{"id":16728,"date":"2021-12-01T11:19:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-01T10:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sustainable-bus.com\/?p=16728"},"modified":"2021-12-01T13:32:20","modified_gmt":"2021-12-01T12:32:20","slug":"carmedialab-intelligent-charging-electric-busese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sustainable-bus.com\/news\/carmedialab-intelligent-charging-electric-busese\/","title":{"rendered":"CarMedialab: how smart charging helps PTO to scale up electric bus deployment. An interview with General Manager Heiko Bauer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Charging processes of a e-bus fleet are activities that should be addressed seriously. As battery-electric bus deployment grows, intelligent charging devices becomes crucial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based in Karlsruhe, CarMedialab is active in this segment since 2008<\/strong>. With the MOBILEcharge platform, the German company offers a tool that allows the PTO to visualize and control charging processes for the entire fleet. And the company also offers software for charging points. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The background? \u00abChanging over to an electric fleet and the way vehicles are \u201cfuelled\u201d will change how things are run in the depot<\/strong>\u00bb. CarMedialab\u2019s General Manager\u00a0Heiko Bauer<\/strong>\u00a0goes deeper into the topic in this interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CarMedialab: our mission is enabling a cleaner mobility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In our largest project at the moment, which by the way is one of the largest electric bus projects in Europe<\/strong>, we have around 260 e-buses charging at 160 charging stations each day<\/p>Heiko Bauer, General Manager at CarMedialab<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"carmedialab\"
Heiko Bauer, General Manager at CarMedialab<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Heiko Bauer, could you give us a brief description of your company?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abOur vision is a world with smarter, more environmentally friendly, cleaner and quieter mobility. That\u2019s why we develop and sell applications which allow our customers to better understand their vehicles and actively manage charging processes<\/strong>\u00bb.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How many buses and charging stations are generally involved in a project?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abWe have projects ranging from as few as five buses and five charging stations up to as many as several hundred units. In our largest project at the moment, which by the way is one of the largest electric bus projects in Europe<\/strong>, we have around 260 e-buses charging at 160 charging stations each day\u00bb.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Carmedialab<\/figure>
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You recently introduced the new MOBILEcharge software. What are the characteristics and advantages of this platform?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abWe actually introduced MOBILEcharge back in 2019. This development was relatively easy for us, as we\u2019ve been working with charging communication between electric vehicles, charging points and central control since 2008<\/strong>. We were able to put preliminary developments and know-how into an operating context in public local transport. Based on operational data, we can visualize and control charging processes for the entire fleet so that buses get back on the road when they are needed and also charging processes are economically efficient and battery friendly.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What might be less well known is that we also provide software for charging points<\/strong>. If you have ever charged your electric car at a service area on a German motorway, you can safely assume that CarMedialab software was involved\u00bb.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

How does the use of intelligent charging processes change the routines of those working in bus depots?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abDespite intelligent charging, changing over to an electric fleet and the way vehicles are \u201cfuelled\u201d will change how things are run in the depot. Intelligent charging and the transparent status of the vehicle which can be accessed by the central application, MOBILEcharge, reduce the requirements for personnel to manage the fleet and ensure that each vehicle is ready to go when needed. With our solution, dispatchers don\u2019t need to leave their desks to assign vehicles to routes and drivers\u00bb.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Carmedialab
Efficient charging in the Electric Bus Depot in Deventer (Netherlands)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is VDV 261 all about?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abVDV 261 controls preconditioning in an electric bus while it is still connected to the charging cable and before it leaves the depot<\/strong>. Preconditioning means that the interior temperature and the battery temperature are optimized. This process uses a lot of energy and if done at a later point in time would lead to a reduction in the vehicle\u2019s range.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

VDV 261 defines how a charging management system communicates with the vehicle via the charging point. It is based on an enhancement of ISO 15118, an international standard for charging communication. The fact that we understand the charging process from the vehicle to the backend and back again is our unique selling point when carrying out integration projects and reduces the costs and project risk for our customers\u00bb.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing over to an electric fleet and the way vehicles are \u201cfuelled\u201d will change how things are run in the depot. Intelligent charging and the transparent status of the vehicle which can be accessed by the central application, MOBILEcharge, reduce the requirements for personnel to manage the fleet and ensure that each vehicle is ready to go when needed<\/p>Heiko Bauer, General Manager at CarMedialab<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

CarMedialab: intelligent charging and cost savings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To what extent could using intelligent charging software effect the cost of electric bus operations?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00abIntelligent charging plays a significant role in optimizing operating and maintenance costs by:<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Avoiding peak loads with the energy supplier, and as a result, avoiding additional costs or power outages<\/em><\/li>
  • Optimizing charging to benefit from fluctuating energy costs<\/em><\/li>
  • Ensuring sufficient charging of the vehicle battery to avoid downtimes<\/em><\/li>
  • Increasing the health and longevity of the battery by preconditioning and optimum charging (such as keeping the battery within the ideal SOC threshold to reduce aging)\u00bb<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    In Europe there is a trend in depot charging technology to equip buses with large batteries and reduce charging technology out on the route. How do you see this development and what trends have you noticed in other regions of the world?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00abWe welcome all battery sizes and charging technology which improve operations. From a technical perspective, smaller batteries with charging on the road are better for the environment and protecting resources but require more operations planning. We see a trend towards depot charging combined with occasional charging en route<\/strong>. Depot charging is easier to scale up, while occasional charging en route requires more planning and optimization (e. g. using simulations) before it can be implemented\u00bb.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n