• Second largest fleet of e-vehicles in northern Europe is controlled and managed by init solution
• Keolis Norge relies on cloud-based software (SaaS) from the international system specialist for operations and load management
• Long-term contract

Many views of electric mobility experts are currently focused on Bergen, the second largest city in Norway. Keolis Norge, the Norwegian subsidiary of one of the world's largest transport companies is building the second largest fleet of e-vehicles for public transport in northern Europe there. This presents completely new challenges for operations control and, above all, demands optimised load management. Keolis Norge relies on the leading technology in this sector - and this comes from init innovation in traffic systems SE.

In 2019, the concession for bus operations in Norway's largest port city was awarded anew. One of the most important requirements: The establishment of a fleet of zero-emission vehicles. Keolis Norge won the contract and ordered 138 brand new vehicles, 112 of them electrically operated.

However, after winning the tender, Keolis had to find a suitable operations control and load management system for this project. As an outcome, Keolis launched its own private software tender, in which the solutions of init prevailed. More precisely, the first pure Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) cloud solution, to which several companies of the init group contributed.

Its special charm: With SaaS, constant updates and upgrades are conducted over the entire term of a contract, whereby the customer/operator pays a monthly license fee, keeping the initial investment costs very low and therefore resulting in the system paying for itself very quickly.

Go live for the SaaS solution from init was already in December 2020. Both the Keolis concession and the contract with init are initially valid for ten years with an option for additional two years.

The SaaS solution from init consists of various software components: For the real-time control system, the fleet control as well as monitoring and detailed monitoring, LIVErtpi, the proven solution of the Finnish init subsidiary Mattersoft, is the means. LIVErtpi is a modular and flexible open system that combines these essential functions in a web solution that is easy to implement, use and maintain. It also ensures absolutely reliable communication and the fastest possible response to alarms. The on-board units send all vehicle information directly to the LIVErtpi backend system to be displayed and processed on the screens of the control centre.

Secure and cost-effective loading processes thanks to MOBILEcharge

Reliable charging management is an essential prerequisite for ensuring that the electric buses are always on the road safely and on time. To this end, Keolis Norge can focus on the intelligent charging and load management system MOBILEcharge from the init subsidiary CarMedialab.

Keolis does not charge on the road and concentrates on charging its E-buses in the depot. From June onwards, the Bergen Mannsverk depot was adapted to the requirements of electro mobility and equipped with the necessary charging infrastructure. Here, MOBILEcharge ensures that the available charging times are used optimally, so that every electric bus can get back on the road in a cost-effective and resource-saving way, but also with sufficient energy and preheated. The connection to the operating control and depot management system is essential, as MOBILEcharge supplies and visualises vehicle-specific operating data (such as State-of-Charge, or battery parameters) in real time during charging. Only a modern web browser is required to use the software - no further installation is necessary.

MOBILEcharge also has a monitoring function to ensure that Keolis Norge at Depot Mannsverk always has a full overview and control of the entire charging infrastructure. Errors are detected and automatically transmitted to the back office, so that direct measures can be initiated from the control centre.

LIVErtpi and MOBILEcharge are in constant exchange of information with each other and thus enable a continuously optimised fleet management.

The Bergen project is pioneering for the breakthrough of electric buses in public transport. After the EU's Clean Vehicles Directive enters into force on 2 August 2021, at least 45 % of the total number of vehicles procured within the framework of newly awarded transport contracts or used during this period must meet the definition of "clean vehicles", half of which must be "emission-free" in accordance with the CVD definition. From 2026 until the end of 2030, these quotas increase to 65 percent (or 32.5 percent). This means an enormous boost for electric mobility as well.

"With our solutions, we are paving the way to achieving this goal. At the same time, the cooperation with Keolis opens up the prospect of rapid market penetration for our systems, especially for the smart charging of CarMedialab," says the Managing Board with confidence.

About Mattersoft Ltd.

Mattersoft is a software company focusing on Intelligent Transport Systems. With more than 10 years of experience in software and information services in the public transport sector. Mattersoft is one of the leading suppliers of software and services for Intelligent Transport Systems in Finland. Mattersoft has extensive expertise in traffic signal priorities, real-time passenger information and operational monitoring and management tools for public transport. All systems are provided fully web-based and modular. A typical installation is centralized and provided as a service (SaaS). The company offers a unique combination of centralized traffic signal priorities (TSP) and lightweight real-time passenger information systems (RTPI).

About CarMedialab GmbH

CarMedialab GmbH, with its headquarters in Bruchsal/Germany, has established itself as a telematics specialist in the automotive industry and the energy sector since 2003. The focus lies on tele diagnosis, smart charging and on IT solutions for public transport. The product spectrum ranges from embedded systems for use in vehicles and the charging infrastructure, to the overall system operation of integrated telematics solutions. CarMedialab has been part of the init group since 2004.

About init

As a worldwide leading supplier of integrated planning, dispatching, telematics and ticketing systems for buses and trains, init has been assisting transport companies in making public transport more attractive, faster and more efficient for more than 37 years. Today, more than 700 customers rely on our innovative hard- and software solutions.