Chinese bus manufacturer Zhengzhou Yutong Bus (Yutong) has selected Maxwell ultracapacitors for energy storage and power delivery in fuel-efficient, low-emission, diesel-electric hybrid buses that it is producing for public transit agencies around the world.
The company said that its hybrid drive system includes 16 of Maxwell's 48-volt ultracapacitor modules to support braking energy recuperation and torque assist functions that enable hybrid transit buses to achieve fuel savings.
The ultracapacitor modules also help reduce CO2 emission of approximately 25% and reduce particulate emissions by up to 90% compared with conventional diesel buses.
Yutong overseas marketing director Wang Feng said ultracapacitors' ability to charge and discharge rapidly enables them to efficiently capture regenerative braking energy and provide instant power for acceleration.
"In addition, their long operational life and minimal maintenance requirements in demanding public transit operating conditions make ultracapacitors a very cost-effective energy storage solution for hybrid buses," Feng said.
Maxwell president and chief executive officer David Schramm said Yutong has developed an innovative hybrid drive system for efficient, environmentally friendly, transit buses and other heavy vehicles.
"This opportunity to work closely with a world leader in transportation technology is helping us to better understand the requirements of hybrid-electric vehicles and continue optimizing our products to deliver world-class performance and value," Schramm said.
Maxwell said that around 4,000 hybrid transit buses worldwide are currently been powered by their ultracapacitors.
The ultracapacitors are also being employed in several other transportation applications, including a stop-start idle elimination system developed by Continental for micro hybrid diesel automobiles now being produced by PSA Peugeot Citroen in Europe.
Maxwell offers ultracapacitor cells ranging in capacitance from one to 3,000 farads and multi-cell modules ranging from 16 to 125 volts.