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Sono Solar Bus Trailer for MVG: More Sun, Less Diesel
The Munich start-up Sono Motors has deployed its self-developed solar technology in a bus application for the first time. Together with the Munich Transport Company (MVG), the solar bus trailer will be operating in the Munich urban area to test energy yields and the potential of the technology in daily operations. They anticipate possible savings of up to 2,500 liters of diesel per year and an annual local CO2 savings potential of over 6.5 tons per bus.
Installed on the trailer roof are 20 semi-flexible special photovoltaic modules (PV modules) that supply over 2,000 watts of energy to power the vehicle battery or relieve electrical consumers such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, as well as the trailer's steering system. On sunny days, it should be up to 13.5 kWh; on average, the solar bus collects 5.3 kWh of energy per day, clarified Mathieu Baudrit, Head of Research and Development Solar Integration.
"The partnership with the Munich Transport Company illustrates the enormous potential of our solar technology. For Sono Motors, this is a milestone in our mission to equip every vehicle with solar cells," promoted Laurin Hahn, Founder and CEO of Sono Motors.
For him, energy saving in times of rising energy prices and increasing emission regulations in urban areas is the order of the day, and the technology offers great added value for public transport operators, whether electric or diesel buses. Fossil energy is environmentally harmful, expensive, and makes one dependent on imports, said Hahn.
Solar solution should go into series production quickly and be scaled up
He intends to bring the solution to series production quickly, scale it, and offer it both as a retrofit and directly from the factory. By around 2025, it should be ready and will then cost a mid-four-digit amount. However, the surcharge would have amortized within a year or a maximum of three years, promises Sono Solar Chief Baudrit. He also refers to the European supply chain of the special solar panels, recently secured with a new production facility, and the high degree of customization they aim to ensure, suitable for every vehicle and manufacturer. Incidentally, the payload losses are, quite literally, within limits: Less than 10 kilograms per square meter is cited. The solar panels are also expected to be sustainable in other ways: durable and hail-proof, Baudrit estimates the life cycle to be 15 to 20 years, longer than a bus typically remains in the fleet.
High CO2 savings potential
The CO2 savings potential of solar-powered vehicles and their contribution to urban air quality and climate protection is estimated to be up to 2,000 tons of CO2 per year for a medium-sized fleet of about 300 buses. In the future, further increases are considered possible if both the solar cells and the power electronics become more efficient. The "CO2 backpack" of the solar solution—the emissions caused during production—amounts to approximately 1.5 tons of CO2 per bus or bus trailer, which could be offset after a short operation period of less than a year.
Over 2,000 Watts of Power Improve the Energy Balance
The solar technology was specifically developed and tested by the Munich-based company for use on buses. The concept for the solar bus trailer was developed in collaboration with MVG to ensure maximum surface utilization and efficiency. In addition to the robust solar installation optimized for vehicle integration, the solution also includes electrical integration using self-developed power electronics (MPPT Central Unit), called MCU. The solar charge controller also has an intelligent algorithm that optimizes the energy yield of the PV modules. Through ultra-fast optimization and a multi-channel system, the PV yields could be effectively transferred to the bus battery. The modules cover a total area of twelve square meters and supply the 24V battery with over 2,000 watts.
The generated solar energy is used in this case to operate the HVAC system (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) and to support the trailer steering system. Especially on hot summer days, climate control in the trailer can become difficult and the engine reaches its limits, according to MVG. In addition to diesel savings, the additional electricity ensures the stabilization of the battery's power supply, thereby extending its lifespan and reducing maintenance costs. The gained energy can be read online via integrated software, the manufacturer adds.
"With the photovoltaic system on our bus trailer, we can now test under real conditions how well the power generation works and if there are perhaps routes in our network that are better suited for this type of power generation than others. The question of what energy savings can be achieved through the use of solar energy is particularly exciting in light of current fuel and energy prices," says Veit Bodenschatz, Managing Director and Head of the Bus Division at Munich Transport Corporation (MVG).
In practice, Bodenschatz and the MVG officials also want to determine on which routes the use of solar technology makes particular sense and on which routes the shading in the streets is too significant.
Range Extension for E-Buses Possible
The patented solar technology was developed, the manufacturer outlines further, so that it can be integrated and licensed into a variety of vehicles. For e-buses that are equipped with solar technology on the roof and sides directly from the factory, additional range can be generated through solar energy.
"This not only reduces downtime for charging but also conserves the battery through a constant charging process. Therefore, the e-bus can be operated longer," Hahn promotes the concept.
From the perspective of Solar CEO Baudrit, it is also conceivable that the batteries of electric buses could be configured smaller, saving weight, cost, and critical raw materials. Solar panels are still more affordable than lithium-ion cells, Baudrit claims. The developers also have the concept of a buffer storage with a battery in mind.
At the presentation at the MVG depot West in Munich Laim, Munich's second mayor Katrin Habenschaden was a guest. The Green politician took the opportunity to call for a shift in the transportation sector.
"Traffic still significantly misses the climate protection targets, and this also has direct effects on air quality in the city of Munich. The solar buses can be a component of this urgently needed transition to climate-friendly mobility," said Habenschaden.
Here, a lot of fuel can be saved, and CO2 emissions can be significantly reduced. Additionally, MVG is working on completely converting the bus fleet to electric drives. According to Bodenschatz, this should be achieved by 2032.
Great Interest in the Technology
Since early 2021, the Munich-based solar start-up has already signed more than ten letters of intent and contracts with companies such as MAN, easymile, and ARI Motors. The solar complete solution includes an individual concept with solar modules, power electronics, telematics and data, mechanical and electrical integration, as well as customer service and support. The technology is suitable for both integration into existing vehicles and mass production development and integration into new vehicles during the production phase, promotes the manufacturer.
Translated automatically from German.
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