SET iNews Interviews: Exploring Electric Bus Battery Replacement and Recycling

Taiwan New Perspective, the program of SET Finance iNEWS, featured an exclusive interview with Master Bus to discuss electric bus battery replacement and recycling in light of the Taiwanese government's goals of achieving 100% electrification of urban buses by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Master Bus adopts a fast-charging system powered by Lithium Titanate Oxide (LTO) batteries, with the features of exceptional safety and a long lifespan. Operating at a 3C charging/discharging rate, the batteries are capable of delivering 20,000 charge-discharge cycles. With proper maintenance, the power battery can remain in service for 10 to 12 years, eliminating the need for battery replacement throughout the bus's 12-year operational lifespan. After retirement from vehicle use, the batteries can be used as energy storage batteries for an additional decade, significantly reducing battery waste. Furthermore, the fast-charging system can recharge the battery from 20% to 80% in just 15 minutes, minimizing the impact on the power grid while providing almost unlimited daily operating range. By enabling one charging station to serve multiple buses, the system preserves existing depot layouts, lowers infrastructure investment, and fulfills three key objectives: maximum safety, cost efficiency, and environmental sustainability.

The advantage of fast charging systems is that charging from 20% to 80% only takes 15 minutes, so the bus can be charged and continue driving during rest stops. This allows for longer continuous driving time and mileage and more flexible vehicle dispatching. When the vehicle's battery is low, compared to slow charging, which requires dispatching another vehicle, the fast-charging bus can be returned after 15 minutes of charging with a fast-charging system, reducing fleet size and lowering operating costs.

Compared with slow-charging systems, which typically require one charger per bus, Master Bus's 3C fast-charging technology enables a bus to recharge from 20% to 80% SOC in just 15 minutes—comparable to the time required for refueling a conventional diesel bus. A single fast charger can serve up to five buses on a rotating basis, significantly reducing charging infrastructure and maintenance costs. Operators can continue using their existing depot layouts without major modifications, addressing the challenge of limited land availability in urban areas. The distributed fast-charging approach also reduces the safety risks associated with centralized charging, lowers peak electricity demand on the power grid, and minimizes electrical noise and disturbances to nearby communities.