Intelligent Climate Network for Electric Buses: Digitization Meets Efficiency. Konvekta wins the Busworld 2025 Innovation Label with NeXwork!
Efficiency in focus: Why thermal management is so important
The future of public transport is electric — but with the electrification of bus fleets, thermal management is becoming increasingly important. Climate control systems are among the biggest energy consumers in electric buses, significantly influencing range, battery longevity, and operating costs. Inefficient thermal management reduces available driving range and puts unnecessary burden on the battery.
neXwork, - a CO₂ heat‑pump system improved by digital interconnectivity — takes energy efficiency to a new level. While conventional systems often require electric auxiliary heaters, neXwork minimizes power consumption by using ambient air heat and waste heat from components such as axles, inverters, and the battery.
The system combines CO₂ heat‑pump technology with innovative, patented components including a dynamic refrigerant charge balancing technology and an internal heat exchanger, plus key technologies such as battery temperature control, Energy Collect (heat recovery), advanced sensor technology, and an intelligent control system with new software. All of this adds up to a fully networked complete package.
In‑house software development makes the difference
The core component is the control system developed in-house, powered by a newly built software division. This team is engaged in the continuous development of the system based on research and operational insights, offering updates via remote servicing in real time. They are also developing a control system tailor made specifically for neXwork, enabling even greater flexibility and efficiency. This means Konvekta is laying the foundation for thermal management that can be continuously adapted to new requirements.
LeadControl is a key element of the control system
LeadControl collects data such as outside temperature, air quality, and battery status in real time and automatically adjusts the air conditioning to the current conditions. The platform is cybersecurity-compliant in accordance with the latest automotive requirements, in particular in line with the ISO/SAE 21434 and UNECE R155 standards. It supports the J1939 standard for communication with vehicle systems and has a UDS (Unified Diagnostic Services) interface for diagnostics, remote maintenance, and software updates.
One significant benefit is parameterizability: vehicle manufacturers can configure the control system individually, adjusting over 500 parameters. This enables precise tailor made adjustments to diverse operating conditions.—This increases comfort and efficiency, improves operational safety, and reduces maintenance costs because faults can be detected and rectified at an early stage.
Dynamic refrigerant charge balancing technology - more power, longer lifecycle
Another key innovation in the neXwork system is the patented refrigerant charge balancing technology. The system operates with two circuits—one for heating, one for cooling. In heating mode, refrigerant from the inactive cooling loop is transferred into the active heating loop so that the optimal quantity is always available. This increases heating performance in winter by up to 10%. At the same time, the entire system runs more smoothly, the load on components is reduced, and service life is extended. Maintenance costs are also reduced.This has both economic and operational advantages for transport companies.
Modular design for maximum efficiency
neXwork relies on the interaction of several innovative modules
AES‑Mode (Additional Energy Storage) fully replaces additional electric auxiliary heaters, even for pre‑conditioning in winter
Energy Collect: uses waste heat from axles, batteries, or inverters and feeds it back into the heat pump circuit—up to 20% additional energy savings.
An internal heat exchanger recovers residual heat to further boost efficiency.
Battery temperature control maintains batteries within the optimal thermal range, extends lifespan and enables safe rapid charging.
More than 10,000 systems already in the field – proven efficiency as a foundation for neXwork
Today, more than 10,000 CO₂ heat‑pump systems from Konvekta are in daily operation across Europe—including Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Zurich, and Brussels. This gives Konvekta unique practical experience in the market. Field measurements with these systems have shown that the energy required for heating and cooling electric buses can be reduced by up to 57% in certain cases. In more than 2,900 operating hours per bus annually, around 21,000 kWh were saved. This corresponds to a cost reduction of €3,000 (calculated at 15 ct/kWh).
The new neXwork is based precisely on this proven technology. By combining those existing technologies with the new modules as well as through the control technology developed in-house -, we expect even higher efficiency values in the future. First field tests are scheduled for next year—and the potential is already clear today.
neXwork. Sustainable, safe, future‑proof
In addition to its economic advantages, neXwork also scores highly in terms of its environmental footprint. This system works exclusively with the natural refrigerant CO2 (R744) – PFAS-free, non-flammable, non-toxic, and with a global warming potential of 1.
This means that the system is safe from regulatory restrictions in the long term, such as those that already apply to synthetic refrigerants today.
neXwork represents the next step toward future‑proof and climate‑friendly mobility.
Technical Key Facts neXwork
Energy saving
Up to 57% reduction compared to conventional systems
Real world data
At least 21.000 kWh energy savings per bus/year (~ €3,000)
Patented refrigerant management
Up to 10% more heating power, less system stress, longer service life
LeadControl
Real-time control, remote servicing, over 500 configurable parameters
Energy Collect
Up to 20% extra energy savings by waste heat recovery
AES-Mode
Replaces electric auxiliary heater — including during pre conditioning
Battery temperature control
Extends lifespan, supports saferapid charging
Refrigerant
CO₂ (R744), GWP=1, PFAS free
Installations
Over 10.000 CO₂-systems in daily use across Europe