During our visit to Darmstadt, which was part of the collaboration between CarMedialab and HEAG mobilo, we had the opportunity not only to learn about the technological side of e-mobility, but also to talk to the people behind it. A particular highlight was our conversation with bus driver Zeyrek M., who shared his daily experiences with the modern e-buses.

Experience of an e-bus driver

With the quiet hum of the e-buses in the background at the depot, Zeyrek M. was happy to share not only his driving skills, but also his thoughts and preferences about the new technology with us.

The benefits of e-mobility from a driver’s perspective

Zeyrek M. described with palpable enthusiasm why he clearly prefers driving an e-bus to driving a diesel bus. He told us:

“I much prefer driving an e-bus to driving a diesel bus!”

This preference is easy to explain when you consider the many advantages of e-buses. The smoother and quieter ride means greater comfort for both driver and passengers. In addition, the vibration and noise associated with diesel buses are eliminated, making the driving experience much more pleasant. The absence of exhaust fumes not only helps to protect the environment, but also improves the air quality in the driver’s area and benefits the health of drivers and passengers.

“Travelling in the e-bus with Zeyrek M. was very pleasant. Instead of a noisy engine, there is silence, and at traffic lights the bus starts up smoothly. This makes it easy to choose public transport over the car,” said Markus P. after a short ride through Darmstadt.

Mobility transition: people at the centre

The encounter with the bus driver provides an authentic insight into the human dimension of the mobility transition. It shows that behind every technological innovation there are people who bring it to life. Drivers like him are not only at the forefront of the transition to more sustainable mobility, they are also ambassadors of a new era. By sharing his experiences and preferences, he gives us valuable insights into the everyday reality of e-mobility and its positive impact. We thank Zeyrek M. for the friendly exchange.

Read more about our visit to HEAG mobilio: Insights into e-mobility in Darmstadt

CarMedialab’s charge management solution MOBILEcharge has been supporting transport companies for years in the efficient organisation of the charging infrastructure for electric buses. With the new Depot Map View feature, you now have a tool that gives you a precise overview of the operations within your charge management software.

Realistic presentation of the charging stations

The Depot Map View is a visual representation of your entire depot. The web application allows you to upload a schematic background image of your depot – such as a satellite image, a technical drawing or a site plan. In this modifiable, graphical view, you can arrange your charging stations exactly as they are located in real life.

The intuitive drag-and-drop function makes it easy to move the individual stations so that the view corresponds exactly to your actual depot structure. This means that you can not only see all charging points at a glance, but also track their exact location directly in the software.

The advantages of the Depot Map View

In addition to the clarity, which is already a major advantage, the Depot Map View offers numerous other practical functions for operation.

Save time and plan your charging more efficiently: the depot map view shows you at a glance which charging stations are available, eliminating the time-consuming search for free charging stations. This not only saves valuable time, but also optimises route planning to the nearest charging stations. Especially at peak times, when quick decisions have to be made, the depot map view helps to find the right charging stations quickly and to park the buses efficiently at the respective charging stations.

Faster transfer of information to the driver: The immediate visual availability of charging information means that drivers can be quickly informed of the location of the next available charging point, or whether the charge level of a particular bus is sufficient. This improves communication and contributes to smooth operation.

Improved overview of buses and charging status: In addition to the occupancy of the charging stations, the Depot Map View also shows which bus is at which station and the charging status. This provides a clear overview and makes it easier to manage the charging process, especially when different charging processes such as slow or fast charging have to be coordinated.

Summary: Faster deployment through clarity

The new Depot Map View function in MOBILEcharge provides a clearly structured and intuitive display of the charging infrastructure in the depot. The flexible arrangement of the charging stations and the quick overview of the processes not only make the management of the charging processes easier, but also more efficient.

Transport companies benefit not only from a better overview, but also from faster decision-making processes and more efficient use of their charging infrastructure. In addition, the Depot Map View saves time by making it easier to find free charging stations and by quickly providing charging status information, which speeds up the entire charging process.

Want to learn more?

Would you like to see the new feature in a live demo or find out more about other functions in MOBILEcharge? Please do not hesitate to contact us.

The future of sustainability is at the center of many new and innovative developments in public transport. With zero emissions and environmental benefits, it is no surprise that electric buses are becoming increasingly popular. However, to optimise the operation of these vehicles, especially in large fleets, intelligent charge management is required. This is where the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) comes in.

What is OCPP?

The Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) is an open communication standard that enables interoperability between charging stations and charging station management systems. Originally developed by the Open Charge Alliance (OCA), OCPP has become established as a globally accepted standard. It allows for seamless integration of different charging stations and charging management systems, even from different manufacturers and providers , thus ensuring not only flexibility but also security for the benefit of the transport companies.

