3 minute read
From challenge to success ›
Irizar e-mobility is committed to turnkey electromobility solutions with the aim of offering sustainable, efficient, accessible, safe and connected public transport. In this context, the Irizar Group’s strategy is particularly important as it promotes innovation and the creation of its own technology in strategic sectors which form the basis for pioneering solutions that have a positive impact on the development of cities, society and the economy.
Hence, its active commitment to the environment, the wellbeing and health of people and to the creation of better urban environments with a special emphasis on reducing emissions, noise pollution, and increasing efficiency, in low consumption that has an impact on lower costs. The challenges, now generating success in the implementation of electromobility solutions of the Irizar Group, serve as experience on this path towards sustainable and smart urban mobility for the future.
Thanks to the contribution made by the solutions of the Irizar Group companies, Irizar e-mobility and Jema energy, Schaffhausen will begin the electrification of the public network of its city, and will become the example for Switzerland. This is a unique project in Switzerland and Europe because the energy needed for the charging stations will be generated in the river Rhine as it passes through the city. In addition to this ambitious challenge, the entire charging infrastructure must be adapted to a very limited space with difficult access, as the infrastructure is buried.
The first of a total of 15 Irizar ie tram electric buses have been delivered and the slow charging stations with a power of 50 kW have been installed in garages and the 12 opportunity fast charging stations of 600 kW have been distributed in the main street of the city thus meeting the challenge of minimising charging to less than 5 minutes, as required by the city council.
Chargers with a smart charging system in garages will offer nighttime vehicle charging and battery voltage balancing.
Vitoria-Gasteiz, and the IEB, a new mobility model
Vitoria-Gasteiz’s IEB (Intelligent Electric Bus) draws a step nearer every day; its start-up, scheduled for the end of 2021, is becoming increasingly real. The IEB involves commissioning the first fully electric zero-emission line in the city, a project with a 360º approach that includes, among other tasks, engineering, civil works, signalling, communications, as well as vehicles and charging infrastructures.
With the mission of providing a new means of transport, it includes high-capacity buses, access platforms at stops, exclusive lanes and traffic light preference, definitely an environmentally friendly means of transport that enables journeys to take less time.
For this ambitious challenge, the Irizar Group has combined the knowledge of the companies Irizar e-mobility, Jema Energy and Datik.
Irizar will supply a total of 13 buses, seven of which are 18-metre articulated buses while the remaining six vehicles are 12-metre, both Irizar ie tram models.
Jema Energy has turned the smart charging process into a fully sustainable cycle, by installing pantograph opportunity charging stations at two points along the route and smart chargers in the garages, all interoperable with energy supplied from the EKIAN photovoltaic plant, located a few kilometres from the city, providing bus charging in four minutes during their trip around the city.
Datik has just completed the installation, integration, start-up and maintenance of a comprehensive transport management system that includes operating assistance solutions to offer a higher quality service, on-board screens, people-counting sensors, video surveillance, as well as passenger information.
Smart mobility today
The Irizar Group has presented the first high-capacity autonomous bus in Europe, a 12-metre long, zero-emission electric bus with capacity for 60 passengers. This autonomous bus is suitable for use in real traffic conditions, without a preferred lane and with passengers - a pioneering experience worldwide, both in terms of the size of the vehicle and its capacity.
For 21 days the autonomous bus has been operating passengers in the city of Malaga on a regular EMT (Empresa Malagueña de Transportes) line operated by Avanza by MOBILITY ADO, connecting the passenger terminal of the Port and Paseo del Parque.
This was all made possible thanks to the AutoMOST Pilot Project, financed by the CDTI through the CIEN programme. Avanza participated as an operator alongside 11 partners, which included the Irizar Group through Irizar e-mobility and Datik. The Polytechnic University of Madrid, Insia, CEIT-IK4 and the University of Vigo also participated. To explore the possibilities of connectivity and automation of public and cargo transport, AutoMost implemented a shared control driving system (Dual Mode), thus facilitating interaction between driver and the bus, which could be guided both automatically and manually, as required by the different traffic situations within the city.
