1. Helsinki Region Transport 35 th General meeting European Metropolitan Transport Authorities Oslo, 20-22 May 2015 Suvi Rihtniemi Paving the way for electric buses: The innovative HSL approach

4. HSL’s strategy HSL’s strategy for 2025 emphasizes: Smooth journeys User-friendly services Increasing the share of public transport Emission reductions In the case of buses, HSL strives for a 90 % reduction in carbon dioxide and harmful local (namely NOx and PM) emissions by 2025 (reference year 2010) A combination of electric buses and high quality sustainable biofuels will be needed

5. HSL’s – fleet strategy 2025 Estimated effect on emissions by 2025 (compared to 2010): reduction of NO x (-92%), PM (-95%), CO 2 (-90%) For conventional buses, biofuels are phased in and constitute 100% from 2020 onwards

6. Characteristics of diesel buses Very autonomous and flexible Range typically more than 1000 km No special infrastructure requirements Transferable Simple in tendering and operation

7. Characteristics of electric buses A systemic issue rather than a vehicle technology issue Limited range and not suitable for all services Require a special infrastructure Charging systems are not yet standardized (cable, pantograph, inductive…) Charging has to be taken into account in building terminals Who will be responsible for the infrastructure? Not necessarily transferable A big challenge both for operators and those responsible for public transport procurement

8. Why are electric buses attractive? City buses are the ideal case for e-mobility: Fixed route length Fixed schedule High utilisation rate Low energy cost Possibility for profitability No local emissions Quiet High passenger comfort Multimodality potential (rail, tram)

9. Metropolitan Helsinki eBus and eBusSystem projects

10. eBus project eBus performance: field study and laboratory research Electric bus test line 11 Tapiola-Friisilänaukio Simulating feeder service Four commercial eBuses in operation Vehicle technology analysis o Full-size VTT-owned electric bus prototype as a development platform Battery laboratory o climatic chambers for components Simulation tools Challenging weather conditions Part of the national EV programme by Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation

11. Innovative procurement Normally Helsinki Region Transport (HSL), the public transport authority (PTA) procures public transport services, not vehicles However, HSL realised that electric buses are a challenge for the bus operators HSL took the decision to purchase 12 electric buses, and lend them to the bus operators Thereby the PTA takes the financial and technical risks for the first real electric bus fleet The 12 electric buses are ”extra” vehicles, so possible problems will not affect the service level of the bus system The 12 buses also serve as a ”Living Lab” test platform for the development of new mobility services

12. Steps into electrifying the bus system ”Vehicles” (eBus) ”System” (eBusSystem eCharge) Pre-commercial pilot (ePELI) Commercial electric bus operation Components Vehicular technology Single vehicles Systemic view Charging technology Operation concepts A few vehicles Innovation platform Pre-commercial pilot with operators Small fleet & charging infrastructure Building the (business) ecosystem Normal commercial procurement Value chains and service providers established Several bus operators active Charging infrastructure available HRT timeline: 2012201420152017 

14. The ePELI buses will be supplied by Linkker Linkker is a new Finnish e-bus manufacturer, a spin-off of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland The light-weight buses will be equipped with opportunity charging http://www.linkkerbus.com/

15. Summary HSL is highly committed to good service with low environmental impact HSL sees a growing penetration for electric buses However, at the early stage of development, electric buses are a challenge to the fleet operators In the case of electric buses, HSL decided to change modus operandi and acquire a test fleet of 12 fully electric buses The buses will be handed to fleet operators, to increase their knowledge of electric buses and to increase their capability to offer electric bus services in oncoming tendering processes HSL hereby carries its part of the risk in introducing new technology

16. Thank you for your attention