Enhancing public transport electrification: Basque country’s innovative collaboration

The company specializes in smart recharging solutions for electric vehicle fleets, primarily leveraging railway electrical infrastructure but also tapping into other high-power sources that aren't used continuously.

MEDUSA serves as an intermediary between railway operators and electric vehicle fleet managers, overseeing the recharging process and managing both energy and financial flows to balance the needs of both the railway infrastructure and the EVs.

MEDUSA’s inaugural project involved Bilbao’s metro and the local bus company, Bilbobus. The metro's power network is used to support the new intelligent charging infrastructure at the Bilbobus garage in Ribera de ElorrietaI. This setup utilizes Metro Bilbao’s existing high-power infrastructure to provide additional support to Bilbobus during nighttime when both services are less active.

This approach reduces the need for new electrical connections and maximizes the efficiency of existing power contracts. The system ensures that rail service priority is maintained, allowing bus recharging to occur more intensively during the night when metro services are inactive, thus optimizing overall energy use.

Key benefits of MEDUSA’s solution include:

1.  High-Power Availability: Optimal power availability for bus charging between midnight and 8 AM, with flexibility during other hours.

    

2.  Cost Efficiency: Leveraging the railway operator’s existing high-power contract for competitive energy rates.

    

3. Simplified Administration: No need for new network connections or increases in contracted power.

    

4. Scalable Power Supply: Ability to increase power demand gradually as the bus fleet expands, within the limits of the rail infrastructure.

Source: Basque Country Energy Agency (EVE)

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