Vidurglass Bus Glazed Sunroofs

Vidurglass has developed a new glazing solution for the bus segment consisting of glazed sunroofs, bymeans of glass – glasssolutions and glass - PV (Photovoltaic) - glass solutions that integrate in addition photo-voltaic energy generation.

Considering the present competition between the bus builders for the sale of their vehicles to their clients (fleet operators), the possibility of designing predefined glazing solutions replacing totally or partially the current bus roofs with glazed roofs (following the present tendency of the automotive market) offer Vidurglass bus builder customers the opportunity to differentiate their buses from those of their competitors:

·    From an aesthetic point of view, clearly more attractive with glazed roofs than carpeted roofs.

·    Creating and positioning some bus models as high-end (exclusive models).

·    As an alternative to the normal glazing, the possibility of positioning both, bus builders and fleet operators, as “ecologic”, “green” or using “clean or renewable energy” offering the possibility to include photo-voltaic (PV) cells  in the roof’s glasses, which will generate electricity the own bus will consume, reducing the fuel consumption, CO2 emission, etc. Nowadays Vidurglass is the unique company with enough capacity to deal with a similar project.

Vidurglass predefined glazed roofs start from 3 basic configurations (customized as a function of each model and specific bus builder) and powered with solar control PVB, each one with more percentage of glass in the roof than the previous:

1. Central aisle roof: pieces located in the central aisle with glazing of 9,5 m2.
2. Panoramic roof: pieces covering 60% of the bus’ width with a glazing area of 15m2.
3. Modular panoramic roof: pieces covering 95% of the bus’ width with a glazing area of 24m2.

Examples of Vidurglass glazed roofs with solar control PVB:

Initial design approach of the configuration that includes photo-voltaic energy generation.

Photo-voltaic solar technology generates energy in the same place where it is consumed any requirement for an external source of fuel. So, integrating this energy directly in the consumer equipment, a bus or coach in this case, the maximum benefit is obtained. It can be adapted to several surfaces due to its high modularity and flexibility and it can directly be integrated in a multi-functional element as a solar roof can be. 


Possible connection concepts:

PV (Photovoltaic)  Generator – PV Charge Regulator – Bus  Battery. Together with the client’s engineering department the optimum for battery charge regulation strategy has to be defined in order to give priority to charging with solar energy when available.

PV Generator – PV charge Regulator – specific battery for a second solar circuit which supplies a group of specific consumptions still left to be defined (lights, videos, ventilation, ETC). Jointly to be defined with clients’ engineering department.

PV Generator – Ventilation system for pre-conditioning. This would be probably the simplest and most economical application because it would work without electricity storage of the generated solar energy. The idea is based on the fact that the interior of the bus is heating up while the bus is parked in the sun. Thus, this heating up coincides with the availability of photo-voltaic energy which directly supplies a ventilation system. So, when the air conditioning is switched on, the initial temperature will be considerably lower than without the ventilation system.

Samples designs and examples:

Specific benefits:

Uniqueness of the brand: Positioning of the corporate image -through a modern technology and an active element of clean and ecological energy generation.

Replacement of conventional enclosure materials, use of the same solar roof glass for photo-voltaic generation.

Multi-functional character: the same photo-voltaic cells considerably reduce the solar factor so the thermal load of the bus’ interior in comparison with a conventional solar roof, without the need of adding solar control PVB.

Autonomous electric energy generation that, on one hand, allows for more independence of the electrical consumptions  when the motor is off, and on the other hand, allows ventilation of the interior of the bus with no discharge of the bus battery.

Support to the electricity supply of electric consumptions fed by the bus battery- in general, with the corresponding fuel savings.

For more information: sales@vidurglass.es