Solar bus

Last updated
Solar-powered minibus in Berlin, Germany Innotrans 2018, Berlin (P1070532).jpg
Solar-powered minibus in Berlin, Germany

A solar bus or solar-charged bus is a bus that is powered exclusively or mainly by solar energy. Solar-powered bus service is referred to as a solar bus service. The use of the term "solar bus" normally implies that solar energy is used not only for powering electric equipment on the bus, but also for the propulsion of the vehicle.

Contents

Existing solar buses are battery-electric buses or (in the case of hybrid solar buses) hybrid buses equipped with batteries that are recharged from solar (or other) power sources; a launch of solar bus service often goes hand in hand with investments for large-scale installations of stationary solar panels with photovoltaic cells. Similarly, like other solar vehicles, many solar buses have photovoltaic cells contained in solar panels on the vehicle's roof which converts the sun's energy directly into electric energy to be used by the engine.

The introduction of solar buses and other green vehicles for purposes of public transport forms a part of sustainable transport schemes.

About

Solar-only and solar-electric bus services

The distinction between a solar-only electric bus and an electro-solar bus is fluid, as the distinction depends on the actual usage: whether the bus is recharged from solar or other power sources.

Solar-only bus services involve recharging the bus from solar energy, usually from solar panel-covered bus station canopies. The concept is similar to that of solar parking plot for cars and bicycles, where vehicles can re-charge while parked. The need for recharging poses constraints on the run and standstill times of the bus. The implementation of a solar bus service benefits from the optimization of overall requirements for the specific bus service. [1]

Electro-solar buses are powered additionally from electric power transmitted from power plants; hybrid solar buses may be equipped with hybrid engines.

Commercially available shuttle buses

Open-air low-speed electric shuttle sightseeing buses equipped with a solar panel-covered roof are produced in series and are commercially available. According to the producers, solar panels save energy and prolong the battery life cycle.

Use

Australia

The Tindo solar battery-charged bus ("Tindo", Kaurna word for sun) is an experimental battery electric vehicle that operates in Adelaide, Australia. It is the world's first solar bus, operating since 2007. [2] It uses 100% solar power, is equipped with a regenerative braking system and air conditioning and can carry up to 40 persons, [3] 25 of whom are seated. The bus itself is not equipped with solar panels. It receives electric power from a photovoltaic system on Adelaide's central bus station. Hailed as the world's first bus service powered exclusively by solar power, the bus service connects Adelaide City and North Adelaide as part of Adelaide City's sustainable transport agenda. The Tindo is part of the 98A and 98C bus service (until recently known as the Adelaide Connector) which is offered as free public transport. [4] [5]

China

Within the Chinese government's program for the clean transport sector, China's first solar hybrid buses were put in operation in July 2012 in the city of Qiqihar. Its engine is powered by lithium-ion batteries which are fed by solar panels installed on the bus roof. It is claimed that each bus consumes 0.6 to 0.7 kilowatt-hours of electricity per kilometre and can transport up to 100 persons and that the use of solar panels prolongs the batteries' lifetime by 35 per cent. [6]

Europe

Austria's first solar-powered bus was put in operation in the village of Perchtoldsdorf. Its powertrain, operating strategy, and design specification were specifically optimized given its planned regular service routes. It has been in trial operation since autumn 2011. [1]

The tribrid bus is a hybrid electric bus developed by the University of Glamorgan, Wales, for use as student transport between the university's different campuses. It is powered by hydrogen fuel or solar cells, batteries and ultracapacitors. [7] [8]

India

In March 2020, Energy Swaraj — An Essence of Sustainability, a program conducted by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was launched, led by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Professor Chetan Singh Solanki. The group travelled to 25 cities aboard a solar bus built by Chetan Singh Solanki to promote the benefits and practicality of using solar energy.[ citation needed ] The bus had 3.2 kW solar panels and 6 kWh of battery storage. [9]

UK

The first Solar Bus in the UK was launched in Brighton in April 2017. Following a marathon six week effort from hundreds of local people, The Big Lemon and Brighton Energy Coop's joint Solar Bus project has won funding from the M&S Community Energy Fund to cover the roof of The Big Lemon’s bus depot in solar panels to power the new electric buses on clean green renewable energy. The bus was named "Om Shanti", by one of the Solar Roof partners, Viper IT Solutions.

