Features
6 oct 21

Showcasing commercial viability of wireless charging

200 public buses, operated by Tel Aviv-based Dan Bus Company, are to utilise ElectReon’s wireless charging infrastructure.

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Although this isn’t the only example of wireless charging for commercial operators in the world, it is certainly one of the first and largest complete commercial offerings. Wireless charging is particularly suitable for heavy-duty, commercial applications, such as buses and lorry transportation. It enables batteries to be smaller and lighter due to the convenience of charging while the vehicles are in service.

A clear example of Charging-as-a-Service (CaaS)

The way the service works is that ElectReon financed and installed the charging infrastructure at Dan Bus terminals and provides operational services and maintenance throughout the length of the contract (in this case five years). It then offers Charging-as-a-Service to Dan Bus, which is paid for via a monthly fee.

Dan Bus is one of Israel’s largest public transport operators and its $9.4m partnership with ElectReon has created what it describes as "the world’s largest commercial wireless EV charging infrastructure".

The service will provide 200 electric buses with active charging at operational city terminals while passengers board and disembark.

A phased wireless charging project

In the first phase of the project, ElectReon will install its wireless charging system in 100 buses and at the major public transport terminal, Reading, in North Tel Aviv. As part of the second phase, which will take place within two years, the charging infrastructure will be expanded to other major terminals in Tel Aviv and the southern region of Israel, so that the company will have wireless charging for about 200 buses in total.

“Not only will this be ElectReon’s first large-scale commercial project, but it will also be a world-class showcase of wireless EV charging for fleet vehicles,” said Oren Ezer, CEO of ElectReon. “This will continue to demonstrate the improved efficiency and cost savings that electric bus fleet operators can expect by implementing wireless charging infrastructure.”

Electrified wireless roadway

Dan Bus and ElectReon initially collaborated in September 2020 to deploy wireless EV charging infrastructure to actively charge a bus from a half-mile of electrified wireless roadway between Tel Aviv University and the nearby train station alongside wireless stationary charging stations installed at the bus terminal at the beginning of the bus route.

In so doing, Dan Bus was able to reduce the vehicle battery capacity by 90% by enabling the bus to actively charge while driving as well as increasing vehicle operational hours due to the fact that less downtime for charging was required.

Image of Dan Bus Company electric bus being charged using ElectReon wireless charging infrastructure at Tel Aviv university terminal, courtesy of Business Wire.

Authored by: Alison Pittaway