New KERS system for bus hybridisation – no flywheels

Advanced Electric Machines (AEM) is to supply its HDSRM300 motor for a new retrofit kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) solution.

Designed and built for PCVs and other commercial vehicles, the system unifies AEM electric motors with ultracapacitors and heavy-duty power electronics to create a bolt-in, retrofit KERS system that can hybridise existing combustion vehicles.

The kit does not require permanent chassis modifications.

By recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted during braking and using it to assist the engine during acceleration, the system has been shown to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 output by up to 28%, according to AEM, as well as overall emissions (NOx, PMs and brake particulate matter) by up to 80% in development vehicles.

The decision to use AEM electric motors, which use no rare-earth elements in their construction, help make the overall system easier to recycle and more sustainable in its design.

For drivers, the additional power supplied by the ultracapacitors under acceleration generates more torque. This should mean a bus can gain speed more quickly and provides greater control behind the wheel.

“The KERS kit is a fast, flexible and fuel-agnostic means of achieving bus hybridisation, reducing fuel consumption and emissions” – Richard Lidstone-Scott, Business Development Consultant at Advanced Electric Machines

Richard Lidstone-Scott, Business Development Consultant at Advanced Electric Machines, said: “Efficiency is fundamental to the success of bus operators. The KERS kit is a fast, flexible and fuel-agnostic means of achieving bus hybridisation, reducing fuel consumption and emissions, while pushing businesses to achieve the lowest overall driving costs. There’s no need for new charging infrastructure, the system can last for more than a decade in service, and it can be removed and refitted to other vehicles. It’s a no-brainer for operators looking to maximise their margins by reducing fleet costs.”