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DAKAR mobilite: erster Elektrobus in Senegals öffentlichem Nahverkehr

CarMedialab’s charge management solution widens its appeal on the international stage 

Written by admin on . Posted in Public Transport.

Public transport companies in Belgium, Israel and Senegal opt to implement MOBILEcharge
A growing number of public transport companies are choosing INIT’s and CarMedialab’s innovative electromobility solutions. In just a few weeks, three public transport operators from across the world have opted for the charge management system MOBILEcharge from CarMedialab GmbH, a member of the INIT Group. Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles / STIB Brussels (Belgium), DAKAR MOBILITÉ (Senegal) and Ayalon Highways Tel Aviv in cooperation with the Israel Ministry of Transport and Road Safety (Israel) will use MOBILEcharge to control and monitor their charging processes. 

The project in the Senegalese capital Dakar is the INIT Group’s first project in Africa, which means that, with the exception of Antarctica, INIT is now successfully operating on all continents.

Sustainable solutions worldwide
These projects will not only increase sustainability in public transport, but also help to change cities in a sustainable way, for example in Dakar. There, the transport operator DAKAR MOBILITÉ is in the process of electrifying the public bus network with the help of a Bus Rapid Transit project, while at the same time creating measures to combat congestion and pollution. Approximately 150 electric buses will be deployed by 2025, saving 59,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. In the long term, Dakar even wants to charge their bus fleet using 100% solar energy. This is the first project of its kind on the African continent.

In Israel, hundreds of charging points for e-buses will be connected with the smart charge management system in a joint project with the Israel Ministry of Transport and Road Safety and Ayalon Highways. Step by step, numerous charging points will be integrated in the depots throughout the whole country.

Société des Transports Intercommunaux de Bruxelles (STIB), one of the largest public transport operators in Belgium, recently signed a framework contract for MOBILEcharge. Over the next 10 years, up to 1,000 vehicles and 500 charging points from various manufacturers will be integrated there. By the end of this year, 50 charging points for up to 100 vehicles will be installed at the depot “Marly” and cost-effectively charged using MOBILEcharge.

MOBILEcharge is already being used by many companies in Europe and the USA for smart charge management. However, they not only rely on this powerful tool, but also on CarMedialab’s expertise when it comes to implementation. The company has made a name for itself in setting up and connecting complex system landscapes, is committed to interoperability and is intensively involved in the development of open systems and (VDV) interfaces.

MOBILEcharge – a smart charge management system

With MOBILEcharge, new and existing customers trust in a proven solution that guarantees cost-effective charging and ensures that buses are always available on time, sufficiently charged and preconditioned whilst also avoiding expensive load peaks. To intelligently manage charging processes, the charge management system should be connected to the MOBILE-DMS depot management system, which is where information is available about planned blocks for the next day and associated charging requirements. MOBILEcharge is part of INIT’s integrated product suite for electromobility, eMOBILE. This integrated overall system covers all the operational requirements of e-mobility and ensures that e-buses are introduced economically and operated efficiently.

INIT and CarMedialab lead the way in the field of electromobility
INIT CSO and Deputy CEO Dr. Jürgen Greschner is very proud of these orders and underlines the importance of emission-free public transport:

“The decision makers for ambitious future projects in Brussels, Dakar and Tel Aviv have chosen INIT Group solutions for the electrification of their bus fleets. We are delighted that they have put their trust in us and we look forward to supporting them and other companies in the development and operation of their electric bus fleets. With these orders, the INIT Group is helping pave the way for sustainable mobility and continues to be at the cutting edge of electromobility.”

Do your buses already run energy-efficiently?

Written by admin on . Posted in Public Transport.

The sharp rise in energy costs in 2022 and the decline in revenues due to the pandemic are forcing transport companies to examine their processes and cost structures more than ever before. Especially 0since experts predict a further significant increase in electricity prices by 2030. Even the most favorable forecasts assume that electricity prices will remain more expensive than in the years before 2020 due to the global political situation.

Few factors have such a considerable impact on your bus fleet’s energy consumption as your drivers’ driving style. A study by the US Department of Energy shows just how significant the savings potential can be: an aggressive driving style leads to higher fuel consumption of between 10 and 40 percent. At current prices, this can quickly cause costs to spiral. The same applies to stationary vehicles with the engine running. With MOBILEefficiency the INIT Group offers a powerful assistance system for safe and energy-efficient driving that is appropriate for diesel-powered vehicles as well as for electric buses.

MOBILEefficiency: Saving fuel or power by optimizing driving behavior
MOBILEefficiency ensures that:

  • buses are operated economically
  • dwell times with the engine running are avoided
  • the driver is informed directly about events in real time
  • safety increases significantly

Encourage energy-efficient driving with MOBILEefficiency
The on-board computer monitors the vehicle’s data streams such as speed, rpm, acceleration, position, distance travelled and, of course, energy consumption. In addition, identification data is stored that enables an assignment to a specific vehicle, driver, trip, circulation and route. With the help of algorithms, the on-board computer detects dangerous or uneconomical driving styles and provides the driver with real-time feedback on excessive revving, unnecessarily long dwell times with the engine running, heavy acceleration or braking or excessive speed.

