ABB has secured an order for 12 bus charging systems from Volvo Buses to power a network of electric buses and bus charging systems in Europe.

This order includes installation sites in Charleroi, Belgium, providing 15 ABB charging stations, in total by 2018, to power 101 Volvo electric hybrid buses in the Wallonia public transport system, which is operated by TEC Group.

Last month, ABB launched two OppCharge bus charging stations in the city centre of Namur to power 11 electric hybrid buses running within a new zero-emissions zone.

ABB claimed that the stations have the capacity to completely charge the electric hybrid buses with 150kW of charging power in three to six minutes.

ABB Electric Vehicle Infrastructure product group manager Urs Waelchli said: “We are very proud to have inaugurated the first two fast-charging bus stations in Namur.

“We are also very pleased to have been awarded the additional order of 12 chargers.

"This is an important milestone on the journey towards a sustainable public transport system.

“By using open industry interfaces like OppCharge we are providing a system that is open to all bus brands, as well as other charger manufacturers.

“We believe open interfaces and open standards are key for operators and cities to embrace the large scale adoption of Carbon emissions-free public transportation.”

The company stated that its fast chargers are compliant with the open Interface OppCharge, and is compatible with other bus manufacturers as well.

"By using open industry interfaces like OppCharge we are providing a system that is open to all bus brands, as well as other charger manufacturers."

The scope of ABB’s second contract is a complete turnkey project to charge the additional 90 Volvo Electric Hybrid buses and includes twelve 150kW charging stations, substations, switchgear, civil works, installation and a service contract.

Volvo Buses president Håkan Agnevall said: “The order is a new milestone in our electromobility drive and confirms the competitiveness of our offer. We can see that more and more of the world’s cities are choosing electrified city bus traffic in order to deal with poor air quality and noise.

“The common interface for fast charging of buses and trucks, OppCharge, is gaining ground. The use by many suppliers of a common interface will facilitate the transition to electromobility in the world’s cities.”

Image: A Volvo bus. Photo: courtesy of ABB.