Esslingen, Germany

Delivery: 2002-2003

Esslingen is well known for its use of the trolleybus and the duobus as a public transportation mode. Thus, together with Solingen and Eberswalde, Esslingen is one of the last towns in Germany operating this environment-friendly transport mode.

With the tendering of 20.12.1999 it was decided to purchase altogether nine new line-service trolleybuses. They chose the well known and proven articulated trolleybus from Van Hool, type AG 300 T, with electrical equipment from Kiepe. This trolleybus is a state-of-the-art low-floor vehicle. These vehicles have a driven centre axle and the wheels of the third axle are steered (a-proportional).

The complete 600 V electrical equipment with three-phase traction drive is delivered by Kiepe. Prove components and devices like current collector, 600 V DC contactors, insulation monitoring devices and static converter, especially the direct pulse inverter for the traction drive is designed in using the latest IGBT technology. New electronic devices, individual control module Kiepe ASM and converter control module, are used to control the traction drive. These devices, which have several processors, take over not only the sequential vehicle control and the acquisition of operating data, but also the complete diagnosis of the drive and the calculation of the corresponding energy consumption of the vehicle.

The design of the electrical traction equipment is completely modular and integrated into the vehicle roof in a space-saving way. The components are fitted on roof-mounted equipment frames and delivered ready tested and ready to be installed.

To enable extensive exchange of data in the vehicle, the on-board information and control system was used. These devices connect the driver´s operation panel with the drive, the current collector, the static converter, the compressor and the diesel motor. Generally data transfer is according to CAN protocol. Thus, the applied software can also record and evaluate many fault types in the vehicle.

Moreover, Kiepe supplies the heaters for the driver´s workplace, the roof arch heaters for the passenger compartment, the braking resistors, the air compressor, the traction motor and an 50 kW diesel motor for journeys without an overhead line. The compressor and the diesel motor are fitted in the rear of the vehicle and are easily accessible. For operation of the vehicle, a state-of-the-art VDV operation panel was installed. This operation panel only needs a few operation and display devices. Lamps and other instruments are replaced by a display reporting faults in plain text giving concrete instructions to the driver.

In the same period Solingen has also decided to buy another 20 vehicles of the same type.

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