Challenges of electric bus integration

There are a number of challenges to be aware of when introducing electric buses. The four main ones are:

1. High energy demand: Electric buses require large amounts of energy, which must be provided efficiently and in a timely manner.
   
2. Fleet management: Managing a fleet of electric buses requires careful planning and monitoring of charging times to avoid disruption to operations.
   
3. Grid load: Charging multiple buses at the same time can place a significant load on the grid, requiring intelligent load distribution.
   
4. Interoperability: Various components of the charging infrastructure, as well as the different bus models, have to be compatible with each other.

OCPP in the charge management

The Open Charge Point Protocol offers a solution to these challenges by creating a standardized communication interface between the charging stations and the central charge management system. Here are the advantages of OCPP in the context of charge management for electric buses:

1. Interoperability: OCPP enables the connection of different charging points and back-end systems, ensuring flexible and vendor-independent charging management.
   
2. Load management: Through constant communication and transmission of real-time information, charging processes can be dynamically adjusted to avoid peak loads and ensure grid stability.
   
3. Monitoring and diagnostics: OCPP allows continuous monitoring of the charging process and diagnosis of problems, facilitating maintenance and reducing downtime.
   
4. Scalability: With OCPP, charging infrastructures can be easily expanded to keep pace with the growth of the electric bus fleet.

MOBILEcharge and OCPP

MOBILEcharge is a charge management system developed by CarMedialab that automates and optimizes the charging process for electric buses with minimal user intervention. This solution is fully compatible with OCPP and supports OCPP versions 1.6 and 2.0.1.

The solution specifically includes:

• Seamless integration and interoperability with various charging stations through the OCPP standard.
  
• Intelligent charge management to avoid network congestion and optimise charging times.
  
• A comprehensive monitoring and diagnostics solution to ensure the smooth operation of the charging infrastructure.

Conclusion

As a well-established communication standard, the Open Charge Point Protocol provides the basis for the interoperability and flexibility needed to ensure an efficient and future-proof charging infrastructure. Thanks to OCPP, different charging stations and backend systems can be seamlessly integrated and coordinated, which not only increases operational efficiency but also supports grid stability. With CarMedialab’s solutions, which are fully OCPP compatible, transport companies can confidently face the challenges of e-mobility.

CarMedialab not only implements OCPP in its charge management solution MOBILEcharge, but also actively contributes to the development of this standard. As a member of the Open Charge Alliance (OCA), CarMedialab plays a key role in the specification and establishment of OCPP.

In partnership with New York Power Authority (NYPA) and Guth DeConzo Construction Management, CarMedialab will supply a cloud-based charge management solution to New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). This smart charging project will support MTA’s electrification plans in one of the world’s largest cities.

The project aims to transform four depots across New York with cutting-edge charge management technology, paving the way for the city’s electric future. In the initial phase, approximately 255 charging points will be installed. As the project progresses, an additional 500 charging points will be added, supporting the plan to expand the charging infrastructure for a fleet of 5,800 electric buses by 2040. This transition, according to the MTA, is set to cut greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 500,000 metric tons annually, marking a significant step towards a cleaner New York.

“We are excited to partner with INIT and CarMedialab to bring advanced electric bus charge management to such a pivotal project in New York City”, 

said Stuart Culver, Director of Construction Management at Guth DeConzo.

A key component of the project is the installation of local controllers in each of the four depots. These local controllers ensure that the charging process continues reliably even without an internet connection. This allows intelligent charging of the electric buses in the event of server failures or network issues.

Another key element of the project is the integration of various standard interfaces to ensure smooth communication and interoperability between different systems. This includes connecting the Yard Management System (YMS) and the CAD/AVL system for seamless coordination and monitoring. The project also supports automatic preconditioning of electric buses, ensuring they are prepared for operation. Additionally, the MODBUS interface will be implemented for effective substation monitoring, enabling precise control of energy flows. This comprehensive integration ensures efficient management of the charging infrastructure, contributing to the reliable operation of the electric bus fleet.

“Our charge management system, MOBILEcharge, not only drives the expansion of sustainable transportation infrastructure but also enhances the efficiency and reliability of MTA’s daily operations”, 

said Maximilian Haag, Head of Sales Public Transport at CarMedialab.

