ABB has won a $20 million order from Swiss bus manufacturer HESS to supply its flash-charging technology for 20 e-buses and related infrastructure for the French city of Nantes. The buses will be operated by public transport operator, Société d'Economie Mixte des Transports de l'Agglomération Nantaise (Semitan).

Batteries mounted on the roofs of the Nantes buses will be charged in 20 seconds with a 600-kilowatt boost of power at selected stops while passengers are embarking and disembarking. It takes less than one second to connect the bus to the charging point, making it the world's fastest flash-charging connection technology. A further 1 to 5 minutes charge at the terminus at the end of the line enables a full recharge of the batteries.

(Continued on next page)