Sono Motors has partnered with bus operator, Stadtwerke Hof to equip a Mercedes-Benz Citaro C2 hybrid bus with solar technology.
This pilot project is being conducted in Hof, Germany, to help reduce CO2 emissions from public transport services.
In collaboration with ÖPNV-Service Hagen, Sono Motors has retrofitted a HofBus vehicle with an updated version of its Solar Bus Kit.
This consists of 16 semi-flexible photovoltaic (PV) panels with an installed power of around 1.4kWp.
Jona Christians, CEO and Co-founder of Sono Motors said:We at Sono Motors are very pleased to partner with HofBus GmbH. We believe the installation of our Solar Bus Kit for the first time on a vehicle from the HofBus fleet will demonstrate what a quick, easy and cost-effective solution the Solar Bus Kit is for sustainable reduction of emissions from public transportation.
The PV modules have been installed on the roof of the bus using double-sided tape, leading to a total weight of just 50 kilogrames for all materials used in the project.
The solar power generated through this system is fed into the bus’ battery to extend its electric range and support the conventional diesel engine.
Meanwhile, an identical hybrid bus without a PV system is also being operated to serve as a comparison for driving performance and energy consumption.
Stadtwerke Hof Managing Director Jean Petrahn said:We are very excited about the results of the pilot project. We hope that it will serve as a model for other environmentally friendly mobility solutions.
