The transportation sector is one of the main sources of global carbon emissions, accounting for approximately 16% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Achieving transportation electrification not only requires technological innovation but also needs to build a complete charging network, efficient energy management, and intelligent transportation system collaboration. With its comprehensive advantages in power electronics, automation, and digitalization, ABB has created a full range of products and services from electric vehicle charging equipment, electric bus power systems to intelligent transportation solutions, forming a complete ecosystem covering "vehicle-pile-grid".
In the field of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, ABB has partnered with a leading European highway operator to launch the "European Super Charging Network" expansion plan. The plan will build over 500 super charging stations along major highways in Europe, equipped with ABB's latest generation Terra 360 charging piles to provide ultra-fast charging services for electric vehicles. The Terra 360 is one of the mass-produced charging piles with the highest charging power in the world, with a maximum output power of 360kW, which can replenish electric vehicles with enough electricity to travel 400 kilometers in just 15 minutes, significantly alleviating users' "range anxiety".
Each charging station will be equipped with 4-6 Terra 360 charging piles, supporting simultaneous charging of multiple electric vehicles of different brands and compatible with various charging standards such as CCS and CHAdeMO. The charging pile adopts a modular design, which can be flexibly upgraded to higher power according to future needs. It also integrates an advanced safety protection system with over-temperature protection, over-current protection, and anti-electric shock functions. Through the ABB Ability™ charging management platform, operators can realize remote monitoring, fault diagnosis, and operational data analysis of charging stations, optimizing charging service efficiency and user experience. The network construction plan will be implemented in three phases and is expected to be fully completed in 2027, which will enable an average of one super charging station every 50 kilometers on European highways, providing solid guarantee for cross-regional travel of electric vehicles.
In the field of public transportation electrification, ABB has provided a complete set of electric bus solutions for a large city in Asia, helping the city achieve its goal of full electrification of public transportation. The project is one of the largest electric bus procurement plans in the world, involving the construction of 2,000 electric buses and 150 centralized charging stations with a total investment of over 1 billion US dollars. ABB not only provides core power systems for electric buses, including high-efficiency motors, inverters, and battery management systems but also is responsible for the overall design of charging stations and equipment supply.
According to the characteristics of urban public transport operation, ABB has customized an intelligent charging scheduling scheme, which uses the off-peak electricity price period at night for batch charging and fast charging during the daytime operation interval, which not only reduces operating costs but also improves vehicle utilization. Meanwhile, ABB's Battery Management System (BMS) can accurately monitor the battery status, optimize charging and discharging strategies, and extend the battery life to more than 8 years. After the project is implemented, the carbon emissions of public transportation in the city will be reduced by about 70%, saving more than 200 million US dollars in fuel costs annually. The low-noise characteristics of electric buses will also significantly improve the urban environmental quality and enhance citizens' travel experience. The head of ABB's electric transportation business said: "Public transportation is an important breakthrough for electrification transformation. By providing reliable power systems and efficient charging solutions, we help cities achieve green transportation goals and create a more livable living environment."
In the field of railway transportation electrification, ABB has cooperated with a South American national railway company to provide key technical equipment for the electrification transformation project of its main trunk railway. The project covers the electrification transformation of 500 kilometers of railway lines, including the construction of traction substations, catenary systems, and upgrading of train traction equipment, with a total investment of 800 million US dollars. ABB's core equipment includes MVDC (Medium Voltage Direct Current) traction converters, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, and advanced traction motors.
Compared with traditional AC electrified railways, the railway system using MVDC technology has a 30% reduction in energy loss, a 15% increase in traction efficiency, and better regenerative braking energy recovery capability, which can increase the braking energy utilization rate to more than 85%. ABB's SCADA system realizes real-time monitoring and intelligent dispatching of the entire electrified railway network, further reducing operating energy consumption by optimizing train operation curves and power supply strategies. After the project is completed, the freight transport capacity of the railway trunk line will be increased by 50%, and carbon emissions will be reduced by 450,000 tons annually, which is of great significance for promoting sustainable logistics development in South America.
In the field of intelligent transportation management, ABB has provided an integrated transportation energy management system for a smart city project in the Middle East. The system deeply integrates the electric vehicle charging network, smart grid, and traffic signal system, realizing the dynamic balance between energy supply and transportation demand through real-time data analysis and artificial intelligence algorithms. For example, the system can adjust the power distribution of charging stations according to traffic flow prediction, automatically reduce non-essential charging power during peak electricity consumption periods to ensure stable operation of the power grid; at the same time, through intelligent regulation of traffic lights, guide electric vehicles to charging stations with lower loads, reducing queuing time.
The system also links with urban renewable energy facilities, giving priority to using clean energy such as solar and wind energy to charge electric vehicles, further reducing the carbon footprint in the transportation field. After the project is put into use, the electric vehicle charging efficiency of the city has increased by 40%, and the grid peak-valley difference has decreased by 25%, fully demonstrating the collaborative value of intelligent technology in transportation electrification.
The president of ABB's Transportation Business Unit said: "Transportation electrification is not a simple 'replacing oil with electricity' but a systematic reform involving energy, transportation, and urban planning. ABB is committed to breaking down barriers in various fields through technological innovation and building an efficient and collaborative sustainable mobility ecosystem. Our solutions not only focus on improving the performance of individual products but also pay attention to the efficiency optimization and environmental benefits of the entire system. From charging infrastructure to power systems, from energy management to traffic scheduling, we comprehensively support customers in achieving green transportation transformation."
According to BloombergNEF's forecast, global electric vehicle sales will reach 30 million by 2030, and the market penetration rate of electric buses will exceed 50%. Transportation electrification will usher in explosive growth. With its comprehensive technical layout and rich project experience, ABB is becoming a core driver of this transformation, contributing key strength to building a zero-emission transportation future. With the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous decline of costs, transportation electrification will become an important pillar of global sustainable development, and ABB will continue to lead this process, creating a cleaner and smarter way of travel.
