“Electric buses are playing an ever greater role in local public transport, but there are still technical challenges that need to be mastered,” emphasizes Uwe Bittroff, Managing Director of the HÜBNER Group.“With our wide portfolio of products and services at HÜBNER, we can offer our customers reliable and space-saving vehicle components that improve energy efficiency and extend the range of electric buses.”
More energy efficient operation of e-buses
One challenge facing the industry is to develop technologies that allow vehicles to have a more extensive driving range. This is the topic that Dr. Mark Wöhrmann, Managing Director of HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG, will address in the conference program at mobility move ’24. His presentation “Increasing efficiency with hydraulic chassis” will take place on Wednesday, 6 March 2024, at 2:15 p.m. in E-Bus-Forum 2.
These efficiency gains are delivered by the new hydropneumatic suspension and damping system manufactured by HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik, a company of the HÜBNER Group. The system saves large amounts of energy while at the same time increasing riding comfort in electric buses. The key to these improvements lies in the use of (bio) oil as a hydraulic fluid instead of compressed air for the suspension system. This makes for a more efficient use of energy, which also has a positive effect on the range of electric buses.
Greater energy efficiency with oil in a hydropneumatic system
“We achieve significantly higher energy efficiency through the continual reuse of oil in a closed hydropneumatic suspension and damping system,” explains Dr. Mark Wöhrmann, Mark Wöhrmann, Managing Director of HEMSCHEIDT Fahrwerktechnik GmbH & Co. KG. The oil also has the effect of accelerating the reaction times and the power transmission of the chassis. “Oil transmits forces with virtually no energy loss,” emphasizes Dr. Wöhrmann. “We use this characteristic to enable particularly responsive operation of buses."
Space-saving and low-wear energy guidance systems
Existing technologies for buses often have a relatively high weight and also take up larger amounts of space, for example in the chassis – with negative effects on carrying capacity and design. At mobility move ’24, HÜBNER will present the new S-EGS energy guidance system, which represents a real alternative for electric and hybrid buses as well as trolley buses. With this system, high-voltage, battery, potential equalization and fluid cables can all be routed on the outside of the vehicle. This not only saves space, it also minimizes the relative movement of these lines to one another.
In addition, wear caused by external environmental influences is almost completely eliminated. With the S-EGS system, energy guidance packages with a total weight of up to 70 kg and lines with an exterior diameter of up to 42 mm can currently be realized.
High availability with speedy shipment of spare parts
HÜBNER customers will also benefit from an accelerated service for the delivery of spare parts as well as a digital remote service. “Shorter delivery times mean higher vehicle availability. The fact that we can offer faster response times with digital support gives direct benefits to our customers,” explains Tim Dortans, Head of HÜBNER Service Road. "Thanks to our extensive product portfolio, we can offer spare parts for almost all vehicle components, including those for e-mobility."
This makes it possible to deliver spare parts in Germany in less than 24 hours after receipt of an order – with online order tracking and without packaging costs. In addition, HÜBNER offers digital Remote Service support, which makes it possible to quickly have direct contact with a HÜBNER service technician. The technician can then analyze the problem remotely via a video call and offer direct solutions.
