BYD just completed the delivery of 10 new all-electric 35-ft K9S buses, with a range of up to 215 miles (346 km) and seating for up to 32 passengers, to Link Transit in Wenatchee, Washington.
The company recently delivered the final two units, which were slightly delayed due a temporary plant closure in Mid-March from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Richard DeRock, General Manager of Link Transit said:
“We’ve been operating the first eight since mid-March and they have been a huge help to our system. They have far exceeded our expectations with their performance.”
The most interesting thing about this particular order is of course the 300 kW wireless charging capability, using the Momentum Dynamics system installed on the buses.
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Thanks to the wireless charging at high power the buses can virtually stay on the route without stops for depot charging.
Link Transit was using a single BYD bus with wireless charging (200 kW) since 2018, and now having 10 more, plus an upcoming three new 300 kW on-route wireless charging stations, is one of the industry trailblazers.
Momentum Dynamics happily notes that implemented wireless bus charging as first on both East and West Coast.
"In February 2018, Link Transit commissioned from Momentum Dynamics the nation's first 200-kilowatt wireless charging system for a battery-electric transit bus. The system has been operational on a BYD K9S bus since then. Momentum Dynamics' system is approaching three years deployment on the East Coast in Howard County, Maryland with Maryland's Regional Transit Authority (RTA). This, along with systems installed in Chattanooga, TN established Momentum's system as the first to operate on the US East Coast. The Momentum system is now being installed for operation across the US; in Martha's Vineyard with Vineyard Transit Authority and for IndyGo's system in Indianapolis, IN."
The power output of 300 kW is high, but it's far from the maximum of the technology. Depending on the number of installed wireless modules (75 kW each), the output per vehicle might be up to 450 kW (six modules).
Momentum Dynamics Wireless Chargers to Provide Unlimited Driving Range on 10 Battery-Electric Buses Delivered to Link Transit in Washington State
MALVERN, Pa., June 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Momentum Dynamics is supplying 10 of its 300-kilowatt wireless charging systems for 10 new battery-electric BYD K9S buses delivered to Link Transit in Wenatchee, Washington. All new buses added to the Link fleet are fitted with wireless charging receivers from Momentum Dynamics. Wireless on-route charging increases the range of the bus to allow for effectively unlimited driving range.
FIRST WIRELESS SYSTEM ON BOTH EAST AND WEST COAST
In February 2018, Link Transit commissioned from Momentum Dynamics the nation's first 200-kilowatt wireless charging system for a battery-electric transit bus. The system has been operational on a BYD K9S bus since then. Momentum Dynamics' system is approaching three years deployment on the East Coast in Howard County, Maryland with Maryland's Regional Transit Authority (RTA). This, along with systems installed in Chattanooga, TN established Momentum's system as the first to operate on the US East Coast. The Momentum system is now being installed for operation across the US; in Martha's Vineyard with Vineyard Transit Authority and for IndyGo's system in Indianapolis, IN.
Following the successful introduction and operation of a wirelessly charged bus in 2018, Momentum Dynamics Corporation and Link Transit extended their relationship with a new 5-year agreement in January, 2020. As part of the agreement, Momentum will provide 3 new on-route charging stations, each capable of delivering 300k. These stations are used to support the bus fleet.
Because of its modular design, Momentum's system is highly efficient in terms of both energy utilization and the number of chargers required. Each module, or pad, is rated at 75kW. By specifying multiple pads, vehicles can be rated up to 300-450 kW per bus.
The same system can be used with passenger cars, taxis, buses and delivery vehicles. Its robust design makes the system highly suitable for both on-route charging and in-depot use. The system is installed below ground or on the pavement inside garages, depending on the use case. Charging happens automatically, without human intervention. Partial battery charging is a highly effective means of providing vehicle energy because it can keep a vehicle charged and in-service indefinitely while substantially extending the useful life of the battery.
Momentum's modular on-route charging system represents a breakthrough in heavy-duty vehicle charging in that multiple vehicles and vehicle designs can share one charger. This contrasts to the much more expensive method of providing one charger for every bus in the fleet. A bus that charges only at night at a garage cannot complete a day's duty cycle without requiring downtime for recharge. Because of this, partial on-route charging along the driving route is essential to avoid the need to purchase more buses to complete the cycle. Wireless charging therefore provides the most cost-effective means to achieve fleet electrification.
BYD Delivers 10 Battery-Electric Buses to Link Transit
BYD (Build Your Dreams), a leading manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles, announced it has completed the delivery of 10 battery-electric K9S buses to Link Transit in Wenatchee, Washington, a milestone for the company has production ramps up following a temporary plant closure in Mid-March from the COVID-19 pandemic
The final two buses of the order were recently delivered, joining the eight others that had been delivered prior to the COVID-19 shutdown. The buses were the first to be completed by BYD after reopening its plant.
“We’ve been operating the first eight since mid-March and they have been a huge help to our system,” said Richard DeRock, General Manager of Link Transit. “They have far exceeded our expectations with their performance.”
“We are proud to be working with such a forward-thinking agency as Link Transit in providing cleaner, quieter transportation service to Chelan and Douglas counties,” said BYD North America Vice President Patrick Duan. “The delivery of these buses is a great milestone for Link’s clean technology operations and for BYD as it ramps up production after the COVID-19 shut down.”
BYD began a phrased reopening of its Lancaster Coach and Bus manufacturing plant in mid-May with stringent safety protocols in place.
The K9S 35-ft electric bus, manufactured at BYD’s factory in Lancaster, California, has a range of up to 215 miles, seats up to 32, and can be fully charged in 3 to 4 hours.
All of the buses were fitted with wireless charging receivers from Momentum Dynamics, allowing for on-route charging. This increases the range of the bus to allow for virtually perpetual usage.
In 2018, Link Transit commissioned the nation’s first 200-kilowatt wireless charging system for a battery-electric transit bus from Momentum Dynamics. The system has been operational on a BYD K9S bus since then.
In January, following the successful introduction and operation of a wirelessly-charged bus in 2018, Momentum Dynamics Corporation and Link Transit extended their relationship with a new 5-year agreement. As part of the agreement, Momentum will provide 3 new on-route charging stations, each capable of delivering 300kW.