Bus Rapid Transit with electric buses

Bus Rapid Transit, also known as BRT or Busway, is a bus-based transportation system whose transport capacity is increased by an adapted infrastructure. The trend towards these vehicles is gaining importance worldwide as an efficient and environmentally friendly solution for urban transportation. In Africa in particular, the enormous potential of BRT to solve the mobility problems of growing cities while contributing to climate protection is becoming increasingly apparent. One impressive example is the new electric Bus Rapid Transit in Dakar, Senegal, which is completely replacing trams and suburban trains.

Benefits of Bus Rapid Transit systems

BRT systems offer many advantages over conventional transit. They are cost-effective, can be implemented quickly and offer high capacity. Separate lanes and prioritized traffic signals reduce travel time and improve reliability. This leads to a significant reduction in traffic jams and improved air quality in cities.

Africa skips the era of diesel busses

Africa has a unique opportunity to skip technologies and move directly to modern solutions. Similar to the transition from landlines to cell phones or from cash to card payments, Senegal is moving directly to electric buses instead of traditional fuel buses. Dakar’s BRT system has more than 120 electric buses, saving 59,000 tons of CO2 per year and creating more than 1,000 new jobs.

Senegal: A pioneer in e-mobility

The new BRT system in Senegal’s capital is an impressive example of how electric mobility can revolutionize urban transportation infrastructure. The project demonstrates how technological innovation can not only help reduce emissions, but also improve the quality of life for residents. The efficient use of the charge management system MOBILEcharge makes a significant contribution to optimizing these processes.

Trip to Africa with Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock

The recent trip to Africa by our German business delegation, led by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, was an important step in promoting these technologies. CarMedialab’s Managing Director Henri Depe Tchatchu had the honor of joining this trip. In Dakar, the delegation met with political leaders and visited the new BRT system. Henri Depe Tchatchu took the opportunity to present the advantages of CarMedialab’s charge management system MOBILEcharge and to discuss the success of this project with the Foreign Minister.

MOBILEcharge: Optimized charge management for electric buses

A key aspect of the efficiency of BRT systems is the charge management of electric buses. This is where CarMedialab’s software comes into play. This innovative solution makes it possible to control the charging processes of the buses intelligently and cost-efficiently. By taking into account battery status, charging time and network capacity, MOBILEcharge helps to maximize battery life and minimize operating costs.

Henri Depe Tchatchu explains: “MOBILEcharge is a charge management system for electric buses that allows buses to be charged quickly and intelligently, taking into account costs, the state of the batteries and the power supply.”

This demonstrates the central role of a charge management system in the successful implementation of BRT projects.

Conclusion

The BRT trend in Africa shows the enormous potential for innovative transportation solutions that are environmentally and economically beneficial. By implementing intelligent charge management systems such as MOBILEcharge, the efficiency of BRT projects can be further increased. Africa with its dynamic development and ambition to take advantage of technological progress could play a leading role in the global transition to sustainable transportation solutions. CarMedialab looks forward to being a part of this exciting development and to bringing innovative technologies to more African cities.

CarMedialab and INIT have formed a significant partnership with King County Metro (KCM) to enhance the efficiency and reliability of electric public transportation. This collaboration introduces the advanced Vehicle Health Monitoring System MOBILEvhm as well as the Charge Management System MOBILEcharge to KCM’s fleet of electric buses and trolleybuses, promoting sustainable urban mobility in Seattle, the largest city in the Pacific Northwest of North America.

MOBILEvhm will initially be installed on 45 King County Metro buses. In the coming years, this technology is planned to be expanded to a total of 500 battery electric buses and 174 trolleys over the contract term.. This initiative demonstrates KCM’s commitment to electrification and sets new standards in electric bus fleet management.

Additionally, KCM has chosen the charge management system MOBILEcharge. Under a five-year contract, the software will be implemented as a cloud solution, equipping both existing and future charging stations. A total of 369 charging stations will be outfitted for up to 500 battery electric buses. This enables efficient management and optimization of the charging infrastructure, which is crucial for the smooth operation of the electric fleet.

By integrating the MOBILEvhm software with the existing onboard computers and leveraging the Microsoft Azure Cloud, this partnership provides comprehensive operational insights. The real-time health monitoring enables proactive maintenance, reduces downtime, and ensures high service reliability for Seattle’s public transit users.

Scott Niskanen, project manager at King County Metro, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and the project’s future:

“This RFP award for MOBILEcharge and MOBILEvhm enables King County Metro to deliver quality service with an electrified bus fleet. This technology supports KCM’s mandate of zero emissions by 2035 and is made possible through collaboration between Metro, KCIT, CarMedialab, and INIT.”

The collaboration between CarMedialab and King County Metro marks an important step towards a more sustainable future for public transportation in Seattle. By employing modern technology for monitoring and maintaining the electric fleet, CarMedialab and INIT contribute to a cleaner, more efficient public transit system that meets the needs of the community and environmental goals.

