The project will run for three years and cost about $4.2 million. It's happening on a special bus route called BRT, which is 104 kilometers long. But only 1.6 km of this will have the wireless charging technology.
“Electreon’s dynamic wireless charging technology perfectly suits BRT routes, such as the Metronit, extending travel range, reducing battery size, and easing depot electric load,” said Oren Ezer, CEO of Electreon. “It tackles key challenges of the shift to electric mobility. Alongside a similar project in Norway, it offers a comprehensive solution for the BRT market segment, which is gaining momentum both domestically and internationally.”
Right now, electric buses in Haifa charge at night in depots. This means they often need to be swapped out during the day. Electreon's wireless charging could fix this problem.
The company will put wireless chargers at the final stops on the route. They'll also add charging strips on some parts of the road. This will let buses charge while they're moving.
If it works well, it could mean buses can run longer without needing to stop and charge. It might also mean they need smaller batteries, which could make the buses lighter and more efficient.
The project will look at how well the buses manage their energy, how long they can run, and if it's worth the money. If it goes well, they might use this tech on more bus routes in Israel and other countries.
Electreon's already doing something similar in Norway. This shows there's growing interest in this kind of charging for buses around the world.
But it's not the only option out there. Some places might choose to use other types of fast chargers along bus routes instead. It'll depend on what works best and costs less in the long run.
Sources: sustainable-bus, linkedin
