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They have already dubbed the phenomenon the “Oslo electric bus paradox,” which has been widely used in the Norwegian capital to reduce emissions but has been shut down for days due to extremely low temperatures, which fluctuate between minus 7 and minus 14 degrees in Scandinavia in these times. Industry experts are aware that a battery's energy output is directly proportional to temperature and that both electric car and bus users experience reduced range in winter compared to the warmer months of the year.
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Electric buses, the heating problem
The problem is further complicated by controlling the temperature in the passenger compartment, which can account for up to 30% of total consumption, especially in crowded city buses. Given this drop in temperature, experts emphasize that the use of diesel burners could be an effective way to save energy from batteries used to heat vehicles.
The situation was recently highlighted in Oslo, where around 130 electric buses stopped due to the cold temperatures, paralyzing part of the fleet of Ruter, the company that manages public transport in the Norwegian capital. Ruter acknowledged he had issues with the buses' range in cold conditions, but said he resolved the issue through changes to charging schedules and improvements to charging infrastructure.
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Electric buses, the zero emissions hub
However, the problem of compatibility of electric drive systems with extreme temperatures still exists and affects vehicles of various types, including cars, buses and trucks. Anna Stefanopoulou, a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan and an expert in the chemistry of electrical systems, pointed out that both Electric and combustion vehicles have difficulties in cold weather. Although electric vehicles are more efficient, unlike gasoline or diesel engines, they cannot use the heat produced to heat the interior.
The solution proposed by Stefanopoulou envisages the use of diesel heaters to compensate for the loss of autonomy in the cold months and to keep the buses connected to the network even during the start-up phase. However, this solution contradicts the zero emissions target that Oslo wants to achieve for all public transport this year. Stefanopoulou concludes that the challenge is to find a balance between improvements and awareness of limitations to avoid negative perceptions of current electrification efforts.
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