Roof top pantograph fast charging

BY  AFZAL YOUSAF

As electric vehicle is growing popularity, many advanced solution for the hindrances faced on the adoption of EVs are coming.
Rooftop fast charging using pantograph is one of the latest technology to charge the EV( mainly electric buses used as public transport)  with a charging time of 4-6 minutes.

This system can be easily implemented in existing bus lines ensuring zero emission by installing fast chargers at terminals, end points, depots etc. The design of the system offers power of 150-600KW charging power, which provides any city bus to have enough energy in few minutes to travel throughout the day.

Companies like ABB, SIEMENS are working on this technology, and they have already completed this and starts offering this technology in global market. Most of them are following Opp Charge protocol.

                                             Here you can find more about Oppcharge.

The working of the system is based on a pantograph, a proven system used commonly in trains, metros, trams. It is positioned in inverted way on an infrastructure pole.
When the bus arrives the charging station,a wireless communication will be established between the bus and charger, and the pantograph will come down automatically. After all the saftey checks, the system will provide the bus with powerful fast charge through the rails placed on the rooftop of the bus. Total weight of the rail system on the roof top of the bus is minimised to around 15kg, thus helping the vehicles to balance the overall weight.

In july 2014, ABB announced that it signed a global cooperation with volvo, to jointly market this fast charging. Like this Siemens are also joining hands with solaris to market this rooftop fast charging. One of the top Electric bus company Protera is also developing automated rooftop charger system.

Main benefits are:-

• Fast charging with wide range of power levels.
• The system best fits your charging needs in operating schedule.
• Charge different brands with single charger.
• High uptime. 
• Voltage range varies from 150 - 800 V.
• Power range from 150 - 600 kW
• Self reliable and fully automated technology.
• Can be dimensioned according to customer requirements.
• Flexible to different grid requirements.

Although this technology is the latest related to EV segment, it still has to gain popularity in the market. We can hope in coming days this technology will give a major boost to adoption of EV.

Share your ideas and queries. KEEP READING.