Electric buses more advanced than you think

People ask about which powertrain storage will prevail and IDTechEX answers that lithium-ion batteries will be dominant for another decade. Lithium-metal will be some way off, even in the view of those promoting them, however, the situation with supercapacitors is complex. They have seen a usage increase in a big way with hybrid buses that do not plug in, replacing lithium-ion batteries because they last the life of the bus and perform better, offering long term cost efficiencies.

By contrast, only lithium-ion batteries can currently do the job for plug-in hybrid buses with long electric range. China now only gives subsidies for those hybrids, so there the simple hybrid bus is virtually wiped out.

There is no longer a possibility that two new types of supercapacitor may eventually turn the tables. They are structural supercapacitors in the form of vehicle bodywork so they effectively footprint free and can store lithium-ion amounts of energy, offering better performance and lasting longer. Secondly, lithium-ion capacitors may grab a place as multiple energy harvesting and other advances mean that less electricity is needed in storage.

Lithium-ion capacitors have electrodes half way between lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors and currently store lead-acid/ NiCd levels of electricity with vastly superior power density (potentially acceleration/ fast charging). The capacitors also have a supercapacitor cycle life of around one million cycles, which is out of reach for battery manufacturers.

Questioners note that most buses are sold via public tendering processes and ask if this is a big barrier to bringing in innovative buses. Who should take the lead in this? IDTechEX replies that the above choice of subsidies in China is very progressive, as are the exceptionally stringent pollution laws shortly to be introduced in Europe. The government has a big role to play but local authorities buying buses also drive the programmes of eliminating pollution at point of use. This all brings in pure electric buses sooner rather than later.

There is widespread under-appreciation of the status of pure electric buses. People are amazed to hear of the 1,000 and 2,000 unit orders being placed in China for big pure electric buses and how both articulated and double decker pure electric buses are on sale. Range is typically in the region of 170 miles, or 270km.