Parker's electric drive delivers urban bus success

The MODULO bus concept was designed and developed by evopro and manufactured in Budapest by IKARUS Egyedi Aut³busz Gyrt³ Kft. from composite materials. The modular concept allows the lightweight composite-body buses to be easily adapted for different passenger capacities and various drive technologies, including those with a purely electric drive.

The design team decided to select only high-end components and materials for the MODULO, resulting in their decision to use Parker's GVM permanent magnet AC (PMAC) Motor combined with a low noise electro-hydraulic pump (EHP) to control the steering.

The torque density and speed capabilities of Parker Permanent Magnet AC motors (PMAC) combined with a voltage matched inverter provide the speed and torque required to achieve breakthrough performance while still offering high energy efficiency. The PMAC motor and EHP are controlled by an intelligent mobile hardened inverter drive, which provides real-time speed/torque commands and enables the use of all traditional hydraulic-pump flow/pressure control architectures.

Since May 2016, 20 electric buses have been supplied to Budapest Public Transport and the MODULO has won several prizes, including a JEC 2016 Innovation Award for Urban Transportation. The MODULO also successfully participated in the 2016 80edays ELDURO endurance test for electric vehicles across 20 countries and three continents.

Laszlo Kozak, Sales Engineer at Parker Hannifin says: "This example of collaborative technical innovation is leading the way for the development of viable zero-emission urban transportation systems. Parker's PMAC motor technology and low-voltage electro-hydraulic pump have substantially contributed to the MODULO's excellent overall energy efficiency."

For more information visit www.parker.com.