The Transportation Authority of Trøndelag County has selected Electreon’s wireless Electric Road System (ERS) to charge an electric bus on AtB’s bus rapid transit (BRT) routes.
Under this contract, the companies will evaluate the effectiveness of wireless charging products for AtB’s bus services in Trondheim, Norway.
Product deployment for this contract will begin in the summer of 2024, with an initial section of electric road constructed next to the AtB AS main bus depot.
This phase will involve a comprehensive series of tests and a thorough evaluation of Electreon’s charging capabilities in both drive and stop modes.
These tests aim to demonstrate the system’s resilience and reliability while acting as a key source of energy provider for AtB’s BRT lines in real-world conditions.
AtB’s long-term vision is to establish an electric road in the city of Trondheim that would be accessible to all fleets as a shared charging platform for AtB’s buses, e-trucks and e-taxis.
Konrad Pütz, Director of Transportation, Trøndelag County Authority said:Inductive charging of vehicles in motion can be an important technology for the transport sector. This project will be most relevant for buses and lorries. The project will provide important knowledge for the coming bus tender in the greater Trondheim area, in operation by 2029. We want to contribute to reducing the barriers for making use of inductive charging under challenging winter conditions and learn how to make it successful.
AtB’s BRT routes are currently a key component of Trondheim’s transport network. Each bus is 24 meters long and has a carrying capacity of up to 159 passengers.
However, electrifying these vehicles currently presents a series of challenges, as the long routes would require the double-articulated vehicles to carry several tonnes of batteries, especially as the hilly terrain in the region significantly increases vehicle energy consumption.
Additionally, Trondheim is prone to substantial climatic variations, ranging from humid to subarctic. This fluctuating weather poses an additional obstacle to the electrification of the fleet, as the vehicles require extra energy for heating and cooling.
To overcome these challenges, it is hoped that Electreon’s ERS product will enable the route to be electrified without requiring unreasonably-sized bus batteries.
Maher Kasskawo, Business Development Manager for Electreon in the Nordics said:We are thrilled to have been selected as tender winners. Norway has built out an extensive public charging network, and we are thrilled to add Electreon's cutting edge technology to their portfolio. We believe Electereon's wireless charging will not only meet but exceed expectations in supporting clients with a seamless transition to electric buses. Our solution ensures that this transition maintains the operational efficiency of the bus fleet, while reaping the benefits of sustainable transportation with reduced battery size and weight. It is an honor to be part of this project and demonstrate the strengths of our technology in the harsh winter tests.
