Volvo Buses
Global
Charging – at the perfect time and place
Based on your routes and the vehicles you’ll be using, it’s easy to calculate the amount of energy required. With that in place, it’s time to develop a strategy to secure access to energy through charging. Will you run a full day without charging, or can you plan recharging slots along the way?
Charging solutions tailored to your needs
The role of a charging solution is to give you access to the energy your routes require – when and where you need it. Volvo Buses offers a range of charging options to choose from. Charge in the depot, on public chargers, or through automated opportunity charging – or mix them to fit your operation.
The 360° approach
The holistic perspective is crucial in every step of the electric transformation – especially when defining your charging strategy. A range of parameters need to be considered – such as available grid capacity, charger utilisation, vehicle manufacturing footprint, service schedules, and available road space. Multiple charging opportunities during the day may call for flexible charging solutions, while at the same time reducing the need for large battery capacity. The result can be lighter, more spacious vehicles with a smaller environmental footprint.
Charging interface
High-capacity charging systems
Depending on the model, Volvo buses and coaches offer the option to use CCS charging, OppCharge – or even both standards on the same vehicle. Each comes with its own advantages and considerations.
Combined Charging System (CCS)
The wide adoption of the dominant CCS standard means that high-capacity charging is now widely available, enabling cost-efficient installation at large scale.
| Easy installation in depot |
| High availability in the public network |
| Slower charging than OppCharge |
| Requires plugging in a cable |
The open OppCharge standard
Rapid, fully automatic charging with up to 450 kW at end stations or in the depot keeps productivity high. The OppCharge system is a Volvo initiative with an open architecture, giving you the freedom to choose your supplier of charging equipment.
| Fully automatic |
| Enables full day schedules with minimum interruption |
| Requires space and high-voltage energy supply |
Infrastructure
Three common charging locations
With electric Volvo buses and coaches, you get the flexibility to charge in the depot, en route at end stops or terminals, or at public charging stations — or any combination of the three with their considerations. It all depends on what best suits you, your operations, and your vehicles’ specifications.
In the depot
Depot charging works much like refuelling diesel buses, which makes it a popular choice when transitioning to e-mobility. With sufficient onboard energy capacity, operators can often maintain their existing schedules with little or no change. It requires high battery capacity, multiple charging points and significant grid capacity when several vehicles charge at the same time.
| Easy installation |
| Operation without layovers at end stops |
| More batteries needed |
At bus stops and terminals
En-route charging is a smart way to redistribute the time needed to provide your vehicles with the energy for their routes. Short, efficient stops at the end of a route enable virtually unlimited operating range.
| Utilises the time at end stops and terminals |
| Reduces strain on the grid |
| Requires space and infrastructure |
Public charging stations
For long-distance routes, the continuously expanding network of fast chargers has become an essential part of operations. In many cases, it’s a game-changing factor in the energy access equation. That’s why Volvo Group, together with Traton Group and Daimler Truck, formed the joint venture Milence. The goal is to establish and operate 1,700 high-performance charging points across Europe by 2027.
| High availability |
| No investment required in depots or terminals |
| Reduced cost control for energy consumption |
Considerations
Charging aspects demanding your attention
Volvo Buses’ e-mobility solutions offer the flexibility to adapt and optimise for different needs and conditions. But there are certain aspects to consider if you want to make the most of your transformation. Make sure you leave no stone unturned.
Optimised routes
Are you electrifying existing routes? Then you may need to adapt your charging strategies to match your current routes and timetables – or review them to better fit electric operation. But if you’re planning new electrified routes, charging locations can be integrated into the route design from the start – unlocking more flexible and efficient charging strategies.
Grid capacity and efficient use
Make sure your energy grid capacity matches your needs. When planning your own charging points, ensure there is sufficient capacity — even during peak consumption hours. You can save money by charging vehicles when demand tariffs are low, but this can also increase strain on the local energy grid.
Road space for charging stations
Access to dedicated en-route chargers such as OppCharge requires sufficient space to establish a stop and install the charging equipment. In dense urban areas with rigid city plans, this can be a significant challenge. You’ll need to balance the relationship between routes, battery capacity, and passenger capacity – which is why early planning of charger placement is key.
The weight, volume and price of batteries
The reality with high-capacity batteries is that they take up space and add significant weight and cost to every vehicle. The more you can optimise your charging strategy to reduce the required onboard battery capacity, the more productive and cost-efficient your fleet will be.
Weather conditions and driver skills
Weather conditions such as extreme temperatures or rain, as well as driver behaviour, have a significant impact on energy consumption in battery-electric vehicles compared to their diesel counterparts. When optimising your e-mobility solution, it’s important to allow a margin for variations in both temperature and driving style. And remember – Driver Training pays off in the long run.
Battery life
Volvo’s electric buses are built for 12–15 years or more of intensive and productive use. This naturally affects the batteries, and over time their capacity will gradually reduce. You’ll need to take this into account when specifying battery capacity. The ageing process is predictable and easy to calculate in advance. And with Volvo Buses Usable Energy Commitment, we can guarantee a certain battery capacity during the contract period at a predictable cost.
Frequently asked questions
For depot charging, the CCS charging port with up to 250 kW charging power is typically used, while opportunity charging is most efficient using typically the opportunity charging solution OppCharge that offers up to 450 kW charging power.
OppCharge provides an automated charging procedure with up to 450 kW charging power. The high charging power in combination with automation speeds up the charging process, which makes it a suitable solution for fast charging at major stops on a route.
Yes, all Volvo electric buses can be ordered with a CCS charging port to facilitate convenient charging with up to 250 kW power.
Volvo Buses offer the OppCharge solution, which is a pantograph charging solution built on the open OppCharge standard. In addition, a roof-mounted pantograph is available on request.
Volvo Buses can offer charging equipment from external partners as part of a total solution and they are compatible with either the CCS or OppCharge standards.
The charging solutions for Volvo electric buses are based on international standards. The CCS charging ports on Volvo electric buses are fully compatible with all CCS chargers, built according to the dominating standard for public charging. The OppCharge is an open standard developed by Volvo.
The charging infrastructure needed for Volvo electric buses depends on the routes they are being used on and their battery capacity. To find the right combination for each operating case, Volvo Buses analyses the routes and the possible charging options to find the ideal solution.
Volvo electric buses support smart energy use while charging by combining vehicle technology, charging systems, and energy management tools that optimise when, how, and how much energy is used.
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