geneva, ABB will deliver and deploy 13 flash-charging stations along an urban transit bus route, as well as three terminal and four depot feeding stations. 

The world’s fastest flash-charging connection technology – it takes less than 1 second to connect the bus to the charging point. The on-board batteries can then be charged in 15 seconds with a 600–kilowatt boost of power at the bus stop. A further 4 to 5 minute charge at the terminus at the end of the line enables a full recharge of the batteries.

When fully commissioned in 2018, the high-capacity articulated buses will depart from both terminuses at 10-minute intervals during peak times. The line carries more than 10,000 passengers a day and the replacement of diesel buses by TOSA e-buses reduces noise as well as greenhouse emissions.

As part of a separate award by HESS, ABB will supply 12 flexible drivetrain solutions for the buses including integrated traction and auxiliary converters, roof-mounted battery units and energy transfer systems (ETS), as well as permanent magnet traction motors.

Both contracts include five-year maintenance and service agreements to ensure operational reliability, efficiency and safety.