DC Bus Air Conditioning System
DC Bus Air Conditioning System is a core technology developed for the new energy vehicle era, specifically designed to meet the thermal comfort and high-efficiency needs of large and medium-sized passenger vehicles.
It no longer relies on the engine drive of traditional fuel vehicles, but directly utilizes the onboard high-voltage DC power supply (usually the power battery) to power core components such as the electric compressor, achieving precise and efficient cooling, heating, and ventilation.
With the accelerating electrification and decarbonization of global transportation, this system is rapidly evolving towards integration, intelligence, and environmental friendliness.
Key parameters of modern bus DC electric air conditioning systems are deeply coupled with increasingly stringent regulations and standards. The coefficient of performance (COP) is a core indicator that directly affects the driving range of electric buses.
Research shows that using traditional HVAC systems in extreme weather conditions can reduce the driving range of electric vehicles by 17% to 41%.
Therefore, integrating high-efficiency heat pump technology has become an industry consensus, as it can absorb heat from the environment or battery waste heat for heating, significantly reducing energy consumption.
Safety and environmental parameters are directly guided by mandatory national regulations. According to the “National Program of China for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (2025-2030),” starting July 1, 2029, all newly registered M1 category vehicles (including most passenger cars) must use environmentally friendly refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than 150.
This has promoted the parallel development of natural and environmentally friendly refrigerant technologies, represented by carbon dioxide (R744) and propane (R290).
Meanwhile, China’s newly promulgated “Safety Requirements for Power Batteries for Electric Vehicles” (GB38031-2025) in 2025 elevates the thermal management objective from “temperature control” to “safety protection,” requiring systems to possess extreme thermal runaway suppression capabilities and imposing unprecedentedly high standards on coolant insulation, heat dissipation efficiency, and system sealing.
DC Bus Air Conditioning System, with its independent power supply, flexible deployment, and precise control, is suitable for diverse commercial and special-purpose bus scenarios:
Urban and Intercity Buses: Ensuring air quality and constant temperature comfort within the passenger compartment under high passenger volume, and optimizing energy consumption through intelligent temperature control strategies (such as zone control and linked passenger flow sensing).
Long-Distance Tourist Buses: Providing a quiet, stable, high-quality temperature-controlled environment enhances the comfort of long-distance travel and is one of the core competitive advantages of high-end passenger transport services.
Special-Purpose Vehicles: Its value is particularly prominent. For example, ambulances require an independent, precise, and clean temperature and humidity environment for the medical compartment; for the cabs of construction machinery and agricultural/forestry vehicles, the system must operate stably in extreme dust and vibration environments to ensure driver concentration; and defensive vehicles require systems with extremely high environmental adaptability and reliability.
DC Bus Air Conditioning System’s direct customers are primarily bus OEMs and professional vehicle modification plants.
Their selection decisions closely follow policies, regulations, and market demands. With major global markets (such as the EU and China) setting timelines for banning the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles, and with China’s mandatory switch to environmentally friendly refrigerants approaching 2029, OEMs have an urgent need for next-generation thermal management systems.
According to industry analysis, the global electric vehicle HVAC market is projected to grow from $7.9 billion in 2024 to $24.84 billion in 2032.
The Asia-Pacific region is the core market, with China holding a dominant position due to its complete new energy vehicle industry chain.
It is foreseeable that, driven by policy, technology, and the market, DC electric air conditioning systems for buses will become a key cornerstone in building a future green, intelligent, and healthy public transportation network.
