EnergyBus

Layers

The EnergyBus standard is defined on several layers.

The physical layer consists of the plug and socket used to connect separate components. The EnergyBus connector contains 6 contacts. Two contacts are for DC power up to 1.5 kW. Two wires carry auxiliary DC power to drive non-power components, such as energy management systems and sensors. Finally, two wires carry the CAN data bus high and low lines. Currently, EnergyBus power lines support DC voltages between 12 and 48 volts DC. The current is currently limited to 30 A, for a capacity of up to 1.5 kW. An extension up to 60 A is in the works, also 300 A is under draft.

The Information Bus layer ensures components of the electric-, drive- and security-system of a vehicle or charging island system work properly together, even if they are put together without planning. The Information Bus definitions define messages and how they are exchanged for specific use cases. The attributes of each message, and values inside the message itself, are defined. All definitions are specified for more than 10 different types of components.

Benefits

Benefits to the system user (e.g. the owner of an E-Bike or the user of an electric power island system): One charger can be used for batteries of different producers and chemistries. This ensures safe and secure charging under conditions of changing batteries. This also allows batteries to be upgraded through the years while keeping the power adapters. Plug'n'Play electric energy island systems based on DC power can be built, so that the addition of batteries after the initial design at 12V-48V DC is possible without security risks.

Benefits for component producers: Vehicle designers and electric systems architects may easily add new components without specific electronic design needs. Such components therefore have an advantage in comparison with less intelligent components.

Benefits for system integrators: EnergyBus adds speed and flexibility at the system design phase. The design can be built on ready made definitions and therefore needs less work on defining such. EnergyBus components may be put together with reduced complexitiy. The offered system is upgradeable, to new battery chemistry or parallel batteries, for example, without changes in the software.

Components

A full range of E-Bike components is available as of 2012, including electric motors by Acron, 300 watt power conversion adaptors by Panasonic Industries with Electragil Software, bike lights by Phillips, several designed batteries by HighTech Energy, and human interfaces by Marquardt. For island systems a specific inverter was developed by Kaco.

Electragil, a Swiss company located close to Winterthur, markets an integrated E-Bike component system.

Pironex, a German company, located at the baltic sea, provides a large scale of EnergyBus products like intelligent charger, battery-adaptors and input/output-devices.

Mobipus, a Taiwan company, located at New Taipei City, provides complete line of PMSM motor controller (from 48v to 300v) for electric motorcycle and scooter and battery management system.

EnergyBus component developers can make use of a set of prepackaged software libraries and a framework of development tools.

E-Bikes

The Impulse, the first E-Bike based on EnergyBus, was introduced by TourDeSuisse (TDS) in Switzerland in 2012 (not to be confused with the E-Bike Impulse available in Europe by an different brand). The Impulse is built on the Electragil system. The gobaX G1 is a E-Bike for heavy goods transport introduced in 2012 by gobaX.

Infrastructure

Public charge stations for pedelecs have been deployed in the Tegernsee region.

Island Power Systems

There are numerous applications in stationary systems. Examples are repeater stations in mobile communication networks, measurement stations, off-grid housing, village DC grids, and off-grid water pump stations. The Fraunhofer ISE is using EnergyBus in electrical island systems in Egypt with PV and batteries, including the Kaco converters.

Other Applications

Other applications in discussion are motor home equipment, boating and bike port systems.

Outside View

EnergyBus is young. Therefore, not all the expected definitions are finished. Members are expected to help in finishing the definitions and documentation. This situation is not valued by everybody.

State of the Standard

General adoptability was reached with version 1.0, released in late 2011, for both power adapter and battery. The major accomplishment in this version was the physical definition of plug and socket, as well as the interworking of the power adapter with the battery.

Future

There is broad activity in progress on the standard. The version 2.0 of the standard with general definitions and a full scope of component descriptions is expected to be released in 2014. An international ISO/IEC standard will be published end of 2014. Additional activity is underway to develop a Charge Lock Cable.

History

Discussion of what today is EnergyBus started around the year 2000, centered on the topic of serial hybrid light electric vehicles like ExtraEnergy and Andreas Fuchs. Those ideas went through many iterations. There are patents pending .

The Organisation

The EnergyBus organisation is set-up as a German association. The driving people behind the organisation are Andreas Fuchs, Mo-Hua Yang and Hannes Neupert. EnergyBus works with partner organisations: for example, CiA is organizing the standardization work, Opi2020 is working on international standardization, and EnergyBus GmbH is set to provide compatibility testing end of 2014.

Memberships

Members support the standard and receive information about the standard. Three levels of membership are currently available: