Volytica partners with Bridgestone and Webfleet

volytica announced today a cooperation with Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, the business of Bridgestone focused on data-driven mobility solutions including Europe’s leading fleet management solution Webfleet, for the launch of the world’s first comprehensive EV Services Platform. In total, the new platform brings together various industry leaders, each contributing unique services to optimize electric vehicle (EV) operations.

volytica states its contribution to the EV Services Platform includes “advanced battery analytics solutions, accurately crafted to elevate the performance, safety, and longevity of electric vehicle (EV) fleets. With this, volytica guarantees its partners cutting-edge safety assurance of batteries, residual value optimization, historical performance insights, maximized battery lifecycle, strategic insights for extended performance, and efficient replacement planning”.

According to Taco Olthoff, EV Program Director, Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, “volytica’s proven industry experience and track record in the electric mobility sector positions them as an ideal partner to the platform. volytica’s integration will allow fleets using Webfleet to benefit from advanced battery analytics across all vehicle types and brands at the flick of a switch. The seamless standardized data exchange between the EV services platform and volytica is one of the missing links – unlocking the full value that energy and mobility service providers can deliver by integrating their systems much closer than ever before. This is why our EV Services Platform is such a game-changer.”

Claudius Jehle, CEO, and founder of volytica, is delighted: “This new platform confirms the crucial need of battery analytics in ensuring the safety and reliability of electric vehicle (EV) fleets. Our goal has been to continuously deliver the best of battery data monitoring. We make battery data visible to EV fleet owners by sending early alerts of battery anomalies, ensuring access to historical reports on the condition of the battery while driving and charging as well as information on the residual value and battery lifetime. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in shaping the future of electric mobility.”

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Over 200 charging stations will be connected and integrated with the operational systems and the energy supply thanks to CarMedialab’s system.

CarMedialab charge management system in Barcelona

In October 2023 CarMedialab (belonging to INIT Group) has recently signed a cooperation with Optibus: together, the two companies will introduce to the market an end-to-end EV management solution “that enables smarter charging and higher-quality, cost-effective EV networks”. Another cooperation is in force with volytica diagnostics. Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH and LVB in Leipzing are among the customer of CarMedialab smart charging solution.

TMB has set a goal of achieving 25% of its fleet with zero emissions by 2024.  TMB 2025 Strategic Plan aims also to achieve that by 2025 65% of displacements in Barcelona are made by public transport, in front of private vehicles. Still according to the plan, 508 new energy buses will be incorporated, of which 233 will be electric and 46 hydrogen.

TMB operates two transport networks – the bus network and the subway network – as well as several leisure transport services. With a fleet of over a thousand vehicles and more than 100 routes, the bus network covers over 900 km between Barcelona and the ten cities in the metropolitan area. The goal of this contract is to enable higher efficiency of charging processes of TMB e-buses.

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The partnership brings together Vicinity’s expertise in medium-duty, accessible, fully electrified low-floor transit vehicles with Adastec’s automated driving software platform, flowride.ai, already installed on the Turkish-made Karsan e-Atak.

In January 2022 Vicinity announced their e-buses was set to be equipped with Proterra batteries. Proterra contracted to supply Vicinity with battery systems to power a minimum of 600 Vicinity commercial electric vehicles through 2024. The Proterra Powered Vicinity Lightning vehicle is expected to begin production in the third quarter of 2022. Now Proterra battery business has been sold to Volvo Group and it’s unclear how existing agreements between Proterra and OEMs will continue.

Vicinity deal with Adastec for autonomous buses

Cemre Kavvasoglu, Product Management Director, North America of ADASTEC, commented: “At Adastec, our collaboration with Vicinity marks a transformative moment in transportation. Together, we are introducing the Vicinity Autonomous Lightning EV, a medium-duty, fully electrified, low-floor automated transit bus that prioritizes accessibility, sustainability, and innovation. Our commitment to safety and accessibility is evident in our projects. Adastec and Vicinity are driving innovation in the mobility sector, and we are eager to make a positive impact on communities and passengers alike.”

