VDV-Schrift 230_1 Framework Recommendation on Urban Low-floor Line-service Buses Operated Electrically [PDF Datei]

Following the energy transition in Germany, the general public and the politicians have increased their pressure on the public transport companies to test alternative drive concepts on buses. Electrically powered public transport modes are to contribute significantly to the reduction of the energy consumption and the emissions. The public transport companies can support the present research and development work concerning new types of vehicles up to the series readiness of the vehicles as they have thorough expert knowledge and much practical experience.

When the power supply utilities have further developed the use of the renewable energy sources and the battery manufacturers have developed more efficient energy storage units, electric line- service buses will have enormous ecological potentials. At present, it is positively registered that electric buses emit far less noise and that they can recuperate their braking energy. The clear focus of the Federal Government on electric mobility emphasises the great political interest in the subject, which is essential because the government has to finance the considerable additional costs for the procurement of prototypes of electric buses and for the erection of the necessary infrastructure for the operation of electric buses.

As some ecological and economic problems concerning the operation of electrically powered line-service buses have not been solved satisfactorily yet, it is at present being determined with scientific monitoring:

• —  whether and under which general conditions and parameters electric buses can be operated without operational restrictions, without more staff and at the same cycle efficiency as the present diesel-powered buses in consideration of the power supply technology applied;

• —  whether and under which conditions and parameters the overall economic efficiency achieved by the operation of diesel-powered buses can also be achieved by the operation of electric buses. For this purpose, the public transport companies cooperate with power supply utilities, vehicle manufacturers and battery manufacturers. Especially the operation of the batteries (their charging/discharging range) is to be optimised to increase the LCC.

  This 03/2018 edition of VDV Recommendation 230/1 supersedes the 05/2015 edition. It will be updated at regular intervals depending on the further development.