Welcome to the future of vehicle comfort: At this year’s Busworld Europe 2023, Stand 508 in Hall 5, Konvekta AG presents the latest innovations in the field of air conditioning, heating systems, and heat pumps for electric buses. In an era where comfort, efficiency, and sustainability are increasingly vital, the standards for mobile air conditioning and heating solutions need redefinition. The aim of Konvekta AG is not only to provide passengers with a feel-good climate but also to assist fleet operators in equipping their vehicle fleets with forward-looking technologies. Immerse yourself in a world of innovative solutions that increase efficiency while having a positive impact on the environment.
The future of local public transport is accelerating toward electrification! As many local public transport companies just received their first electric solo and articulated buses, and others already transitioned entirely to electric mobility, the demand for additional bus variants is also on the rise. Konvekta AG is expanding its product portfolio to include a system for electric double-decker buses, another variant for solo buses, and three new modules for the CO2 heat pump, all aimed at enhancing overall efficiency.
CO2 heat pump – thermal management for electric double-deck buses
Air conditioning electric or hybrid double-decker buses presents a unique challenge. Konvekta AG’s new CO2 heat pump thermal management system has been specifically designed for electric double-decker buses, marking a milestone in the mobility industry and setting new benchmarks for efficiency, performance, and environmental protection. At the core of this technology lies a compact CO2 heat pump located at the rear of the vehicle. This system precisely regulates the bus’s temperature during hot summers and cold winter months, ensuring a comfortable climate for both driver and passengers without employing environmentally harmful refrigerants, fossil fuels, or additional electric heaters.
The first electric double-decker bus with a CO2 heat pump thermal management system
Extension of the product portfolio: UL 700 CO2 heat pump system
As part of Busworld Europe 2023, Konvekta is also exhibiting the most powerful of the Konvekta CO2 heat pump thermal management variants, the “UL 700 EM CO2 heat pump” for temperature control in electric and hybrid buses.
The system is composed of various components that not only ensure temperature control of the vehicle and the batteries, but also offers a wide range of options for energy recovery and efficient energy use. The currently most powerful thermal management is the “UL 700 EM CO2 heat pump”, which covers a temperature range from -20°C to +47°C and offers optimal comfort for driver and passengers and maximum energy efficiency for the vehicle.
Patented refrigerant charge balancing technology
Konvekta AG presents another innovation in heating technology for electric buses: „refrigerant charge balancing“ as the latest module of the CO2 heat pump.
Throughout the year, CO2 heat pump systems provide both efficient cooling in summer and reliable heating in winter. This is a major challenge because of the optimal refrigerant charge, which can vary according to heat demand, outdoor temperature, or operating mode, and thus has a direct impact on the system performance.
With the new „refrigerant charge balancing“ module, the refrigerant charge level is precisely controlled, ensuring that the optimal quantity of refrigerant is always available to the system.
This results in a 10% increase in system performance in heating mode while reducing energy consumption. This approach saves costs and preserves environmental resources. Another advantage of the refrigerant displacement is that the system always works in an optimal range through the targeted control of the filling level and the load on the components in the overall system is reduced. This extends the life of the system and reduces maintenance.
Module for battery temperature control
Battery temperature significantly influences the service life and performance of electric buses. Extreme outside temperatures and temperature spikes during the charging process can stress battery packs.
Konvekta’s CO2 heat pumps, equipped with the battery-temperature-control module, effectively and precisely regulate battery temperatures. Energy storage devices operate within an optimal temperature range, minimizing the risk of excessive heat buildup during operation or overly low temperatures in winter.
Without reliable and constant temperature control, this can lead to accelerated battery degradation, long-term loss of capacity and lower performance, which directly affects the lifespan, range and operation of an electric bus.
Controlled temperature control minimizes these risks, increases battery life and helps to optimize the total cost of ownership. Battery temperature control therefore has a direct impact on reliability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of electric buses.
AES – mode control module for e-buses
With the new AES mode module, the Konvekta CO2 heat pump system can distribute 100% of the generated energy as needed. For example, using 100% of the available heat for hot water treatment. Another advantage of the system is that it can independently take over the entire preconditioning process, even at low temperatures. Vehicles with AES therefore do not need an electric auxiliary heater at all.
Power consumption: Electric auxiliary heater versus Konvekta CO2 heat pump with AES mode
Sustainable air conditioning for the future: Konvekta AG relies on the natural refrigerant CO2
With a strong focus on sustainability and environmental responsibility, Konvekta AG does not use chemical refrigerants for all new developments in the field of electromobility, but the natural refrigerant CO2 (R744, carbon dioxide). CO2 is an ideal refrigerant for the use in heat pumps. Compared to conventional chemical refrigerants e.g. R134a, CO2 has a significantly higher efficiency. This means that during summer time a system using CO2 needs about 25% less energy for the same cooling capacity compared to a system using chemical refrigerants because the desired temperature is reached more quickly. CO2 damages the climate 1,430 times less in comparison to the chemical refrigerant R134a and it does not produce any environmentally harmful decomposition products. It is a naturally occurring substance and available in unlimited quantities. Compared to other naturally occurring refrigerants, carbon dioxide is neither toxic nor flammable.