Electric buses for passenger transport
Heat consumption has a significant impact on the range of electric buses and often remains an unknown factor – an exciting, forward-looking project in collaboration with Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences to measure the energy requirements of heating systems in public service buses.
On the Trail of the Truth
As the actual ranges of electric public service buses depend heavily on heat consumption and manufacturers do not provide any real-world data on this, this presents a major unknown factor regarding actual ranges. Now, for the first time, the heat consumption of a public service bus is being scientifically measured.
The aim of the project is to determine the energy requirements of the heating systems in order to better calculate this unknown consumption when considering the potential purchase of electric buses. This is regarded as a small milestone in the efficient implementation of electric mobility in passenger transport.
Prof. Dr Olaf Goebel and Verena Dohmwirth, a student at the Chair of “Energy Technology and Resource Optimisation” at Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences (HSHL), jointly developed this forward-looking concept in cooperation with the HSHL, the workshop management at Stadtwerke Hamm and the measurement technology manufacturer Katronic.
Following the development of the concept, an on-site assessment of the bus was carried out to assess feasibility and to draw on Katronic’s expertise in an advisory capacity. Katronic was consequently awarded the contract to supply a KATflow 150 ultrasonic flow meter for permanent installation. Testing of the measurement system in the HSHL laboratory, on-site installation and commissioning, as well as ongoing support, are being carried out by Katronic engineers in collaboration with all parties involved.
This application utilises a specialised version of the KATflow 150, which, thanks to its modular design, can be configured to the customer’s specifications and thus integrated into the bus’s system. During normal bus operations, the measurement system will, amongst other things, carry out and record two heat flow measurements and two temperature measurements, both inside and outside the passenger compartment. Using an integrated remote data transmission system, the data will be sent to a server for one year and analysed by the university.
We are delighted about this collaboration and look forward to seeing the results.
Photo – People from left to right: Oliver Höfelsborn (Sales Manager at Katronic), Verena Domwirth, Mr Tiggemann (Technical Manager at the transport authority)
