Flash charging

[LockH]

ES "Search found 77 matches: +Flash +charging" but not the whole phrase "flash charging". As seen here:
http://inhabitat.com/flash-charging-technology-to-charge-geneva-e-buses-in-15-seconds/

Buses can connect with charging points in less than a second and in 15 seconds will receive a “600 kilowatt boost.” Using the technology, e-buses can be recharged completely in just four to five minutes.

PR from supplier ABB:
http://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/E9C15605F3724A3BC1257FED0034C30B.aspx

ABB wins 1st commercial order for breakthrough 15-second flash charging technology to enable CO2-free public transport in Geneva

Revolutionary technology requires no overhead lines and offers silent and zero-emission mass transit solution as a viable alternative to diesel buses, providing a model for future urban transportation

TOSA bus

ABB will deliver and deploy 13 flash-charging stations along an urban transit bus route, as well as three terminal and four depot feeding stations. This will be the world’s fastest flash-charging connection technology taking less than 1 second to connect the bus to the charging point. The onboard batteries can then be charged in 15 seconds with a 600-kilowatt boost of power at the bus stop. A further 4 to 5 minute charge at the terminus at the end of the line enables a full recharge of the batteries. The innovative technology was developed by ABB engineers in Switzerland.

 

[Peter.bp]

Sorry, I'm not impressed with such solution...
Couple reasons against:
1. Too big peak power will make problem in energy transportation.
2. High C rate charging of batteries shortens their life.
3. There are probably more problems (interference, high magnetic fields, etc.), but first two are already enough.
In some countries you have to pay extra money for high power demands...

 

[LockH]

Hehe... Coupla things? I *imagine* they store up a "big" charge for each stop/plug in by charging up a bank of batteries over time. And that by using a bank of cells the C rate per cell is reduced. Then in reverse order, a light-weight aerodynamic shell/vehicle also carries a large pack of Lithium-something cells. And runs mostly on level grounds over smooth pavements. Lessee... watt else... solar cells/panels on top maybe?

 

[999zip999]

I want one.

 

[Syonyk]

If it's a bus with fast charging, it's almost certainly a lithium titanate battery. They take utterly absurd charge rates and don't care.

The downside to them is that they're "exotic" and low energy density (barely better than NiMh). But they've got a truly insane power density, can soak 20C charge without flinching, have an insane cycle life (10k cycles is often quoted), and are really well suited to things like this.

 

[liveforphysics]

Getting a 600kW or even >2MW feed is not hard and part of industry standard practice for industrial power drops for factories, and a tiny drop for a modern data center that run in the 10-50MW range.

The part that seems a bit odd, is 600kW for 15sec is only 2.5kWh of energy. Meaningfull charge energy for an Ebike, but a bus should be more like 6MW charging for 15sec (25kWh) to be meaningful energy in a bus pack.

 

[LockH]

More info here:
https://library.e.abb.com/public/d78b84accc3c4d03a946234f56ae5252/LeafletTOSA_EN_2015.pdf

"a decison has been made to deploy TOSA on Line 23 (13 km)" ... and there are 13 flash-charging stations. So an average length of journey per charge one kilometer?

Pic of the "plug":


(I'd forgotten about lithium titanate. Duh. )

 

[Pajda]

I have heard from one ABB representative that the main benefit of TOSA project are overall operational cost for 20 years against building new trolleybus line.

The have calculation that the cost of TOSA bus + flash chargers + changing LTO batteries after 10years is still cheaper than the cost of new trolley lines + their maintenance for 20 years.