Wireless hybrid buses to go on trial in London

Transport for London (TfL) has launched a new trial to test four specially designed hybrid buses capable of wirelessly charging their batteries, according to an announcement on Wednesday.

The buses have diesel-electric hybrid engines and are fitted with technology that will enable batteries to be charged when the vehicles are next to specially equipped bus stops.

The buses will operate from 2015 on route 69 between Canning Town and Walthamstow.

TfL said in the announcement that it expects the technology will allow the buses to operate in full electric mode for "a significant period of the time they are in passenger service".

The new trial follows the launch of a fleet of six pure electric buses, the introduction of zero-emission hydrogen buses on the RV1 route between Covent Garden and Tower Gateway, and the rollout of around 800 hybrid buses.

The trial is being part-funded by the Zero Emissions Urban Bus System (ZeEUS); a project coordinated by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) that comprises a consortium of 40 partners that aim at extending fully-electric solutions to a wider part of the urban bus network.

Mike Weston, director of buses at TfL, said: "We are continuing our assessment of new technology in the capital that can deliver genuine environmental benefits. This trial of extended-range diesel-electric hybrid buses, utilising the latest inductive charging technology, could be a step closer to getting even cleaner double-deck buses on London's streets. We will be closely monitoring the results of the trials, which may help us adopt this new cleaner technology more widely in London."