Ali Ufuk Peker, Chief Executive Officer of Adastec, added: “Adastec is dedicated to solving modern city problems with automated public transportation, providing high-quality transportation to underserved communities while reducing traffic congestion and carbon emissions. To achieve scalability, we partnered with OEMs from the beginning instead of retrofitting or trying to develop our own vehicle. This allows us to leverage more than 100 years of experience in the automotive manufacturing industry. Our partnership with Vicinity will bring FMVSS, ADA, and Buy America-compliant automated buses to the North American market. By reusing our experience in global deployments, we will provide the best solution to North America, which is the largest and highest growth rate market for automated transportation solutions.”

Brent Phillips, Senior Director of Sales of Vicinity, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership’s impact: “Our partnership with Adastec is a game-changer, marking a new era in public transportation solutions for the United States and Canada. We are fortunate to lead the industry, delivering the first Buy America fully FMVSS compliant low-floor bus.”

William Trainer, Founder, and Chief Executive Officer of Vicinity, stated:, emphasized the strength of their partnership: ” “Over the last year, we have worked closely with Adastec, recognizing our leading position in the industry, to formalize our partnership agreement while jointly pursuing opportunities to deploy autonomous solutions. Taking this time to get it right has produced the ultimate benefit of a robust partnership. Adastec’s extensive experience in SAE Level-4 automated driving software platform complements our expertise, setting the stage for pioneering advancements in the field.”

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The performance and safety evaluation of electric vehicle (EV) batteries is a multifaceted process that extends beyond reliance on a single key performance indicator. Instances of electric buses breakdowns or fires typically stem from a culmination of factors rather than a singular event.

These contributing events can gradually lead to performance degradation before eventually leading to battery failure or thermal runaway. Examples of potential performance degradation or fire risks encompass the limitations of battery management systems, and the emergence of temperature and voltage spreads as the battery undergoes ageing.

Make sure your buses are performing well from day one

Every electric bus lithium-ion battery is equipped with a Battery Management System (BMS) that actively monitors and regulates battery operations. The primary role of the BMS is to guarantee the secure functioning of the battery. It oversees critical parameters, such as maintaining each battery cell within safe voltage, current, and temperature limits during charging, discharging, and open circuit conditions. The BMS is designed to intervene and cut power in case of issues, preventing potential worst-case scenarios. On the other hand, while performing its safety functions, BMS can also provide State of Health (SOH) and State of Charge (SOC) indicators.

To achieve optimal performance, regular reassessment of these battery State of Health (SOH) and State of Charge (SOC) indicators is imperative. Accurate measurements not only unveil potential issues with Battery Management System (BMS) calibration but also establish a foundation for reliable fleet operations. Fleet operators can rely on these indicators to fine-tune their electric bus operations, enhancing efficiency and extending the overall lifespan of their valuable assets.

Unveiling potential issues with Battery Management System (BMS) calibration is of paramount importance in the seamless operation of electric bus fleets. During the commissioning phase, the precision and accuracy of the BMS are critical parameters to verify to ensure optimal battery performance and safety. Battery analytics play a crucial role in this context by actively monitoring and analyzing BMS data, allowing for the early detection of calibration discrepancies.

In the example provided (Figure 1), recently commissioned buses display irregular State of Health (SOH) degradation. Regrettably, it took the operator over six months to identify the issue and engage with the manufacturer, resulting in a period of blind operation during this timeframe.

Identifying these issues at an early stage enables bus operators to proactively engage with their asset providers and OEM, advocating for necessary software updates and fine-tuning to rectify calibration inaccuracies. This proactive approach not only enhances the reliability of the electric bus fleet but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring that BMS calibration remains optimized throughout the operational lifespan of the vehicles.

Predict how your buses are going to age

As we delve into the nuances of maintaining peak performance, it becomes evident that the heartbeat of any electric bus fleet lies in the precision of its battery degradation monitoring. These indicators not only fine-tune systems but also set the stage for the seamless operation of these eco-friendly giants.

