Milton Keynes Electric Bus in Arriva fleet
Baroness Kramer, the Minister of State for Transport, recently officially launched an all-electric bus route in Milton Keynes, UK.
The goal of the project is to demonstrate that electric buses can perform on a par with diesel counterparts and to check commercial viability.
For five years, eight buses (converted Wright StreetLite) with wireless charging from Conductix-Wampfler will operate seven days a week, running 17 hours a day covering over 56,000 miles per year.
This Bus is Electric
"Instead of plugging into the mains, the new buses will be able to recharge their batteries wirelessly during their working day. This means they can run a continuous service for a whole 17 hours, just like a diesel bus. The concept is simple: wireless charging plates set into the road transfer power directly to receiving plates underneath the bus, using a technique based on the principles of electrical induction. In just 10 minutes, a bus parked over a charging point will replenish two-thirds of the energy consumed on its 15-mile route."
Two wireless charging stations were placed on the route to serve whole fleet. Drivers have scheduled breaks when the 10-minute charging occurs, so there are virtually no delays in service.
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