News

A research group with Professor Yushi Kamiya (Faculty of Science and Engineering) and Toshiba Corporation has developed an electric bus equipped with new high-frequency wireless charging technology and a lithium-ion battery. On February 1, in cooperation with the city of Kawasaki and air transport companies across the nation, tests for the new remotely chargeable bus, “WEB-3 Advanced,” began around Haneda Airport and the International Strategic General Special Ward’s King SkyFront innovation hub.

Waseda University and Toshiba Corporation were selected to develop an electric bus as part of the Ministry of the Environment’s Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program. Development began in FY 2014 and is expected to finish in FY 2016.

Waseda is committed to research on electric buses and their implementation.

Concept

Waseda began research and development on the Waseda Electric Bus (WEB) in FY 2014. WEB is a unique short-distance, high-frequency chargeable electric bus designed to address the challenges of implementing electric vehicles by minimizing the cost, size, and weight of its batteries. The bus is equipped with a new electromagnetic resonance wireless charger apparatus developed by Toshiba Corporation that allows its operators to charge the bus quickly, safely, and effectively. WEB’s research and development has made it possible to reduce an electric vehicle’s initial costs and curb weight while maintaining adequate vehicle space. Furthermore, the research collaboration has made it possible for a driver to charge their vehicle with only the press of a button.

Test goals

The tests, which will be conducted on public roads, will measure the convenience of the charging process and the vehicle’s effectiveness in reducing running costs and CO2 emissions. Both aspects are important considerations for the implementation of electric vehicles. Tests also include microscopic evaluations of the vehicle’s impact on natural and driving environments. Once testing is completed and results are released to the public, awareness and acceptance of the environmentally friendly wireless electric bus will improve, creating great PR for the new technology.  Testing will continue for the remainder of the research collaboration, which will end in FY 2016.

WEB-3 Advanced specifications

Name: Waseda Electric Bus-3 Advanced (WEB-3 Advanced)
Curb weight / Dimensions / Capacity: 5990kg / L6.99×W2.08×H3.10m / 31 passengers
Motor: UQM “PowerPhase145” : Maximum output 145kW
Battery: Lithium-ion (TOSHIBA“SCiB^TM” : 3 parallels 12 series / 40kWh / 331V)
Wireless charger: TOSHIBA Wireless Charger：44kW@105mm-gap
Cruising range: Maximum 50km (on public roads with air conditioning turned off)
Electricity consumption: Approximately 1.5km/kWh (on public roads with air conditioning turned off)