Norway: Electreon charges busses in Trondheim
Electreon, the Israeli company specialising in inductive EV charging, has secured its first order from Norway. From mid-2024, wireless charging using Electreon-developed technology will be tested on bus routes in Trondheim.
The customer is the Transportation Authority of Trøndelag County (AtB). The first phase of the project, starting in the summer of 2024, involves the preparation of a public road section next to AtB’s main bus depot, where initial “tests, and thorough evaluation of Electreon’s charging capabilities in both drive and stop modes” will take place. AtB’s long-term vision is to build an electric road in the city of Trondheim that will be accessible to all of AtB’s electric buses, trucks and taxis as a common charging platform.
“This wireless charging road multiplies its impact by tenfold, offering zero visual impact while enabling true sustainability through reduced EV battery sizes and en-route charging. Norway is known as a leader in EV adoption worldwide with an ambitious goal of phasing out internal combustion engine cars by 2025”, Electreon states. The company is already implementing dynamic inductive charging projects in Israel, Sweden, Germany, Italy and the USA.
The transport authority AtB – wholly owned by the province of Trøndelag – has a public city and regional bus network with around 320 buses and 170 routes. “Each bus is 24 metres in length, with a current carrying capacity of up to 159 passengers. […] While these bus models are well-suited for the extensive local public bus network ridership in Trondheim, electrifying these vehicles in the city presents unique localised challenges,” Electreon says, citing the hilly terrain, the cumbersome nature of BEV-powered double-articulated electric buses, and the local climatic variations. However, the proprietary technology can reduce the size of the bus battery, they say. “Furthermore, the system is designed to charge the buses reliably in any weather or terrain conditions, enhancing the overall efficiency and resilience of the electrification endeavour.”
Konrad Puetz, Director of Transport at Trøndelag County Council, agrees that inductive charging of vehicles while driving could be an important technology for the transport sector. “This project will be most relevant for buses and lorries. The project will provide important knowledge for the coming bus tender in the greater Trondheim area, in operation by 2029. We want to contribute to reducing the barriers for making use of inductive charging under challenging winter conditions and learn how to make it successful.”
“We are thrilled to have been selected as tender winners. Norway has built out an extensive public charging network, and we are thrilled to add Electreon’s cutting-edge technology to their portfolio,” says Maher Kasskawo, Business Development Manager for Electreon in the Nordics.
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