Drivetrain specialist Voith has designed a drive system that uses self-learning energy management to increase efficiency and range. Although the system was originally designed for a Solaris Urbino Bus, it is compatible with many other battery technologies and vehicles, including articulated buses. The system will be introduced to the public at the upcoming IAA Commercial Vehicles trade fair.

Here’s the fun part: liquid-cooled permanent-magnet motors are controlled by a smart energy-management system to produce an output torque of 2,250 N-m and a power output of 260 kW. The system is designed to be small and lightweight, and it features multi-component integration, which eliminates the need for a separate transmission. It offers a range of over 200 km, which just happens to be the total daily range of a typical city bus line. Water cooling increases the lifespan and performance of the drive system, and reduces noise emissions.

Many large cities  already plan to make the transition to electric buses, and Voith predicts electric drives will dominate the market by 2030. “Especially for the bus fleets of municipal transport services, the time for electromobility has definitely arrived,” says Voith VP Cornelius Weitzmann.

Source: Voith