ABB to provide 100 HPCs for Qbuzz fleet in Netherlands

As the Netherlands aims to deliver a 95% reduction in emissions by 2050, ABB has been appointed to provide more than 100 connected high-power and fast chargers for the Qbuzz fleet of 99 fully electric buses.

The Netherland's commitment that all new buses will be emission free by 2025 is one step closer following the announcement that ABB, a technology leader in fast charging technologies, is working with one of the country's largest public transport operators, Qbuzz, to supply more than 100 chargers to electrify part of its bus fleet.

ABB's high-power and fast charging solutions deliver an intelligent and cost-effective means to charge larger fleets of electric buses during the night and on route, ensuring zero emission transportation during the day.

In the northern part of the Netherlands, within the Groningen/Drenthe concession, ABB has installed 62, 100kW high-power charging stations across Qbuzz depots in Emmen, Appingendam, Stadskanaal, Oude Pekela, Zoutkamp, Surhuisterveen and Assen. With a voltage range of 150-850VDC, the chargers will be used to charge the fleet overnight. Meanwhile, in the south-west, within the DMG Dordrecht concession, ABB has installed 38 Terra 54 50kW depot-fast chargers with a voltage range of 150-920V.

ABB has also supplied six HVC-300 Pantograph Down (PD) smart charging solutions for on-route charging as required. These chargers have been installed at locations throughout the regional network around Dordrecht, including Drechtsteden, Alblasserwaard and Vijfheerenlanden.

These high-power 300PD bus charger delivers 300kW of charging power and will charge the bus for 3 to 6 minutes, depending on the power the bus needs to finish its route. It is based on Opportunity Charging, a concept for electric bus charging with direct current using a pantograph mounted on the infrastructure. This allows buses to be charged at the end of the line, without impacting the normal operation of the route.

According to Frank Muehlon, Head of ABB's global business for E-Mobility Infrastructure Solutions, ABB was selected for the quality, reliability and connectivity of its solutions. Muehlon said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Qbuzz on these landmark projects. The installation of our high-power and fast chargers will allow efficient and quick overnight charging to help the Netherlands realize its zero-emission vision for its public transport networks, setting a fantastic example to other markets across Europe.”

To ensure 24-hour availability of the charging infrastructure, ABB solutions benefit from ABB Ability connected services, that allow e-mobility charging network operators to perform tasks remotely such as monitoring diagnosis and upgrades, online payments and energy management, while ensuring high levels of safety and availability of the charging service. This minimizes downtime around the clock and keeps running costs low.

Tim van Twuijver, Programme Manager EV from Qbuzz said: “As an ambitious and innovative player in the Dutch regional mobility market we look to partner with like-minded organisations to realise our ambitions of a sustainable transport future for the Netherlands. ABB was a natural fit for us.”

In the future, as demand for Electric Vehicles (EVs) grows in the Netherlands, ABB's 50kW charging solution will also give Qbuzz the flexibility to provide charging for private cars alongside its normal operation. “This is part of our future-proof approach to solutions, which allow operators to extend their service offering when the time is right. In this way, we will write the future of mobility for both public and private transport,” added Muehlon.