D13.4 , EBSF 2 - Gothenburg: Demonstration Results

Report, 2018

The Gothenburg demonstration team has implemented and tested three (3) technological innovations (TIs), listed below according to the name and coding agreed with the EBSF_2 evaluation team and described in the following sections, namely:

 New energy-efficient heating solution for electric buses (TIGot1). In an electric driven vehicle the on-board energy consumption for heating is of higher importance compared to a diesel or hybrid driven vehicle, since there is much less surplus heat due to the high efficiency of the system.TIGot1 has tested the efficiency of a heating solution for electric buses that is driven by electricity and biofuels instead of diesel.

 Attractiveness and efficiency of innovative external and internal design of electric buses (TIGot2) A new driveline means the possibility to create new vehicle design. Four fully electric buses and seven plug-in hybrid buses (for comparison) that operate a new bus line in Gothenburg, line 55, have been demonstrated and evaluated.

 Attractiveness of innovative bus stop designs (incl. indoor) and interaction between bus and bus stop designs (TIGot3). Electrification offers new opportunities for creating innovative solutions for the interface between public transport and the urban environment, in terms of new types of bus stops, including an indoor stop.

TIGot1 belongs to the EBSF_2 topical area “Energy Strategy and Auxiliaries”, TIGot2 to “Vehicle Design and TIGot 3 to “Interface between Bus and Urban infrastructure”. The team has shown a 60% decrease in the energy consumption for heating by installing an air-to-air heat pump, added insulation in key areas, and updated control systems. This equals a 17% reducton in overall energy use for an electric bus under normal operating conditions in Gothenburg.

In terms of attractivness of buses and bus stops the fully electric bus line that has been implemented in Gothenburg has proven to be very popular with the travellers, as well as the drivers. Key benefits are the silent, low vibration, comfortable and well kept buses; the competent and friendly bus drivers; and the innovative and welcoming bus stops. Not the least people with reduced mobility stated that the buses and bus stops were easily accessible and declared it “the best bus ever”. Nevertheless some issues were found, not the least in terms of how to integrate the bus stops better in the city. The project clearly has shown that in order for bus stops to become something more than just a place to wait, both placement in the city and the cooperation of the surrounding businesses are of vital importance.