In close partnership with UK leading automotive specialists, Ballymena based coachbuilder Wrightbus has launched its first fully-electric powered vehicle. 

The Minister of State for Transport officially launched an all-electric bus route this week in Milton Keynes that will test whether electric buses can perform on a par with their diesel counterparts in a real-world operational environment. The Wrightbus StreetLite buses will run for five years in a carefully monitored demonstration programme, which will objectively assess their technical and commercial viability.

Eight electric buses will take over a route that even diesel buses find demanding: running 17 hours a day, seven days a week, with each bus covering over 56,000 miles per year.

However, the Milton Keynes buses have a special technological advantage to help them meet the rigours of their route: wireless charging. 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. Only two wireless charging points are needed to service all eight buses, which will charge in the time scheduled for driver breaks.

The eight electric buses have important environmental benefits: they will remove approximately five tonnes of particulates and noxious tailpipe emissions from the city’s streets each year and approximately 270 tonnes of CO2 per year from the atmosphere. As the UK electricity supply becomes greener in future years, the CO2 saving from the continuing operation of electric buses on this route could increase to more than 680 tonnes per year.

Mark Mitchell, Product Director, Wrightbus, said: “Wrightbus are delighted to be involved as the vehicle manufacturer in this exciting and innovative project. A bus that has the capability of running all day and producing zero emissions is revolutionary and will be our future. Thanks to the dedication and hard work of all the project collaborators, we now see for the first time eight StreetLite electric vehicles deployed on a heavy-duty commercial route in the UK. Wrightbus are certainly excited to see how this projects works out at an operational level, and hope today’s path-finding initiative will mark an important milestone in the wider adoption of all electric-powered buses.”