The 120 solar panels will generate 30,000kWh per year of electricity – the equivalent of 1.8 million boiled kettles. With no emissions, the Solar Buses will reduce noxious gases in some of Brighton and Hove's most polluted areas and will power the 52 route between Woodingdean and Brighton on 100% renewable energy.

The Solar Bus project was one of 199 different applications to the scheme, 125 of which were shortlisted. These were put to public vote for six weeks during September and October and the voting process also included the option to donate to the project via the Crowdfunding platform.

The Solar Bus project was one of 19 regional winners, with 1549 votes, 170 pledges, and a total of £13,325 raised through crowdfunding, almost half the total amount of £28,798 raised through the scheme nationally. The project will benefit from £12,500 funding from M&S Energy which, together with the £13,325 crowdfunding donations will fund the solar array on the roof of the bus depot.

[10]

Uganda

The Kayoola Solar Bus is a 35-seater electric solar bus with zero tailpipe emissions, a range of 80 km, with latent range extension from the real-time charging enabled by the roof-mounted solar panels. The development of the Kayoola Solar Bus Concept represents the commitment of the Kiira Motors Project to championing the progressive development of local capacity for Vehicle Technology Innovation, a key ingredient for institutionalizing a sustainable Vehicle Manufacturing Industry in Uganda. [11] [12]

United States

The Solar Buzz in 2015 Audette 000002 157793 498240 4578 (36337885215).jpg
The Solar Buzz in 2015

The Solar Buzz is a 14-seater US Electrical bus, made in 1994, that has been repurposed as the world's first truly solar bus in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico in 2011. The Buzz has 2 KW in homemade solar panels on the roof, 40 golf cart batteries, 2 electric motors, and has no tailpipe. The power required to go one mile is the same as the power required to make a pot of coffee: around 700 Wh. The Solar Buzz is an IntraCity bus approved by the state Public Regulation Commission (#56817) in 2015 and is a commercial daytime private shuttle service with a US$3 Fare, operated by Hot Springs Transit, LLC. [13] Hot Springs Transit provides transit service to the 6100 person population of Truth or Consequences.

Other forms of green bus transport

Non-solar powered engines

Solar panels are also used for powering electronic devices of the bus such as heating and air conditioning, even in buses with the non-solar-powered engine. Such buses are advertised to meet anti-idling regulations in several states in the US. [14]

Refitting existing vehicles with photovoltaic panels that feed the original battery with additional electric power has been shown to have the potential for contributing to CO2 emission⠀⠀ mitigation and CO2 emission mitigation and to the reduction of pollution. [15] The thus transformed buses are however not solar in the strict sense of the word, as they do not use solar energy for propulsion. The use of buses in public transport implies frequent stops with the opening and closing of doors, which influence the way the energy of the battery is used. [15]

Renewable energy powered

In principle, also trolleybuses or other non-autonomous electric buses or alternately powered buses such as fuel cell buses or dual-mode buses could be used for solar bus services, provided the origin of all or most of the energy used for proposing the bus would be solar energy. In practice, however, such systems also draw on other sources of energy, at least also other renewable energy sources such as wind energy. An example is that the city of Hamburg, Germany, received the 2011 European Green Capital Award for, among others, its fuel cell bus service that is claimed to be the world's largest hydrogen-powered bus fleet and is intended to use hydrogen generated from solar and wind energy. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric vehicle</span> Vehicle propelled by one or more electric motors

An electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that uses one or more electric motors for propulsion. It can be powered by a collector system, with electricity from extravehicular sources, or it can be powered autonomously by a battery. EVs include, but are not limited to, road and rail vehicles, surface and underwater vessels, electric aircraft and electric spacecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zero-emissions vehicle</span> Class of motor vehicle

A zero-emission vehicle, or ZEV, is a vehicle that does not emit exhaust gas or other pollutants from the onboard source of power. The California definition also adds that this includes under any and all possible operational modes and conditions. This is because under cold-start conditions for example, internal combustion engines tend to produce the maximum amount of pollutants. In a number of countries and states, transport is cited as the main source of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other pollutants. The desire to reduce this is thus politically strong.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar vehicle</span> Electric vehicle powered by solar energy