Bring e-mobility to your depot without changing all your established processes! The new tool “Charger Based Planning” allows you to set departure times directly at the charging stations instead of at vehicles. This makes your e-bus charging planning more flexible and efficient.

Here’s how Charger Based Planning works

• Set departure times per charging station
  You can set departure times directly for the charging stations instead for each vehicle individually. This means that no matter which e-bus is connected to the charging station, it will be charged according to the set departure time. This provides a flexible solution for charging different buses as needed.

• Create new, special charging plans
  You can set rules for when each charging station should be used. For example, a specific charging station can be set to charge up to 80% daily from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This rule will then apply to all e-buses connected to that station. This makes charging processes more efficient and tailored to the needs of your operation.

• Overview in the MOBILEcharge charging plan monitor
  The planned rules are displayed clearly in the charging plan monitor. This allows you to always keep track of which charging times have been set and how the e-buses are charged accordingly. A transparent overview supports smooth and traceable charging planning.

Many advantages and a simplified workflow

• Enhanced planning capabilities
  Charger Based Planning offers a new way to plan your fleet. This flexibility allows you to tailor your planning to the workflows and needs of your business.

• Departure-optimized dispatching
  The required e-buses are always sufficiently charged by the departure time and are not blocked by other vehicles, regardless of which charging station they were parked at the night before. This ensures reliable and timely departures for the e-buses. In addition, bus drivers have the option of parking the bus at a free charging station in the evening without having to make prior arrangements.

• Efficient use of charging infrastructure
  This feature is particularly beneficial for operations with recurring combinations of buses and charging stations. Planning only needs to be done once, and the recurring charging processes are implemented automatically, significantly increasing efficiency.

• Time savings
  Automation saves dispatchers and depot managers time by eliminating the need to create new loading schedules. This reduces administrative overhead and frees up time for other important tasks.

• Flexibility for transport companies
  For many transportation companies, it is complex to determine in advance which bus will depart at what time. With Charger Based Planning, you can simply park e-buses and the charging station will ensure that the bus is charged by the required departure time. This provides a flexible and simple solution for dynamic planning.

Charging planning according to your needs

With Charger Based Planning, CarMedialab offers more precise, individualized, and automated planning, specifically tailored to the needs of transport companies, dispatchers, and depot managers. Learn more about the benefits of this long-requested, innovative feature and how it can improve your e-bus charging planning.

Feel free to contact us for more information and stay tuned for more updates on CarMedialab’s charge management!

MOBILEcharge now optimizes the charging processes of the e-buses in Völklingen

The Völklinger Verkehrsbetriebe Ltd. has now also opted for the charge management system MOBILEcharge from CarMedialab, a subsidiary of the INIT Group, to efficiently manage the charging processes of its constantly growing fleet of e-buses. 

Sustainability and innovation at Völklinger Verkehrsbetriebe

Völklingen has been using fully electric vehicles since spring 2022 and has already put six e-buses, including an articulated bus, into operation by 2023. These e-buses make a significant contribution to reducing CO2 emissions and promoting climate-friendly public transport. The transport company’s charging infrastructure currently consists of six 150 KW fast chargers. The maintenance of the electric vehicles is supported by a completely renovated workshop hall with a modern electric roof work station.

Further expansion of the charging infrastructure is planned for 2024 and 2025 in order to meet the charging requirements of the 15 new all-electric vehicles that have already been ordered. These include two articulated buses and 12 solo buses from MAN as well as a minibus based on the Mercedes Sprinter.

Long-term partnership with INIT and CarMedialab

Völklinger Verkehrsbetriebe is already a long-standing customer of INIT, the parent company of CarMedialab, and uses the eMOBILE-PLAN system for bus planning with the integrated optimization tool MOBILEopti as well as the depot management system MOBILE-DMS.

With the introduction of MOBILEcharge, charge management has also been taken to a new level. The system consists of 22 charging points, including 1 mobile charging point from Temes, 6 charging points from Siemens and 15 charging points from Ekoenergetyka. These charging points enable optimized and strategic charging planning to maximize bus availability and reduce operating costs, among many other benefits.

With the addition of MOBILEcharge, Völklinger Verkehrsbetriebe can benefit from further advantages of INIT’s integrated solution. By linking charge management and depot management, an optimized charging plan can be created to ensure that all vehicles only receive the charge they need to complete the next round, minimizing peak loads and overall energy costs. It can also ensure that vehicles are automatically rescheduled if a charge cannot be completed properly. In addition, parking spaces at the charging infrastructure can be allocated in a vehicle-optimized manner.

