Skip to main content

Supercapacitors boost electric bus charging

Israeli defence company Elbit Systems, which will exhibit at the forthcoming Fuel choices Summit in Tel Aviv, is developing an electric bus charging system that would allow vehicles to boost their batteries at terminal stations. There, the buses would connect to supercapacitors that charge the buses quickly so that they can operate for precisely calculated distances, according to the Jerusalem Post. Elbit’s supercapacitors aim to power buses for one full route, allowing them to recharge in the span of le
November 27, 2014 Read time: 2 mins
Israeli defence company Elbit Systems, which will exhibit at the forthcoming Fuel choices Summit in Tel Aviv, is developing an electric bus charging system that would allow vehicles to boost their batteries at terminal stations. There, the buses would connect to supercapacitors that charge the buses quickly so that they can operate for precisely calculated distances, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Elbit’s supercapacitors aim to power buses for one full route, allowing them to recharge in the span of less than a minute at the vehicle’s terminal stop. As passengers descend from and board the bus, the vehicle will quickly become fully charged for another route.

Each charging station would be able to handle about 60 buses per hour and during normal business hours the charging stations could be powered by green electricity sources like solar energy, Elbit said. For lines routes longer than 10 kilometres, it will be possible to install charging stations at additional pickup stations.

Related Content

  • Charging trial tests smartphones for road user charging
    January 26, 2012
    A new project is under way in Minnesota, investigating whether smartphones are technically and publicly acceptable for use in road user charging. Jason Barnes reports. In Minnesota, trials have been launched to determine whether smartphones are technologically viable and acceptable to the public for distance based road user charging (RUC). The Midwestern US state has engaged with Battelle to explore RUC technology options in a project which falls under the auspices of the US Federal Connected Vehicle progra
  • Confusion over electric motors for heavy trucks
    December 19, 2016
    According to Dr Peter Harrop of research company IDTechEx, there is still no agreement on the best type of electric motor to use in heavy trucks. The company’s analysis indicates that the booming, confusing traction motor business will rise to around US$400 billion in 2027. Its new report, Electric Motors for Electric Vehicles 2017-2027 navigates the jargon, the design options and the disagreements. The changing needs and evolving technology are matched to create forecasts and technology timelines based
  • IRD polishes WiM’s green credentials
    December 21, 2020
    A project in Canada is proving that Weigh in Motion can have a positive environmental impact, by helping to reduce emissions. Adam Hill looks at International Road Dynamics’ numbers
  • Bird: e-scooters will ‘replace short car trips in London’
    February 17, 2020
    More than half of car trips in the city of London are less than three miles with an average occupancy of just over one person, says Bird.