An electric bus that can charge in only 15 seconds is currently being tested in Geneva, Switzerland, shuttling from the airport to the Palexpo convention centre a few minutes away.
A “flash charging” system connects to the bus’ roof-mounted batteries with a laser-controlled moving arm rather than overhead lines and traditional tramway poles. The bus, called Tosa, is charged directly at selected stops with a 15-second, 400-kilowatt energy boost while the passengers enter and leave the bus. At the end of the bus line, a 3- to 4-minute, 200-kilowatt boost enables a full recharge of the batteries.
Introduced at the 60th congress of the International Association of Public Transport (UTIP), which took place in late May, the electric bus stands 18.7 metres long and can carry as many as 135 passengers.
Source: ABB
A “flash charging” system connects to the bus’ roof-mounted batteries with a laser-controlled moving arm rather than overhead lines and traditional tramway poles. The bus, called Tosa, is charged directly at selected stops with a 15-second, 400-kilowatt energy boost while the passengers enter and leave the bus. At the end of the bus line, a 3- to 4-minute, 200-kilowatt boost enables a full recharge of the batteries.
Introduced at the 60th congress of the International Association of Public Transport (UTIP), which took place in late May, the electric bus stands 18.7 metres long and can carry as many as 135 passengers.
Source: ABB