US company Proterra announces it has travelled a record distance on a single battery charge with an electric vehicle. The company managed to cover a distance of 1,772.21 kilometres on one battery charge with its 12-metre-long electric bus Catalyst E2 max. The previous world record was held by the Schluckspecht E, an electric vehicle from Germany's Offenburg University of Applied Sciences. This vehicle managed to cover a distance of 1,631.48 kilometres on one battery charge in August 2011. Proterra reports that this vehicle is 46 times lighter than the Catalyst E2 max, but it should be noted that the Schluckspecht E has a battery with a capacity of 23 kWh, which is over 28 times less than the Catalyst E2 max's 660 kWh battery.
Proterra is a company founded in 2004 that focuses on developing and manufacturing electric city buses. These buses consume no fossil fuel, emit no exhaust fumes and are therefore more environmentally friendly than traditional buses. The company launched its first electric city bus in 2008: the Proterra EcoRide BE35.
Proterra Catalyst
This bus was replaced in 2014 by Proterra's current model: the Proterra Catalyst. It is lighter, longer and more energy-efficient than its predecessor. The Proterra Catalyst is available in two variants: an 11-metre-long model that can accommodate up to 28 passengers and a 12-metre-long version that can carry up to 40 passengers. Both these models are available in different configurations:
- FC with a range of over 80 kilometres, a 79 kWh battery and a charging time of 10 minutes.
- The FC+ with a range of nearly 100 kilometres, a 105 kWh battery and a charging time of 13 minutes.
- The XR with a range of almost 220 kilometres, a 200 kWh battery and a charging time of less than 3 hours.
- The XR+ with a range of some 310 kilometres, a 330 kWh battery and a charging time of less than 3 hours.
- The E2 with a range of over 400 kilometres, a 440 kWh battery and a charging time of less than 3.5 hours.
- The E2+ with a range of almost 490 kilometres, 550 kWh battery and a charging time of less than 4 hours.
- The E2 max with a range of over 560 kilometres, 660 kWh battery and a charging time of less than 5 hours.
The E2+ and E2 max are only available with a 12-metre length. The other models are available as both 11-metre and 12-metre versions. All versions have a maximum speed of over 100 kilometres per hour and accelerate to a speed of over 30 kilometres per hour in 6.8 seconds.
Charging stations
The buses can be charged at the depot using charging stations, where the vehicle is plugged into the station. It is also possible to place special charging stations along bus routes, for example at bus stops or bus stations. These charging stations focus on the Proterra Catalyst FC series, whose battery can be fully charged in 10 to 13 minutes. This allows the buses to be charged during regular stops, so that the vehicles can be used more or less continuously. The buses are automatically connected to this charging station, without the driver having to perform any actions.
The buses use a regenerative braking system. This system causes the bus to brake automatically if the driver takes his foot off the accelerator, generating energy. This energy is stored in the bus's battery and can be used to propel the vehicle at a later time. Proterra claims that this system also ensures that the brake pedal in the bus needs to be used significantly less than in a conventional bus, thus requiring less brake maintenance. In a conventional bus, the company says the brakes need to be replaced about every 30,000 kilometres, while in Proterra's buses, this is required every 160,000 kilometres.
Safety
To ensure passenger safety, the batteries in the Proterra Catalyst buses have a reinforced housing and are placed in a separate compartment, separated from the passenger compartment with a steel barrier. Safety systems that monitor the temperature of the batteries are also built in. The body of the bus is made of a composite material reinforced with carbon fibre. The bus also features MobileEye technology that helps prevent collisions by alerting drivers of potential collisions in time.
Proterra's buses have been available in the US for some time. The company does not operate in Europe (as yet).
Source: Proterra
Source: Offenburg University of Applied Sciences
