Electrification of public transport has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions from transport, and improve air quality in cities. However, pure electric buses have range limitations so this project is for an inductive recharge range extended hybrid bus. It is planned to demonstrate this early in 2014 on a suitable route in Glasgow. The inductive recharge equipment recharges the bus at the ends of the route to recharge the batteries to allow EV only running. However, the inductive technology is at an early stage of development and may impact power quality on the distribution network. The key research elements of this project from a networks perspective will be focussed on the demand profiles and power quality issues (voltage and harmonics) to ensure that a wider roll out of this technology can be done with minimum impact. The project will also test technologies for billing bus operators for use-of-system via the charging infrastructure.

Objectives

The project will investigate the following areas:

Inductive charging systems for high power transfer, rapid charging of batteries, power quality with inductive charging, safety implications of electromotive forces emitted while operating inductive charger, and testing of bus operator billing methods.