Connecting an electric bus to a charger via a pantograph up solution is simple and extremely fast. As a bus stops at a bus stop the driver pushes a button to extend the pantograph, which extends from the bus roof upward and connects to the charging hood mounted at the bus stop. When charging is complete, or the bus needs to continue on, the pantograph automatically disconnects and retracts. The time needed to let passengers disembark and embark is enough to add an additional 10km of range.

A typical three to six-minute charge session during a stop at a terminal is enough to support normal operation throughout the duration of the service. With a pantograph up solution, all moving parts for the connection are built into each electric bus of the fleet.

ABB pantograph up bus chargers are equally suited for overnight charging in the depot. One charger can power up to three overhead charging hoods, allowing three buses to be charged. Here the bus charger sequentially charges one bus at a time, reducing peak energy costs and intelligently managing the charging power to have all connected vehicles fully charged before they enter service again.

ABB provides pantograph up and pantograph down solutions.

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Pantograph Up for Electric Bus

Did you know…

...ABB’s Pantograph Up bus chargers are perfectly suited for en-route and depot charging of electric buses?

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