Installation in July 2024

The installation of the MOBILEcharge system is planned for July 2024 and includes the integration of charging points for the various bus models, including six VDL buses and new MAN buses expected in August 2024.

“The switch to e-mobility in public transport improves the quality of life of the citizens of Völklingen and the region in a sustainable way – and also motivates others to switch to a climate-neutral means of transport.” 

Thorsten Gundacker
Managing Director of Völklinger Verkehrsbetriebe GmbH

About CarMedialab

CarMedialab, a subsidiary of INIT, offers innovative solutions for the charge management of electric buses and helps transport companies to operate their fleets efficiently and sustainably. The charge management system MOBILEcharge optimizes charging processes and reduces operating costs.

About INIT

INIT is the world’s leading provider of IT solutions for public transport. With a comprehensive product portfolio that includes systems for planning, scheduling, passenger information, ticketing, depot management and telematics, INIT helps transport companies increase efficiency and improve service quality.

At IT-Trans, the trade fair for public transport, we had the opportunity to talk to Martin Schmitz, Managing Director of Technology at the “Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen” (VDV = Association of German Transport Companies), and conduct a short interview, which is linked at the end of this article.

The VDV develops transport systems and defines standards

The Verband Deutscher Verkehrsunternehmen (VDV) plays a crucial role in the German transport industry. It is committed to the development of new transportation systems. As these systems exchange data, the VDV defines technical standards and thus makes processes cost-effective and simple. This standardization ensures shorter implementation times for the systems and high-quality data.

With more than 600 member companies from the public transport, rail and logistics sectors, the VDV plays a key role in shaping the future of mobility in Germany.

The importance of technical standards and interfaces

In the interview, Martin Schmitz emphasizes the importance of working on technical standards and interfaces that make it possible for different products and systems to be compatible with each other. “It is important to define interfaces,” explains Schmitz.

Advantages for system developers and transport companies

For companies such as CarMedialab, which specializes in management systems for electric buses, these standards are of crucial importance. They provide a basis on which innovative solutions can be developed that are interoperable and future-proof. This makes it possible to develop systems that can be seamlessly integrated into existing infrastructures while offering the flexibility to respond to new technologies and market requirements.

These standards also offer considerable advantages for transportation companies. They can be sure that the technology they use is compatible and can be easily integrated into their existing systems. This leads to greater efficiency, lower costs and improved service quality for public transport users.

Standards in charge management: VDV 261 and VDV 463

The VDV publications 261 and 463 play a central role in data communication in the charge management system for electric buses.

The VDV 261 interface regulates the preconditioning between the charge management system and the vehicle via the charging station. Before a bus sets off, it is brought to the right temperature so that it is optimally prepared for departure. The whole process is automated for all buses, extending the range and thus saving time and money.

The VDV 463 interface mediates between the charge management system and pre-systems such as ICTS or BMS (depot management system). This interface can be used in the following three cases: 1. manage circulation and provide charging request, 2. control charging process and transfer information on charging processes and 3. implement preconditioning request and return current status.

In the interview Mr. Schmitz also emphasized: “Of course, these interfaces can also be used internationally, because our manufacturers are building this technology.”

Interview with Martin Schmitz, Managing Director Technology VDV

The UITP (International Association of Public Transport) has recently published a comprehensive checklist for the electrification of bus fleets within a working group. This checklist provides a valuable resource for public transport operators looking to convert their bus fleets to electric vehicles.

The importance of IT systems

The electrification of buses requires the introduction of new IT systems: Depots are rebuilt and routes analyzed to make them suitable for electric buses. IT systems also need to be updated to ensure efficient and smooth operation. These IT systems cover a wide range of functions, from charge planning and charge management to integration with existing IT infrastructures. These will also need to be updated to support the specific requirements of electric vehicles.

Step by step to your bus electrification

Electrification brings significant changes and setting up new and updating existing IT systems is an essential part of any bus electrification project. The new checklist outlines the key steps and considerations that operators need to take into account on their journey to introducing and operating electric bus fleets. It is designed to help keep track of the various aspects of IT systems throughout their lifecycle – from early requirements analysis through to operation and maintenance of the systems.

“It was an honor to be part of this working group. This checklist provides transportation companies with the tools and information they need to make their projects efficient and sustainable. I particularly enjoyed the exchange on charging management systems, standard interfaces and battery analysis, where I was able to contribute the most”.

Maximilian Haag, Head of Sales Public Transport, CarMedialab

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Do you have any questions or would you like more information on charge management, battery analysis or standards and interfaces? Simply get in touch with us. Our Public Transport sales team will be at your disposal.