Project: ECONEX buses for Seoul

Projects Whisper and NEMS are reaching their final phases of completion. These projects have proven both reliability efficiency of TheWheel^®. While technology maturity steadily improves, project size and scope are scale accordingly. Project ECONEX is both in another climate and out of close reach of e-Traction. While these hurdles may sound trivial, these challenges need to be adressed in development of a truly world class product.

As with projects Whisper and NEMS, ECONEX buses have the same basic advantages over the standard specification vehicle:

• 50% more fuel efficient compared to the standard diesel equipped bus
• extended zero-emission driving - key in achieving inner city emission standards.
• silent operation - inner city free of motor noise

News and Events

• 07-03-2011 - New demonstrator project: ECONEX
• 18-05-2010 - e-Traction signs Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)…
• 9-10-2009 - e-Traction technology enables radical tech transit…
• 24-09-2009 - Press statement (Dutch language)

What makes project ECONEX with TheWheel^® a revolutionary step forward

Motor drives, axle and suspension
TheWheel^® SM500/3 is the core of the impressive energy efficiency of the ECONEX bus; it saves up to 40% compared to an ordinary EV drive line. For more information see our TheWheel overview section 

Energy storage and supply The next step in transition is adding an energy buffer. As described in the e-Traction system section Li-Ion batteries are installed. The capacity of this buffer (75kWh) allows zero-emission electric driving up to one hour of operation.

Range extender and auxilliaries A well designed buffer allows the use of a smaller power source. All ECONEX buses are equipped with a small diesel generator. Its size is comparable to a small automotive engine (35kW) as is its fuel consumption