Decarbonization of the BVG bus fleet:from ramp-up phase to an E-Bus system

Dr. Daniel Hesse
Head of Division Technology and Innovation (B-TI)
M2G Symposium - Kyoto University, May 7th 2024

We move people forward we are the heartbeat of Berlin

BVG in 2023
06.05.2024

1,066 m

3,262

7,770

184

16,087

passengers

vehiclesstops/stations

lines

employees

2

6,770 stops the bus network isthe biggest in the country

06.05.2024•460.6 m passenger journeys•1,631 buses•

6,770 stops•153 lines•

1,802 km of line network3320 km makeBerlin‘s tram network
the world‘s third biggest

06.05.2024•

200.6 m passenger journeys•

381 trams•

825 stops•

22 lines•

320 km of line network

4

155 km long Berlin‘s metro network
is one of Europe‘s top 5

06.05.2024•

529.8 m passenger journeys•

1,250 metro cars•

175 stations•

9 lines•

155 km of line network

5The BVG is transforming its entire bus fleet
in order to meet local and global emission targets

Global climate protection

Local air pollution prevention

100% local emission free by 2030
Various technologies are availableE-Bus (Depotcharge)

E-Bus (TerminusCharge)

Battery-O-Bus(Trolley Bus)

H2-Fuel Cell(-Hybrid)

The e-bus transformation started with research projects
working closely with research facilities and universities

Ramp-up phase•

Initial research projects•••

Hydrogen bus project (2010-2015)
Hydrogen combustion buses
E-Bus Berlin project (2015-2017):
opportunity charging usinginduction
Mobility2grid (phase 1, 20162020): integration of batteryelectric vehicles into decentralizedenergy grid•

Purchase of 210 solo buses as depotchargers (Evobus, Solaris andEbusco)
E-Metrobus project for the trial ofopportunity charging with high-powerchargers at end of line stops

15% of BVG‘s bus fleet is already electric with the next big electrification step starting in 2024
Up to1700

Development of the e-bus fleet
Purchase option: Bendy buses with opportunity
charging
Big electrification: Bendy buses with opportunity
charging
Ramp-up phase: Bendy buses with opportunity
charging

Up to 930

Ramp-up phase: Solo buses with depot charging
Overall E-Bus fleet

650

227
1717

Purchase calls
according to degree ofcompletition ofinfrastructure
50 E-bendy busses
ordered2102102019 - 2023

2024 - 2027

Perspektive 2030

Ramp-up phase

Big electrification

Perspective Decarbonization 2030

The foundation for successful electrification is a
closely interlocked e-bus system

Charging
infrastructure
in depotsCharging
infrastructurein the city
(End of line)

IT-systems anddigitalization• Pre-conditioning• Disposition• Battery monitoring• Load management• Depot management system

Through a combination of technology and infrastructure
in depots and in the city we achieve high operational flexibility
Depot charging

Opportunity charging

Flex charging (from 2024)

Flexible
operation:• Fast charging• Big batteries• Bottom-up
Pantographs
Adoption to• high ranges of depot chargers (previously not available)• heterogeneous bus network with some long lines• operation areas far away from depots
Reduction of additional vehicle/personnel requirements through circulation optimization and IT systems

The e-bus system requires
numerous infrastructure measures in the city
Depots

MIILS

1.
I

Depot Indira-Gandhi-Str.

2.
S

Depot Spandau

3. New Depot Betriebshofverbund Süd-Ost
SOFF
4.

C

Depot Alt-Friedrichsfelde

5. New Depot Säntisstr.
SäSOSO
B

Sä6.
B

Depot Britz

7.
C

Depot Cicerostr.

8.
L

Depot Lichtenberg

9.
M

Depot Müllerstr.

Fast charging at final stops
Up to 110 high power chargers at
40 final stops in the firstexpansion stages
CaptionNew depots
Existing depots
Pictorial chargers at final stop

Throughout the ramp-up we experienced many challenges•

Official requirements (fire protection, rainwater, etc.) must be taken into
account at an early stage when planning infrastructure and depots•Interaction between charging station and e-bus and between thecomponents of the buses (battery, heat pump, etc.) is crucial•

The large number of vehicle and charging infrastructure interfaces mustalready be taken into account when awarding the contract•

BVG is a large and complex transport company; there is no such thing as
an off-the-peg system

For operational processes IT-solutions

SERVICEDISPOSITION

Asset-status

Automatic(re-)disposition(State of charge;
Workshop, Service)

Automaticpre-conditioning

Dynamic powerand load
management

Driverregistration

Bus depot

Automatic allocationof parking spacesLineare becoming ever more importantLINEDISRUPTIONS

Assetstatus

Disruptionmanagement

Diagnostic tool for
dynamic power& load management

Staffplanning

Digital workshop
processes

Growing complexity can only be encounteredthrough clear focus on harmonised IT-systems

IVU.plan
Duty androtation planning

EIMel

ZDF Abokom

Passenger info

Malfunction reports
to Vehicle

Processing ofjourney data

VBB Hafas, Jelbi,Mover, Daisy

Inventory management
Ordering spare partsand stock management

BMS
IVU.realtime
Real time vehicle
tracking

LLMS

RBL

Busdepot
management System

Load and chargingmanagement system

Actual timetable
dataManagementof the vehicles inthe depots

Monitoring Charging
Points on depots
and in urban area

Short-term schedule
adjustments &Supervision of rotations

Garage management
Planning workshop schedule& documentation repair

Thank you foryour attention!