ABB is partnering with Volvo Bus and Birmingham Airport in the UK to launch a passenger transport service in and around the airport beginning in November 2019. The service will include six Volvo 7900e electric single-deck buses.

The buses will be in operation 24/7, and each will be recharged en route using ABB’s OppCharge, an automated fast-charging system for electric buses. The chargers include cloud connectivity, which allows for remote diagnosis and management.

ABB estimates that charging will take two to six minutes to complete, enabling continuous operation without having to spend time in the depot being topped up.

Initially, two 300 kW charging pantographs will be available outside the airport terminal, with plans to install further pantographs around the bus route if services are expanded. Also, two 100 kW plug-in chargers will be available in the airport’s coach parking lot, which will be available to other bus operators in the future.

Birmingham Airport CEO Nick Barton said, “We are always investigating new and innovative ways to reduce our carbon emissions. Since 2012 the Airport has reduced its CO₂ by 20% per passenger. Implementing the six electric buses will work towards lowering our CO₂ per passenger even further.”

Source: ABB