Electric vehicles have long fought for a privileged place in the automotive world. But other markets can also make use of the same technology, starting with public transport. Hybrid buses have presented the challenge of restoring their battery charge in a matter of minutes, and the Bůsbaar system developed by Spanish company Opbrid seems up to the task.
The Urgent Need to Cut Emissions
We all know well that there is a huge number of cars on the road, and that the vast majority of them release carbon monoxide mixed with other pollutants into the atmosphere. A study developed by MIT in 2013 indicates that in the United States there are more than 53,000 premature deaths annually, caused by vehicle emissions. Of course, the problem is not limited to small cars. Vans, freight trucks, and the entire public transport infrastructure also generate emissions. Buses are perfect candidates for assimilating hybrid technology and reducing their dependence on diesel (read as 'gas oil'). The people at Volvo already have hybrid buses in circulation, but they must be accompanied by fast chargers, capable of providing the necessary energy in a matter of minutes.
How Bůsbaar Works
That's when Spanish company Opbrid appears with its Bůsbaar charging system. The mechanics are similar to those of electric trains: one part is installed on the roof of the vehicles, while the other is located at terminals and strategic stops. The bars on the roof make contact with the charging arm until it's time to continue the trip. How fast can Bůsbaar recharge batteries? According to data obtained in the pilot test being carried out in Sweden (HyperBus project), Bůsbaar gives a Volvo hybrid bus seven kilometers additional with just six minutes of charging. For a common electric car, seven kilometers are mere crumbs, but in the case of buses, seven kilometers allow covering a good part of their official route without burning diesel.
A Reliable and Cost-Effective Solution
The Opbrid Bůsbaar works 24 hours a day, requires little maintenance, and withstands the hostility of the weather without issues. The company has also developed a parallel and compatible system with Bůsbaar, called Trůkbaar, intended for heavy vehicles. The cost is still off the radar, although its benefits cannot be ignored. With ultra-fast charges, a hybrid bus compatible with Bůsbaar manages to reduce fuel costs by 60 percent, therefore, it is a matter of time for the investment in Bůsbaar to pay for itself.