We now explore predictive tools, with a focus on Remaining Useful Lifetime (RUL). RUL acts as a predictive tool for fleet managers, enabling them to anticipate and prevent potential issues in battery health. Through simulating battery degradation based on specific usage profiles, fleet managers gain valuable insights. This foresight aids in strategic maintenance planning, reducing downtime and optimizing overall fleet performance.

In Figure 2, the comparison illustrates the aging patterns of 7 similar electric buses subjected to varying operational conditions. In this case, low temperatures tent to accelerate battery aging whereas in other cases, high temperatures highly impact battery degradation. Anyway, the discernible temperature variations prompt a need for analysis to differentiate between conditions imposed by regular operations and those stemming from potential issues in the battery system architecture.

Prevent battery safety issue

As we shift from meticulous battery health monitoring to predictive analytics, the focus turns from reactive to proactive fleet management. The integration of predictive tools transforms the approach, empowering fleet operators not just to address but to anticipate and mitigate issues before affecting operations.

The importance deepens as we delve into the critical role of early detection in averting safety concerns. In the intricate operations of electric buses, subtle cell imbalances and potential battery failures are concealed challenges. Here, battery analytics function as vigilant guardians, recognizing warning signs before they evolve into performance issues or safety incidents. The capacity to act on early indicators becomes a pivotal factor, enhancing both reliability and safety significantly.

Conclusion

In the complex landscape of electric bus operations, a cohesive approach integrates proactive monitoring, predictive planning, and early issue identification. Battery analytics stand out as instrumental contributors, addressing intricate challenges. The ongoing vigilance in monitoring battery health, the strategic use of predictive tools, and the timely identification of potential issues collectively reshape the operational landscape of electric bus fleets. As sustainability and safety become central in urban transportation, the influence of battery analytics becomes a driving factor, guiding electric buses toward a future where intelligence, foresight, and reliability meet operational challenges.

In the final article, we will focus on the second life management of electric buses batteries: how to overcome costs-benefits tradeoffs and monetize the batteries on the second life market?

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Santiago de Chile has been the 1,000th city in the world to choose Optibus, the cloud-native planning, scheduling, rostering and operations platform for mass transit, in early 2022. Latest add in Optibus offer is the Driver App.

According to a recent study by Centro Mario Molina Chile, together with the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Rapid-deployment Accelerator) partnership of C40 and ICCT, the economic competitiveness of electric buses resulted in a TCO 32% lower than the TCO of their diesel counterparts.

Optibus selected in Santiago as official fleet management software

Established in 2013, the Directorio de Transporte Público Metropolitano (DTPM) oversees the city’s bus network, which consists of nearly 7,000 buses, including more than 2,000 electric buses, operated through 11 concession contracts. With more than 950 million annual passengers, this expansive bus network stretches across the thirty-four municipalities of Santiago Province and the communes of Puente Alto and San Bernardo, home to 40% of Chile’s total population. 

Santiago de Chile was the first in the region to have a single integrated ticketing and fleet management system and is one of the largest electric bus fleets in the world outside of China, making Santiago an international pioneer in the decarbonization of public transportation, as Optibus states.

Using Optibus’ Planning, Scheduling, and EV management products “will help elevate Santiago’s public transportation system to new levels of sustainability, efficiency, and convenience. Leveraging optimization algorithms, cloud computing, and advanced data analytics, Santiago’s bus operators the Optibus platform will enable more effective, faster bus scheduling and management across the city’s public transportation operators”, in the software company’s words.

“Optibus is pleased to be selected as the planning, scheduling, and electric bus software of Santiago’s metropolitan public transportation system, one of the most innovative and advanced transportation systems in the region. Advanced planning and operational software is the foundation of any efficient and modern public transportation system. We are honored to provide our technological support and infrastructure to make Santiago’s bus network more efficient, reliable, and sustainable, improving the environment and residents’ quality of life,” said Álvaro Iriarte Sanderson, Optibus’ Regional Director for the Southern Cone.