A solar vehicle or solar electric vehicle is an electric vehicle powered completely or significantly by direct solar energy. Usually, photovoltaic (PV) cells contained in solar panels convert the sun's energy directly into electric energy. The term "solar vehicle" usually implies that solar energy is used to power all or part of a vehicle's propulsion. Solar power may be also used to provide power for communications or controls or other auxiliary functions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric bus</span> Bus powered by electricity

An electric bus is a bus that is propelled using electric motors as opposed to an internal combustion engine. Electric buses can store the needed electricity on-board, or be fed continuously from an external source. The majority of buses storing electricity are battery electric buses, where the electric motor obtains energy from an onboard battery pack, although examples of other storage modes do exist, such as the gyrobus which uses flywheel energy storage. When electricity is not stored on board, it is supplied by contact with outside power sources. For example, overhead wires as in the trolleybus, or with a ground-level power supply, or through inductive charging.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid electric bus</span> Bus that combines internal combustion and electric propulsion systems

A hybrid electric bus is a bus that combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. These type of buses normally use a Diesel-electric powertrain and are also known as hybrid Diesel-electric buses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric truck</span> Battery propelled freight motor vehicle

An electric truck is an electric vehicle powered by batteries designed to transport cargo, carry specialized payloads, or perform other utilitarian work.

Energy Conversion Devices (ECD) was an American photovoltaics manufacturer of thin-film solar cells made of amorphous silicon used in flexible laminates and in building-integrated photovoltaics. The company was also a manufacturer of rechargeable batteries and other renewable energy related products. ECD was headquartered in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battery electric bus</span> Electric bus which obtains energy from on-board batteries

A battery electric bus is an electric bus that is driven by an electric motor and obtains energy from on-board batteries. Many trolleybuses use batteries as an auxiliary or emergency power source.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RechargeIT</span> Initiative within Google.org

RechargeIT is one of five initiatives within Google.org, the charitable arm of Google, created with the aim to reduce CO2 emissions, cut oil use, and stabilize the electrical grid by accelerating the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power</span> Conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity

Solar power is the conversion of energy from sunlight into electricity, either directly using photovoltaics (PV), indirectly using concentrated solar power, or a combination. Photovoltaic cells convert light into an electric current using the photovoltaic effect. Concentrated solar power systems use lenses or mirrors and solar tracking systems to focus a large area of sunlight to a hot spot, often to drive a steam turbine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar car</span> Type of solar vehicle

A solar car is a solar vehicle for use on public roads or race tracks. Solar vehicles are electric vehicles that use self-contained solar cells to power themselves fully or partially from sunlight. Solar vehicles typically contain a rechargeable battery to help regulate and store the energy from the solar cells and from regenerative braking. Some solar cars can be plugged into external power sources to supplement the power of sunlight used to charge their battery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electric vehicle battery</span> Battery used to power the electric motors of a battery electric vehicle or hybrid electric vehicle

An electric vehicle battery is a rechargeable battery used to power the electric motors of a battery electric vehicle (BEV) or hybrid electric vehicle (HEV). Typically lithium-ion batteries, they are specifically designed for high electric charge capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Photovoltaic system</span> Power system designed to supply usable electric power from solar energy

A photovoltaic system, also PV system or solar power system, is an electric power system designed to supply usable solar power by means of photovoltaics. It consists of an arrangement of several components, including solar panels to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity, a solar inverter to convert the output from direct to alternating current, as well as mounting, cabling, and other electrical accessories to set up a working system. It may also use a solar tracking system to improve the system's overall performance and include an integrated battery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battery electric vehicle</span> Type of electric vehicle

A battery electric vehicle (BEV), pure electric vehicle, only-electric vehicle, fully electric vehicle or all-electric vehicle is a type of electric vehicle (EV) that exclusively uses chemical energy stored in rechargeable battery packs, with no secondary source of propulsion. BEVs use electric motors and motor controllers instead of internal combustion engines (ICEs) for propulsion. They derive all power from battery packs and thus have no internal combustion engine, fuel cell, or fuel tank. BEVs include – but are not limited to – motorcycles, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, railcars, watercraft, forklifts, buses, trucks, and cars.