The on-board computer transmits the log of the entire journey with all data and events to the central system, where they can also be used anonymously. This data can be used to train staff to drive more economically and more safely in the future. Carrying out this analysis anonymously ensures that individual drivers are not highlighted.Public transport companies can choose different models to use MOBILEefficiency. For example, drivers can take part on a voluntary basis or be encouraged to participate by receiving a percentage of the fuel savings in the form of a bonus.

Increased economic efficiency and safety – the York Region Transit example
The extent to which MOBILEefficiency can increase economic efficiency and safety is demonstrated by a Canadian transport company: York Region Transit (YRT) from the Greater Toronto Area. After MOBILEefficiency was installed on their buses, fuel consumption was reduced by 40 percent in just four months. Unnecessary dwell times were also reduced by nearly 40 percent. In one year, unsafe and uneconomical driving behavior was reduced by 75 percent.

Learn more about the YRT project in the video:

Click here for more energy saving solutions from CarMedialb and the INIT Group:

DAKAR mobilite: erster Elektrobus in Senegals öffentlichem Nahverkehr

BRT project in Dakar, Senegal gradually taking shape

Written by cgiuffrida on . Posted in Public Transport.

Presentation of the first electric bus out of 158 in total
The company DAKAR MOBILITE wants to create sustainable solutions for passenger transport, road congestion and environmental pollution with the help of the Bus Rapid Transit project. On April 4, 2023, the first 100% electric bus was now presented on the occasion of Senegal’s 63rd Independence Day. Dakar celebrated this with a big parade.

In total, 158 electric buses are planned within the project. The vehicles, which are around 19 meters long and have a range of 250 kilometers each, can accommodate 150 passengers. The modern e-buses offer access for people with limited mobility, air conditioning, WLAN and USB ports on board. With the help of the electric buses, 59,000 tons of CO2 can be saved each year. In the long term, Dakar even wants to charge from 100% solar energy. This is the first project of its kind on the African continent. In addition, around 1,000 new jobs will be created during the operating phase.

We are proud to be a part of this unique project and to provide our innovative charge management system MOBILEcharge for this purpose. It allows real-time monitoring and tracking of the charging infrastructure and processes, enabling optimal fleet organization. In addition, MOBILEcharge ensures that the buses are always charged according to demand, cost-effectively and in a battery-friendly manner.

Last week, our managing director Henri Depe Tchatchu visited the Dakar Mobilité office to discuss the status of the project as well as interfaces to partner systems. We are looking forward to this exciting project and the launch of the first 100% electric bus fleet in Africa!

Click here to watch the video of CETUD, the Executive Council for Sustainable Urban Transport in Dakar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8ao14qAPAQ

brussels passengers will use sustainable public transport. image of the atomium statue.

Brussels passengers will use sustainable public transport

Written by admin on . Posted in Public Transport.

CarMedialab and INIT will charge the e-bus fleet of STIB in Brussels
STIB Brussels, one of the largest public transport operators in Belgium, recently signed a framework contract for the charge management system MOBILEcharge. During the next 10 years, up to 1,000 vehicles and 500 chargers from various manufacturers will be integrated there. Before the end of this year, 50 charging points for up to 100 vehicles will be installed at the “Marly” depot. The interfaces VDV 463 as well as VDV 261 will be integrated regarding the depot management system and for the preconditioning of the vehicles.

CarMedialab and INIT are looking forward to this project and to provide Brussels’ passengers with a reliable and sustainable public transport in the future.

More information about the benefits of a charge management system in our free document Potential cost savings of a charge management system and at https://www.carmedialab.com/en/public-transport/charge-management/.

VDV Elektrobusse

Easier and faster access to bus data thanks to VDV 238

Written by skrause on . Posted in Public Transport.

A standard that was necessary from a technical and operational point of view
This brand new VDV publication is all about data communication in buses. The Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) has published the new recommendation on this important topic in issue 1/2023. Members of the association are operators of local public transport and develop new industry standards based on existing needs. Mobile data connections are being used more and more frequently in order to be able to react quickly in an emergency. This ability to transmit data in real time is valuable because it is used to continuously improve processes and prevent problems. In the past, there was often the problem of time-consuming “negotiations” between the transport company and the vehicle manufacturer about access to thevehicle data, because no standardized regulation was available. Thanks to VDV 238, this is now a thing of the past.

Advantages through VDV 238 :
Anticipating events

One use of vehicle data is so-called “predictive maintenance”. From historical and current data, a forecast for events in the future becomes possible.

Easy to use

Companies that are newcomers in the field of e-mobility receive a guideline  through this framework recommendation and can avoid mistakes through already existing, shared know-how.

Security

It is determined from the beginning which data is received will be received and therefore set up in the initial process. The data to be transferred is already defined and no longer has to be negotiated individually between the transport operators and the vehicle manufacturer. A standard always provides security, as the technical details are defined, which ensures interoperability.