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Saga Tenix is a provider of electric bus telematics services (it has for instance delivered the IT solutions to Keolis EV fleet in Bergen), and in May 2021 has raised €1.5 million from Norway’s largest VC fund, Idekapital. Now Rune Holen, Partner at Idekapital, enters the board as Chairman of the board. Trond Stensrud, CEO and partner of Newday will also be joining Tenix as a board member. In late 2021 Saga Tenix had been awarded a 1 million euros grant from the Research Council of Norway.

Saga Tenix gets funding

Newday is an investment firm which has a particular interest and involvement in small and medium businesses specializing in technology.

Within the next few years, Tenix aims “to expand its Norwegian green technology footprint across Europe. Tenix’s green technology focuses on enabling a seamless transition for bus companies adopting electric bus fleets, a transition that more and more bus companies are making. By providing robust smartbus and charging solutions, bus companies can understand the efficiency, and gain an in-depth and data-driven overview of their electric bus fleet. The acquired funding from Newday will contribute towards research & development to enhance these solutions further and meet the burgeoning demand”.

“Securing this funding underscores the belief in Tenix’s vision and capability to alter the bus industry by mitigating the environmental footprint,” said Torbjørn Krøvel, Chief Executive Officer at Tenix.

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Israeli start-up Imagry aims to give a new impetus to autonomous driving, unveiling an innovative technology based on artificial intelligence. Two key elements make this technological advancement possible: a real-time image recognition system that uses video footage to create a reliable top-down view of the vehicle’s surroundings, and a spatial DCNN (Deep Convolutional Neural Network) that learns to drive by mimicking human driving behavior.

The pilot project

The new technology will be used in two pilot programs for autonomous buses and shuttle services. The first is a shuttle bus that will be used at Sheba Medical Center in Israel, the largest medical center in the Middle East. The medical center campus has an area of about 200 hectares.

The second program involves an autonomous bus capable of traveling on a public road. This bus will be integrated into an existing bus line in Nahariya, Israel. The idea is to use Imagry’s technology to solve the problem of the shortage of bus drivers in Israel, a problem Israel shares with the entire world. Both programs are supported by the Israel Innovation Authority.

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Optibus Driver App “provides a professional, virtual space that connects drivers, depots, and documents – from anywhere – and enables quick and efficient communication about service changes, HR requests, and driver work preferences. It’s one step forward in making driving an easier job”, company states.

Optibus launches Driver App

A design partner for the Driver App, T.S.T. – Transportes Sul do Tejo, S.A. in Portugal is one of the early adopters of the solution and has already launched it in their operations. 

The Optibus Driver App gives dispatchers, allocators, and depots a range of abilities, including – in the words of the supplier:

• Help drivers prepare better for their shift: Give drivers all the pre-shift information they need to start their work day, when they need it.
• Alert drivers in real-time: Communicate faster with drivers about shift changes, giving them more control over their day. 
• Create lifestyle rosters: Account for drivers’ unique needs when creating assignments.
• Digitize and centralize information: Get organized and go paperless by digitizing physical paperwork and storing all schedules, timesheets, and work history in one user-friendly digital space, accessible from anywhere. 
• Enable remote sign-ons: Save drivers time by moving from in-depot sign-ons that require extra travel to remote sign-ons via the app.
• Balance driver needs with operational goals: Customize shift settings to align drivers’ work preferences with depot requirements and business KPIs.
• Integrate the app into operational processes: The Driver App communicates with payroll and HR systems, preventing operational disruptions.
• Make data-driven decisions: The Driver App connects to Optibus Operations so users can assess how shifts impact costs, efficiency, and overall operations and make data-driven decisions that improve resource management and operational outcomes.

Optibus Driver App: putting innovation in the hands of drivers

“The Driver App marks a significant milestone in our journey to empower the people who power public transportation. By putting innovation in the hands of drivers, the Driver App helps create an excellent driver work experience and ensure a strong workforce for passengers. We are excited to see the positive impact that this technology will have on drivers and depots worldwide,” said Amos Haggiag, CEO and co-founder of Optibus.