The lithium-titanate or lithium-titanium-oxide (LTO) battery is a type of rechargeable battery which has the advantage of being faster to charge than other lithium-ion batteries but the disadvantage of having a much lower energy density.

Renewable energy in Tuvalu is a growing sector of the country's energy supply. Tuvalu has committed to sourcing 100% of its electricity from renewable energy. This is considered possible because of the small size of the population of Tuvalu and its abundant solar energy resources due to its tropical location. It is somewhat complicated because Tuvalu consists of nine inhabited islands. The Tuvalu National Energy Policy (TNEP) was formulated in 2009, and the Energy Strategic Action Plan defines and directs current and future energy developments so that Tuvalu can achieve the ambitious target of 100% renewable energy for power generation by 2020. The program is expected to cost 20 million US dollars and is supported by the e8, a group of 10 electric companies from G8 countries. The Government of Tuvalu worked with the e8 group to develop the Tuvalu Solar Power Project, which is a 40 kW grid-connected solar system that is intended to provide about 5% of Funafuti’s peak demand, and 3% of the Tuvalu Electricity Corporation's annual household consumption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capacitor electric vehicle</span>

A capacitor electric vehicle is a vehicle that uses supercapacitors to store electricity.

Solar energy – radiant light and heat from the sun. It has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar energy technologies include solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal electricity and solar architecture, which can make considerable contributions to solving some of the most urgent problems that the world now faces.

There are many practical applications for solar panels or photovoltaics. From the fields of the agricultural industry as a power source for irrigation to its usage in remote health care facilities to refrigerate medical supplies. Other applications include power generation at various scales and attempts to integrate them into homes and public infrastructure. PV modules are used in photovoltaic systems and include a large variety of electrical devices.

There are numerous versions of vehicle propulsion systems. Many of those came into fruition due to need for cleaner vehicles. Each of them might have many abbreviations and some might be misleading. This article explains shortly what defines them.

References

  1. 1 2 "The right drive for e-mobility" (PDF). December 2011. pp. 22–25. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  2. ↑ "7 modern solar-powered vehicles: Tindo Solar Bus | MNN - Mother Nature Network". MNN. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
  3. ↑ To, Kien; Fernández, John E. (18–20 June 2012). "Alternative urban technologies demonstration projects for innovative cities". Third International Engineering Systems Symposium, CESUN 2012, Delft University of Technology.
  4. ↑ "All-Electric, Solar-Powered, Free Bus!!!". Ecogeek.org. 2007-12-27. Archived from the original on 2009-09-08. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  5. ↑ "Your Say Adelaide | New free City connector bus service". Archived from the original on 2015-12-22. Retrieved 2015-10-16.
  6. ↑ "China Reveals New Solar Buses". West Virginia University. 2012-09-07. Archived from the original on 2015-10-09. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  7. ↑ "Green 'tribrid' minibus unveiled". BBC. 2008-06-05. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  8. ↑ "Launch of Europe's First Tribrid Green Minibus". 2008-05-30. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  9. ↑ "Union Education Minister Takes Ride In 'Energy Swaraj Yatra' Bus Built By IIT Bombay Professor". NDTV.com. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  10. ↑ "The Big Lemon wins funding for Solar Bus project from M&S Energy Fund". November 2016.
  11. ↑ Patel, Heenali (2016-02-15). "Uganda unveils Africa's first solar-powered bus - CNN". Edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2019-09-28.
  12. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). kiiramotors.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ↑ "New Mexico woman invents state's first solar powered bus | KRQE News 13". January 30, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-01-30.
  14. ↑ "Bauer introduces solar bus powering system at BusCon". metro magazine. 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2013-01-12.
  15. 1 2 Donno, Monica; Ferrari, Aleck; Scarpelli, Annalisa; Perlo, Pietro; Bocca, Alberto (12–16 March 2012). "Mechatronic system for energy efficiency in bus transport". Design, Automation & Test in Europe Conference & Exhibition, 2012. pp. 342–343. doi:10.1109/DATE.2012.6176493. ISBN   978-1-4577-2145-8.
  16. ↑ "Hamburg, Preisträger 2011" (PDF) (in German). European Commission. p. 8. Retrieved 2013-01-13., doi : 10.2779/78216, ISBN   978-92-79-21368-7
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.