Independence from manufacturers

Each company can choose its own solution without being limited to one to a specific system. Even if vehicles from different manufacturers are included in a fleet, the same fleet, the same data is received.

Transparency

Only the information that is requested reaches the operators. In addition, initial discussions in the context of Tenders become easier for all parties.

Fleet efficiency, -amortization and AI development

Another benefit is that monitoring and analysis will increase fleet efficiency by preventing errors. In addition, more qualitative data can help develop artificial intelligence.

This VDV publication 238 is a very important step, because the analysis of vehicle data enables transport companies to draw important conclusions and make data-based decisions for the future, and for software and hardware manufacturers, market neutrality is ensured. We are very happy to be a part of this development and hope to see this writing in many tenders soon.

The complete VDV publication can be found here: https://knowhow.vdv.de/doc

All about VDV 261

Written by skrause on . Posted in Public Transport.

Anyone familiar with the field of public transport has certainly heard of the VDV 261 guideline. But what is VDV 261 actually?

What is VDV 261?
VDV 261 is a technical document published by the Association of German Transport Companies that describes how to ensure the data exchange necessary for the preconditioning of vehicles. This means, for example, that the temperature in the bus can be adjusted for passengers even before the bus departs from the charging station. And not just for one bus, but automatically for all buses.

Preconditioning leads to a longer range of battery-powered vehicles, since the energy needed to heat up or cool down the vehicles for the first time is not taken from the battery, but from the power grid. In short, VDV 261 increases comfort, increases range and saves time and therefore money, as processes no longer have to be done manually but are automated.

How does VDV 261 work?
VDV 261 describes how the value-added services of ISO 15118 must be used to automatically precondition vehicles during a charging process. Intelligent charging management enables so-called preconditioning, basically a “preparation” of the buses, via the existing charging infrastructure. There are various options for this, e.g. heating, cooling, ventilating. As soon as the electric bus is connected to a charging station, the data sent can be used to determine precisely whether preconditioning is required and, if so, in what form, so that the vehicle is ideally prepared at departure time. The challenge here lies in the smooth communication from the vehicle via the charging station to the charging management, as this communication chain must be encrypted and coordinated with all parties involved.

What is the benefit of VDV 261?
The VDV 261 interface helps to optimize planning and processes and to minimize potential risks. Because heating e-buses that are not currently connected to the charging station consumes a lot of energy and has a negative impact on the range. The bus is connected to VDV 261 during preconditioning at the charging station – so there is no need to worry about range. Passengers also experience more comfort as the temperature can be optimally prepared.

In addition to VDV 261, the standard VDV 463 is recommended – more information can be found at: https://www.carmedialab.com/en/vdv-463-makes-charge-planning-easy/.

Aachen’s “ASEAG” goes electric!

Written by akrause on . Posted in Public Transport.

Charging in the future with MOBILEcharge
The “Aachener Straßenbahn und Energieversorgungs-AG“, or „ASEAG“ (short for Aachen Tramway and Energy Supply Company), is soon charging their electric bus fleet with MOBILEcharge. Up to 150 charging points will be created in the ASEAG depot, which will work with VDV 463 and VDV 261, among others.

By the end of July 2023, milestones such as the establishment of a server instance, implementation of network requirements, certificate creation and provisioning, configuration of charging stations, communication tests and vehicle tests will be completed.

Click here for ASEAG: https://www.aseag.de/

We are very much looking forward to this collaborative project!

Well-established team for Smart Charging: ISO 15118 and OCPP 2.0.1

Written by akrause on . Posted in Public Transport.

Electromobility standards
ISO 15118 is responsible for communication between the charging station and an electric vehicle, OCPP for communication between the charging station and a central charging management system. They work hand in hand – and benefit from each other.

Why do the two standards rely on each other
Many charging systems use version 1.5 or 1.6 of OCPP. With ISO 15118 and the latest version of OCPP 2.0.1 in combination, the requested amount of energy is moreover sent to the charging station. This in turn forwards the information to the backend system. The two standards help make processes faster and easier for everyone. Without OCPP 2.0.1 and ISO 15118 additional hardware or a mobile app to send information is required.

Smart charging in context
The more data provided and the more accurate the data from the e-vehicles, the better the central system can make decisions. That’s exactly what smart charging is. Smart charging also helps avoid the notorious peak loads in order to save costs. In addition, vehicles are no longer charged with too little energy, other charging users do not unnecessarily block stations, and time-consuming alternatives are eliminated.

With Smart Charging peak loads are avoided

Out Now: Our Tender Support for Charge Management System used in bus fleets

Written by akrause on . Posted in Public Transport.

Support for the preparation of tenders
Do you need assistance with the preparation of tenders? No problem. We have made use of our experience and prepared valuable something for you.

With our tender support, we created a guideline that leads you through all critical points and requirements to make your proposal for tenders successful.

Invitation_Tender_Support_CMS_Title
To the Tender Support

For more support, feel free to use our contact form or contact our responsible Sales Manager.

Contact details:

Maximilian Haag

maximilian.haag@carmedialab.com

Tel. +49 7251 7240-161