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New Electric Bus From Volkswagen With Niobium Battery Promises to Revolutionize the Automotive Market.
Volkswagen Trucks and Buses, Toshiba, and the Brazilian Company of Metallurgy and Mining (CBMM) started on Wednesday, 19, the first real operation tests of a prototype electric bus powered by niobium lithium-ion battery. The new technology, developed in partnership by the three companies, promises a niobium battery with ultra-fast recharging, where the vehicle can reach full charge in just 10 minutes.
Project Between Volkswagen, CBMM, and Toshiba Started in 2021
According to the CEO of Volkswagen Trucks and Buses, Roberto Cortes, in an interview with Exame, it will be a generational leap for the future of mobility. Cortes explains that the project began in 2019, with CBMM and Toshiba developing titanium mixed oxide technology with the addition of niobium for the anode of lithium-ion battery cells, called NTO. In 2021, Volkswagen was invited to participate in the project.
According to the executive, it will be the first niobium battery with this technology for automotive use in a commercial vehicle. Given its uniqueness and since Volkswagen is a pioneer in Brazil in the development, manufacturing, and selling of electric vehicles, the company was sought to join the discussion on the feasibility of applying the electric bus.
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In practice, the niobium battery technology will allow vehicles to run for 24 hours without needing a long charging period. Another promise of the new technology is that the battery will have a lifespan up to three times greater than conventional ones.
Volkswagen Already Has an Innovative Electric Bus Model
Currently, the electric trucks and buses from the manufacturer that use conventional batteries have a charging system set for nighttime. The e-Volksbus, for example, is the first electric bus made entirely in Brazil with a capacity of 22 tons and a range of up to 250 km. The minimum charging time for the vehicle is up to 1 hour with two plugs and a maximum of about 2.5 hours (one plug).
As for the likely price of the bus when it hits the market, the CEO of Volkswagen states that the project with the niobium battery is still in its initial phase and more time is needed to understand feasibility.
According to the executive, obviously, the initial price of the new technology is much higher than diesel, which already has economies of scale. Therefore, the company advocates for public policies to develop these new technologies.
The companies have not disclosed the total investments for developing the technology. CBMM states that it invests about R$ 250 million annually in its technology program. Of this total, in 2023, only the new niobium battery program received R$ 80 million.
Know How the Test of the Volkswagen Electric Bus Will Work
The vehicle will run daily on a fixed route, with recharging at the pantograph expected at the beginning or end of the route. The operation will provide data both on the characteristics of the niobium battery and the vehicle, aiming to signal necessary adjustments for future commercialization.
At this stage, all components will be monitored in real-time to analyze their behavior and thus feed the improvement and development processes of the technology. Only after this phase will it be possible to determine the next steps for launching the electric bus.
Regarding the battery with NTO technology, the expectation is that it will be available for sale in 2025. Configured on an 18-ton chassis, the electric bus prototype has an estimated range of 60 km, with a charging time of 10 minutes at a 300 kW pantograph.
Recarga em 10 min soa perfeito, exceto pela autonomia de 60 km. Se a autonomia desejável for de 600 km, então a recarga será em em 1h40.