The very first electric articulated bus equipped with a Konvekta CO2 heat pump thermal management system has been operated by the public transport company VAG in Nuremberg since the beginning of this year.
The future of our cities – living space of currently more than 50% of our humanity – has to be improved, this is beyond question. The expansion of public transport and the development towards more electromobility are intended to improve the situation in our cities.
The e-bus is the emission-free alternative to diesel buses. If one wants to do completely without fossil fuel, also the A/C components have to be powered by the battery. Electric buses don´t produce exhaust heat which could be used to heat the passenger compartment. In solo buses the efficient temperature control has already been managed quite well. But temperature control in articulated and double-deck buses is a new challenge.
Due to its length of more than 18 meters the electric articulated bus needs more than one thermal management system which have to be networked optimally. Furthermore, the demands on air conditioning systems have changed. Classical applications comprise the air conditioning of the bus interior (driver´s place and passenger compartment). Today´s demands have been increasing. Thus, for example the temperature control of the batteries has to be integrated in the thermal management system because batteries need an optimal operation temperature frame to reach the maximum range and lifetime.