How data from vehicles helps us save energy and resources
Energy efficiency, climate protection and reliable operations are among the major challenges we face on a daily basis as a transport operator. Together with optiMEAS GmbH, we are working to identify hidden potential for optimisation in our trams and light rail vehicles – using state-of-the-art measurement and analysis technology and without disrupting ongoing vehicle operations.
What is it all about?
Our trams and light rail vehicles already provide a wide range of operational data – for example, on engine performance, braking behaviour, air conditioning and door cycles. However, this information usually remains unused on board the vehicles. Through energy monitoring, we aim to collect and analyse this data in a way that delivers practical benefits for us: reduced energy consumption, predictive maintenance and improved operational planning.
Our pilot project
To assess feasibility, we have launched a pilot scheme: both a U5 carriage and an S-Bahn carriage have been fitted with compact measurement technology that ‘taps into’ the vehicle’s internal data bus without causing any interference. Via a mobile network connection, the data – supplemented by GPS information – is transmitted directly to a cloud platform. This enables us to continuously receive around 1,200 individual signals from passenger services, which are presented in interactive dashboards.
What have we discovered?
Energy flows are made visible. When braking, some of the energy is lost as heat through braking resistors. The pilot project has shown that, on certain sections of track, more than half of the motor energy consumed can be lost in this way. This enables us to identify specific points in our network where investment in infrastructure is particularly worthwhile.
Driving behaviour becomes comparable. Two similar journeys can have very different energy balances – depending on driving style or traffic conditions. This lays the foundation for energy-efficient driving and more realistic timetables.
The condition of components becomes measurable. The behaviour of passenger doors can provide indications of incipient wear – long before a failure occurs.
The benefits for our organisation
- Maintenance: We can carry out condition-based maintenance on air-conditioning units, braking systems and doors. Unplanned breakdowns are reduced, and the service life of our vehicles is extended.
- Energy management: Weak points in the route network can be identified using data, allowing us to prioritise investments more effectively.
- Transport service: More realistic timetables, less stress for our drivers and scope for energy-efficient driving.
- Sustainability: Every kilowatt-hour saved improves the carbon footprint of our local transport service.
Outlook
The pilot has demonstrated that, thanks to the new data available, energy monitoring and further operational optimisations can be implemented in a technically reliable manner on our trams and light rail vehicles and deliver wide-ranging benefits. As a next step, we plan to gradually extend the project to other vehicles in our fleet and integrate the data collected into our existing IT infrastructure – so that this data stream becomes a real driver for greater efficiency and sustainability in Frankfurt’s local transport system.
