{"id":594,"date":"2019-04-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-04-22T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/bus-hybrid-retrofit\/594\/"},"modified":"2020-01-29T13:46:26","modified_gmt":"2020-01-29T13:46:26","slug":"bus-hybrid-retrofit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/bus-hybrid-retrofit\/594\/","title":{"rendered":"Bus hybrid retrofit to reduce emissions – Brunel University"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vulcanaer is a novel retrofit and OEM regenerative hybrid engine system for diesel buses and trucks, developed at Brunel University London.<\/h2>\n

Vulcanaer is a simple, mechanical retrofit kit for urban bus and truck diesel engines to reduce idling emissions and fuel consumption, as well as reducing costs at the same time. Its technology harvests braking energy whenever a bus or truck slows down, captures the energy as compressed air, then uses it for stop-start operation and to reduce fuel usage. The Vulcanaer bus hybrid retrofit is mechanical, low-cost, fail-safe and simple to install and operate. Vulcanaer is also suitable for trucks; if it is incorporated in the design of a new engine it provides significant benefits in improving vehicle performance and reducing exhaust emissions.<\/p>\n

In busy urban areas buses are required to turn off their engines while stopped to reduce emissions from engine idling. This is easy, but turning the engine back on is not \u2013 it requires use of the electrical starter and the battery, both of which wear out rapidly; resulting in \u201cdead\u201d buses and expensive replacements.<\/p>\n

The Vulcanaer bus hybrid retrofit is able to restart the engine using its free compressed air using an air starter, saving both battery and starter motor life. Vulcanaer saves fuel too: through assisting the engine-driven compressor and by reducing the braking force on the wheels, Vulcanaer reduces the wear of braking pads and so reduces particle emissions. Retrofit takes less than a day without need to remove the engine. Vulcanaer is simple, robust enough for the reality of bus operation; and is inexpensive, costing \u00a34000 (\u20ac4,620.85) to install and providing fleet operators with a payback of less than two years.<\/p>\n

Over the last few years, Brunel University has contributed \u00a32 million (\u20ac2.31 million) in development funding for road trials, both in China and in the UK with the support of public transport provider Arriva. Vulcanaer Ltd was formed in late 2017 to participate in the Advanced Propulsion Centre\u2019s (APC) Technology Developer Accelerator Programme and was commended in the Industry Innovation category of the GreenFleet awards in November 2018.<\/p>\n

While the all-electric transport revolution remains in flux, pending improvements in batteries, vehicle conversions and electric vehicle infrastructure, Vulcanaer will enable existing fleets to meet emerging civic requirements for cleaner air in cities and provide cost savings at the same time.<\/p>\n

There are currently 900,000 buses and 1.6 million trucks on Europe\u2019s roads. Of these, the technical and politically addressable retrofit market comprises eight per cent of the fleet, or 190,000 vehicles. Vulcanaer aims to convert seven per cent of these (13,000 vehicles) to run on its bus hybrid retrofit engine over 10 years, giving a real market size of more than \u00a350 million (\u20ac57.75 million). India and China provide further market opportunities and the long term market prospect is an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) product suitable for 10,000 vehicles.<\/p>\n

Call for investments<\/h3>\n

Vulcanaer will develop, manufacture and install truck and bus hybrid retrofit technology in the UK and Europe. Sales of 500 kits worth a total of \u00a32 million (\u20ac2.31 million) are predicted by the end of year 3 and profitable by end year 4. Professional management is also being sought; along with an investment of \u00a33.5 million (\u20ac4.04 million).<\/p>\n

Vulcanaer’s first year plan summary is as follows:<\/p>\n