What is it?

A regenerative braking system is an energy recovery mechanism which slows a vehicle by converting its kinetic energy into a form which can be used immediately.
 
It is used on vehicles to recoup some of the energy that is lost while the vehicle is stopping.
 
All electric vehicles have some form of regenerative braking. This uses the electric motor to slow the vehicle which also puts some electricity back into the vehicle’s battery. This not only makes braking more efficient but it also places less wear and tear on the brakes which means less brake dust which is good for the air we breathe.
 
With an electric vehicle, you will still need to maintain your brake pads however you will notice that this is done less frequently than for a petrol or diesel.

Recap
 
Just to remind us all, Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, (EVSE) facilitates the charge for the operation of the electric vehicle, (BEV) or (PHEV).
 
Included in the (EVSE) you will find plugs, sockets, conductors and power outlets which allow communication between the charging equipment and the electric vehicle, (BEV) or (PHEV).
 
 
So, how quickly can you charge your electric vehicle, (BEV) or (PHEV)?
 
The length of time it takes for an electric vehicle’s battery to recharge is very much determined by how many kilowatts (kW) the charging point can provide and how many kilowatts (kW) the electric vehicle receive. 
 
The higher the power, (wattage) the faster the charge.
 
As we already know there are 3 different rates:
 

1. 3kW Standard slow charging (6 - 9 hours)
2. 7 - 22kW Fast charging (2- 4 hours)
3. 43 - 50kW Rapid charging, (20 – 30 minutes)

 
Question, do different electric vehicles have different connectors?
 
The answer is yes, not all electric vehicles have the same types of charging connector

​The electric vehicle is supplied with at least one charging cable

• connects the electric vehicle to slow and fast charge points
• either a UK 3 pin plug or a “Type 2” plug (industry standard) fitted
• car-side connector is model specific

​Rapid chargers and high power chargers

• fitted with captive cables and connectors
• which plug directly into the EV
• due to the high powers being transferred

 
What is (EVSE)?
 
Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment, (EVSE) facilitates the charge for the operation of the electric vehicle, (BEV) or (PHEV).
 
Included in the (EVSE) you will find plugs, sockets, conductors and power outlets which allow communication between the charging equipment and the (BEV) or (PHEV).
 
What is an (EV) charge point?
 
A (BEV) or (PHEV) charge point is a single upstand ground or wall mounted structure that provides electrical energy, (power) to the vehicle through one or more electric socket outlets or tethered plugs .
 
What is (EV) charging station?
 
A physical location with at least one charge point installed to charge at least two (BEVs) or (PHEVs).
 
How does an (EV) charging station operate?
 
Once connected the (BEVs) or (PHEV) vehicle dictates how the electrical energy, (power) is drawn from the charge point, (grid).  It therefore controls the speed of recharge and not the EVSE equipment.
 
Electrical energy stored in on-board (BEV) or (PHEV) batteries is recharged by connecting the (BEV) or (PHEV) vehicle to an external electricity supply, the electric vehicle charge point.
 
The (BEV) or (PHEV) vehicle converts the ac power from the electricity grid into dc power which is used to drive the electric motor using a converter.
A charging cable supplied in the (BEV) or (PHEV) is matched to the (BEV) or (PHEV) on-board converter.  Once connected the speed of charging the battery is determined by the on-board charging equipment.
 
Note, different names are used to identify and describe the different charging speeds available for the (BEV) or (PHEV).  These names indicate a range of power outlets and the charging times. Different Connectors are suited to each power outlet and speed.

“Transport secretary, Grant Shapps, tells MPs that the government
will experiment with hydrogen fuel cells for an entire town’s bus network.”
 
Source:  May 2

What is a (HFC) Bus?
·       A (HFC) electric bus is an electric bus that includes both a hydrogen fuel cell and batteries.
 
·       The hydrogen fuel cell provides all of the energy for bus’s operation, whilst the batteries are there to provide peak power to the motors to meet rapid acceleration and steep gradients.
 
How does it work?
·       The fuel cell power module onboard the bus generates electric energy through an electro-chemical reaction. The only by-products from the process are water and heat, there are no harmful emissions produced.
 
·       Generated electric energy is used to provide electric traction and to keep the batteries charged.
 
·       The by-product heat is utilised to provide passenger hearting comfort.
 
·       Note, the batteries also provide storage for regenerated braking energy.
 
·       All the energy required for the bus to operate is provided by hydrogen stored on board.
 
 
 
Where do you store the hydrogen on the bus?

• Hydrogen is stored in pressurised tanks on board the bus and is combined with oxygen to provide electricity.
• Hydrogen offers higher energy density compared to electrical battery storage. The advantage of using hydrogen is you get a longer range compared to battery energy storage.

·      As the hydrogen fuel cell generates only water as an emission it will always classified as a zero emission bus.”
How long does it take to refuel the bus with hydrogen?
·       Typically you will be looking to around 5 to 7 minutes for fill of hydrogen.
 
Where do you source the hydrogen?

• Most industrial hydrogen used in the world today is produced from fossil fuel sources (natural gas) of energy.  However, hydrogen can be produced from a range of ultra-low carbon routes, including renewable electricity, biomass and other hydrocarbons including carbon capture and storage.
• When a (HFC) bus is fuelled by hydrogen sourced by solar or wind technology we say the mode of bus transportation is zero carbon positive to the passenger.

When will we see hydrogen fuel cell electric buses?

• Europe’s largest hydrogen fuel cell electric bus fleet is based in Aberdeen, Scotland. The 10 hydrogen vehicles operated by First Aberdeen and Stagecoach was launched in a bid to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.  It included the UK’s first hydrogen production and hydrogen bus refuelling station at Kittybrewster.

 
 
So, will the government experiment with hydrogen fuel cells for an entire town’s bus network?
Please open the link below.
“Wrightbus ready to produce 3,000 hydrogen buses for UK by 2024.”
 
Source:  May 20
 
 
https://www.sustainable-bus.com/news/jo-bamford-wrightbus-3000-hydrogen-buses/
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