“We have received very positive feedback from our drivers about the Optibus Driver App. When we started using the app with a test group of drivers, the other drivers could not wait to also have access to it. The user stats show that drivers are using the app every day. Additionally, our schedulers and our controllers are also requesting it, as it reduces the number of calls and queries they receive from drivers, since drivers can see all the information they need on the app. All around, the Driver App is making the work experience better and more organized for everyone,” said Duarte Cunha, Planning and Operations Manager at TST.

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Oxa and eVersum are working towards an initial deployment of the eShuttles featuring Oxa Driver software in the UK, set to be announced later this year.

eVersum and Oxa collaborates for autonomous passenger vehicles

eVersum is active in the manufacturing of future-looking electric vehicles, with a portfolio of three models so far: the eShuttle, the eTrain and the eCity (that, as it was announced in January 2021, is currently being developed in cooperation with Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG). In summer 2021 the company announced a deal with US battery supplier Microvast. In late 2021, eVersum announced a cooperation with Rocsys in developing autonomous charging of eShuttles .

Announced at this year’s Busworld 2023 Europe exhibition, this new will see eVersum produce autonomous-ready electric base vehicles, featuring Oxa Driver, Oxa’s autonomy software, along with sensors and computing technology integrated directly on the production line.

eVersum’s eShuttle carries up to 20 seated passengers and has capacity for a maximum of 50 people (with standing), and is a low-noise, zero-emission electric vehicle designed for on-road and public transport applications. It offers passenger comforts such as kneeling-stop capabilities and flexible seating, as well as latest-generation information system options to meet today’s needs of transit operators, the supplier says.

Oxa and eVersum aim to create a turnkey shuttle solution that offers “safe, efficient, and reliable shared autonomous transportation options for the future, whilst enabling transit operators to reduce costs, improve safety and extend service to previously inaccessible routes”.

The cooperation eVersum – Oxa

“We are thrilled to be working with eVersum to deploy safe, secure and efficient autonomy where it is needed most,” said Gavin Jackson, CEO at Oxa. “At Oxa, we believe next-generation shuttling can deliver vital benefits to cities and industries, and this partnership represents a momentous step forward for the future of self-driving technology. Together we will transform the autonomous vehicle market with cost-effective, low-carbon turnkey solutions”.

“As a leading specialist and OEM dedicated to electric commercial vehicles, eVersum has invested years in rigorous research and development, and welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with AD-pioneer, Oxa, as we jointly embark on this exciting journey into the future of mobility”, said Holger Postl, CEO of eVersum. “We’re delighted to have found a partner who aligns with our visions and priorities that include the real-life deployment of AD-shuttles in public transport operations.”

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Optibus and CarMedialab enter cooperation

The siloed nature of EV operational processes has become one of the greatest challenges in planning and operating electric bus services, Optibus explains outlining the background of the new cooperation. Charging operations, which span peak shaving, load shifting, energy consumption and prices, and charging status, are monitored and controlled using specialized smart charging software. At the same time, route planning and scheduling for electric buses is performed using its own set of dedicated e-bus scheduling software. 

These silos limit operators’ visibility into how routes and schedules align with and impact charging needs, and vice versa. Consequently, services may be designed with a lack of insight into important charging considerations, like battery status and costs. 

Optibus move into smart charging

Optibus’ move into smart charging is then set to enable those previously siloed processes to finally speak to each other.

“Combining Optibus’ artificial intelligence and optimization algorithms, which ensure that plans are operational and cost-effective, with CarMedialab’s ability to monitor charging in real-time, send alerts about charging activity, and automate processes, the integrated solution will span charging plans, energy requirement predictions, cost savings through peak shifting, and reporting integration”, Optibus says. 

“Developing smart charging strategies is new territory for many public transportation operators. We are proud to be partnering with a seasoned and ground-breaking leader in this field, CarMedialab, to bring their real-world implementation experience and technology to our clients and make it easier to address the entire life cycle of EV management,” said Lior Krupsky, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Optibus. 

“We’ve known Optibus for years, but through our new joint projects we’ve learned how well we complement each other. It’s exciting to work together towards the global rollout of our smart charge management application,” said Heiko Bauer, CEO at CarMedialab.

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