{"id":2852,"date":"2025-03-07T11:00:18","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T10:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esfrigo.it\/?p=2852"},"modified":"2025-07-02T16:17:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T14:17:50","slug":"air-conditioning-electric-bus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.esfrigo.it\/en\/air-conditioning-electric-bus\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Cool an Electric Bus Without Draining the Battery\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How to Cool an Electric Bus Without Draining the Battery <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The electric revolution has introduced many innovations in the transport sector, but if there is one aspect that often complicates the life of zero-emission vehicles it is climate control in the interior<\/strong>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A traditional air conditioner either relies on belts connected to the internal combustion engine or, alternatively, draws a large amount of power from the battery, compromising the vehicle\u2019s range. And when the vehicle in question is a 30-seater bus, the challenge becomes even more serious. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem to solve\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

An air conditioning system that puts too much strain on the battery risks undermining the whole point of designing environmentally friendly electric vehicles. A number of manufacturers had tried to solve the issue by installing a small combustion engine<\/strong> dedicated solely to powering the air conditioning system. Unfortunately, this completely defeats the purpose of having a fully electric, zero-emissions vehicle! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another possible solution involved the addition of larger, bulky and expensive battery packs<\/strong>, not to mention the additional weight, ultimately increasing energy consumption. In short, a new, sustainable approach was needed \u2013 one that could keep both costs and battery impact to a minimum. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our idea\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

When Iveco<\/strong>, a leading Italian company in the commercial vehicle sector, approached us to find a practical, efficient way to cool a passenger bus, we immediately turned to eutectic technology<\/strong>: a system that allows the \u201ccold\u201d to be stored while the vehicle is stationary, using mains electricity instead of draining the on-board batteries. How did we do it? We started with an idea that was as simple as it was effective: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We basically used luggage racks<\/strong> to install tubes filled with<\/strong> distilled water.<\/strong> During the night, when the bus is connected to the power grid, the water is cooled significantly. Then, during the day, the vehicle\u2019s internal ventilation<\/strong> system circulates air through these tubes, cooling the interior. In this way, the only additional energy use is for the fans \u2013 without putting any strain on the main battery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A project in collaboration with Iveco and the university\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

This system was the result of a collaborative effort involving Iveco, The University of Eastern Piedmont<\/strong> and ES Frigo. European funding has made it possible to explore innovative solutions, bringing together research, engineering and sustainability. The first tests were a success \u2013 so much so that the prototype was sent to a major testing facility<\/strong> in Madrid<\/strong>, where Iveco operates cutting-edge infrastructure to test vehicle performance under extreme conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the testing went\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

At the Spanish test site, a team of researchers and technicians measured the energy needs of our air conditioning system with extreme precision. Thanks to this data, we were able to determine the number of kilowatt-hours<\/strong> that were needed to keep a medium-sized electric bus cool, while minimising the loss in driving range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The feedback was positive across the board: <\/p>\n\n\n\n