Electric vehicles will make an important contribution to climate protection if the infrastructural conditions are created, and green electricity is available in sufficient quantities. The Franconian metropolis of Nuremberg is a perfect example of how this is being achieved.
Nürnberger Verkehrsaktiengesellschaft supplies the city’s public transport with subways, trams, buses and rental bikes and is currently expanding its fleet of E-buses. More than 45 electric buses are already in use, with a target of doubling this by the end of 2023. In order to supply the E-buses with energy, a charging port with space for 39 buses was put into operation in 2021.
The E-bus port consists of two charging zones that have been designed to optimise the available plot of land that was assigned for the project.
A combination of galvanized steel and concrete form the main structure, with a 3,700m2 boomerang-shaped roof allowing for a series of PV panels to be installed. The panels provide a peak electricity output of 330 kWp, which covers the needs of the neighbouring workshop as well as the daily requirements of the E-buses and reduces consumption off the grid to almost zero.
Special software was developed for optimized charging and energy management which ensures economic and ecological optimization of the energy supply and usage.
Photos © VAG – Claus Felix
