Public transport operator Leipziger Verkehrsbetriebe (LVB), which serves the city of Leipzig, Germany, has ordered 21 electric low-floor buses from VDL Bus & Coach. Siemens Smart Infrastructure will provide the charging infrastructure.

“Switching to electric bus transport requires not only the vehicles but also an efficient charging infrastructure that guarantees reliable operation,” said Boris Höltermann, Managing Director of VDL Bus & Coach Germany.

Siemens will deliver four terminal stations, with a total of five Sicharge UC 600 fast charging units, with effective power of 450 kW, for opportunity charging. The medium-voltage connection, the transformer and the low-voltage power distribution will be integrated into the charging stations to keep them compact.

At the depot, buses will be charged overnight or during breaks, using 21 Sicharge UC 100 charging units, with charging power of up to 100 kW. In both systems, the connection is realized via contact hoods—pantograph devices that extend upwards from the bus roofs to initiate charging.

Leipzig’s new e-buses are scheduled to go into operation in 2021.

“During the planning stage, it is important to design the overall system according to the customer’s individual needs, including power supply, charging technology and control of the charging processes,” said Jean-Christoph Heyne, Head of Future Grids at Siemens Smart Infrastructure. “This requires the best possible combination of the energy, mobility, and building worlds.”

Source: Siemens