King County Metro plans to implement the battery upgrade for up to 170 New Flyer Xcelsior XT40 and XT60 battery-powered trolleybuses. According to the model designation, the buses are 40 or 60 feet long, which is equivalent to 12 or 18 meters. The vehicles currently have a 26 kWh battery on board to cover short distances without an overhead line. In the future, they will have “triple the capacity”, which should correspond to around 75 to 80 kWh. This should then enable a good eleven kilometers to be covered without an overhead line.
The basis of Kiepe’s system is the so-called In Motion Charging (IMC). The buses charge their batteries via the overhead line while driving and then travel on overhead line-free routes using energy from the battery. For the new order, the supplier, which has its headquarters in Düsseldorf, has adapted the improved battery pack specifically for the Seattle fleet of New Flyer models, which are up to ten years old. In addition to the battery packs, the system also includes improved chargers on board that are now three times as powerful.
According to Kiepe, four pilot vehicles are already equipped with the new drive batteries and the more powerful chargers. “The new technology, manufactured and tested in the USA, can be seamlessly integrated into the existing buses,” says an accompanying statement. Kiepe’s service package also includes on-site support, the overhaul of the power electronics and customer training at the repair center in King County. Another new addition is the additional agreement that Kiepe will provide on-site support for up to five years.
Alexander Ketterl, CEO of the Kiepe Group, emphasizes that Seattle and King County are considered very environmentally friendly regions in the USA. “We are proud that our IMC technology will once again contribute to this quality of life within our long-standing partnership with King County Metro. This is where KIEPE’s proximity to customers with its Alpharetta location and its experienced and committed team in the USA pays off. The extensive battery upgrade corresponds to KIEPE’s goal of reducing emissions and improving public transport with the latest technology within a long-term lifecycle management.”
King County Metro signed a framework agreement with North American bus manufacturer Gillig in the spring to supply up to 395 battery-electric buses. The company is active throughout the greater Seattle area and has set the goal of becoming “the first major transportation company in North America to be 100% emission-free.”
