Qbuzz orders 100 fast chargers for buses from ABB
ABB has installed more than 100 electric bus rapid charging stations for public transport operator Qbuzz in the Netherlands. Most of these are cabled charging stations in depots, but there are also a few pantograph fast chargers.
62 of these charging stations with 100 kW charging capacity were installed under the Qbuzz concession in the northern provinces of Groningen and Drenthe in the bus depots in Emmen, Appingendam, Stadskanaal, Oude Pekela, Zoutkamp, Surhuisterveen and Assen. In the southwest of the Netherlands, 38 fast chargers with 50 kW charging capacity were also installed under the concession in Dordrecht. Six pantograph fast-charging stations, each with 300 kW charging capacity, were installed in the Dordrecht area (including Drechtsteden, Alblasserwaard and Vijfheerenlanden) for charging along bus routes.
“The installation of our high-power and fast chargers will allow efficient and quick overnight charging,” said Frank Muehlon, head of ABB‘s global business for E-Mobility Infrastructure Solutions, “so that the Netherlands can realise its vision of zero-emission public transport and set an excellent example for other markets across Europe.”
In Groningen and Drenthe alone, Qbuzz has been operating 164 electric buses since the end of 2019. But ABB is not the sole supplier of the charging infrastructure here: The Dutch supplier Heliox has also set up charging stations in four depots, as well as 23 fast chargers with 300 or 450 kW charging capacity along the routes.
For both charging providers, it is important for these contracts to ensure interoperability between several bus brands: Qbuzz also relies on several suppliers here, with the 164 electric buses coming from Ebusco, VDL and Heuliez.