Heliox enables smart charging at NIAG's depot in Moers

Customer Case Study

Heliox enables smart charging at NIAG's depot in Moers

12 Buses
1 MW
Moers, Germany

©VOR-J. Bollwein, 2022.

Challenge

The first of five depots for the public transport operator NIAG is equipped for 12 electric buses for regional bus services in the districts of Wesel and Kleve, Germany. The buses will be able to charge at different power levels and the charging point will be close to the vehicle.

Solution

Heliox installed 6 Flex charging stations, each with an output of 180 kW and a total of 12 charging points. The power units were installed next to the technical building, approx. 70 m away from the charging points. This provides sufficient space to park the bus close to the charging point. The Flex system enables dynamic charging, so a bus can charge with up to 180 kW or the power can be split between 2 buses. This allows charging times at the depot to be optimized and the buses to be returned to service more quickly. Heliox integrates the charging infrastructure into an existing charging and load management system.

Results

With the installation of the charging infrastructure, 12 of the 43 buses at the depot are already electrified. By 2035, 100% of transport services are to be provided with zero emissions. The NIAG fleet comprises 250 vehicles.

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Project Description

Heliox and TU/e ​​aim to develop an integrated solution that makes charging heavy electric vehicles accessible without negative consequences for local electricity networks. Together, we want to achieve this by developing and demonstrating a new, multiple and dynamic charging system for heavy electric vehicles that is equipped with software-controlled stabilization to absorb disturbances on the local energy grid.

The intended system will consist of a dynamically configurable charging system based on modules that can be connected in parallel, each with three 60 kW outputs. With this they want to be able to distribute the loading capacity dynamically over several vehicles. The charging system can therefore be used for opportunity charging up to 360 kW for a single vehicle as well as for regular charging of several vehicles.

In addition, smart software and a microcontroller board are being developed. The converter of the charging system can be used via this software to compensate for grid disturbances. The disturbances are neutralized via a low impedance path. This allows losses on the grid to be converted into usable energy, while improving the voltage quality of the grid. In fact, the system completely takes over the function of current power filters on the basis of smart control.

The first of five depots for the public transport operator NIAG is equipped for 12 electric buses for regional bus services in the districts of Wesel and Kleve, Germany. The buses will be able to charge at different power levels and the charging point will be close to the vehicle.

Heliox installed 6 Flex charging stations, each with an output of 180 kW and a total of 12 charging points. The power units were installed next to the technical building, approx. 70 m away from the charging points. This provides sufficient space to park the bus close to the charging point. The Flex system enables dynamic charging, so a bus can charge with up to 180 kW or the power can be split between 2 buses. This allows charging times at the depot to be optimized and the buses to be returned to service more quickly. Heliox integrates the charging infrastructure into an existing charging and load management system.

With the installation of the charging infrastructure, 12 of the 43 buses at the depot are already electrified. By 2035, 100% of transport services are to be provided with zero emissions. The NIAG fleet comprises 250 vehicles.

Download our electric truck report