ABB has opened its newly refitted U.S. robotics facility in Michigan for manufacturing AI-enabled robotics and automation technology to help EV OEMs manufacture products more efficiently.

The company received an order for 16 units of its lighTram Tosa double-articulating trolleybus from the Italian city of Vicenza thanks to EUR 19 million in state funding to local transport company SVT, who plan to deploy the fleet on the LAM Rossa line in 2027.

The total number of city buses with alternative drivelines in European Union 27 countries plus the UK, Norway (NO), Iceland (ICE) and Switzerland (EU 27+4) totalled 13,466 units  comprising 6,354 electric buses (excludes trolley buses), 4,022 hybrid-electric buses, 2,883 CNG buses and 207, hydrogen (fuel cell) buses.

A key focus of the partnership is ensuring smooth communication between the vehicle and the grid via the charging system.

This megawatt charging container was unveiled at the company’s headquarters in Winterthur late last month and features two CCS Charging points, each with an output of 420 kilowatts, making a total power capacity of 840kWs.

Power inverters are essential to provide traction motors with power from batteries and most buses use two-level power inverters. David Segbers, eMobility Traction Product Manager at ABB explains how upgrading to new three-level inverters boost efficiency, power output and reliability.

A new cover for bus air-conditioning (A/C) systems made using natural fibre composite technology was unveiled at Busworld last month: the ampliTex technical fabric was supplied by Swiss company, Bcomp.

“We’ve made huge progress in electric drivetrain technology since the last Busworld event in 2019. We’re particularly excited about our new HES580 3-level inverter, which increased the motor efficiency and will be the motor-friendliest inverter on the market for bus powertrains," said David Segbers at Busworld 2023.

The company has unveiled its new hinged high-voltage connectors for heavy-duty electric vehicle charging, which increase cable-to-connector stability in high-voltage applications, thereby increasing performance, reliability and safety for users and operators.

The Iveco SpA / Plus Inc heavy-duty truck (Iveco S-Way) installed with Plus’s level 4 autonomous driving technology (‘PlusDrive’), has hit public roads in Germany.

Between 2023 and 2024, the Swiss-French manufacturer of building materials will receive an initial batch of 130 Volvo ‘FH’ and ‘FM’ battery electric trucks.

Having access to megawatt chargers would mean that drivers would be able to recharge their trucks to near-full energy capacity during their statutory 45-minute breaks, Scania stated.