SSE is helping power the country’s first wirelessly charged all-electric bus route, which has been launched in Milton Keynes.
The project will feature eight electric buses, operate seven days a week and cover a distance of 56,000 miles a year.
The project will also test whether electric buses can perform as well as their diesel counterparts over a five year period.
Instead of plugging into the mains, the new buses will be able to charge their batteries wirelessly during their working day. They utilise wireless charging plates set into the road which transfer power directly to plates underneath the bus through electrical induction.
The fleet of buses will be among the greenest on the UK’s roads. Features include the removal of around five tonnes of particulates and noxious tailpipe emissions and more than 200 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year.
The fleet will also be supplied with electricity which will be matched with energy generated from renewable sources – further enhancing the project’s green credentials.
David Densley, Head of Sustainable Transport at SSE, said SSE was delighted to be on board.
He said: “As the UK’s largest generator of renewable electricity and a key player in the development of electric vehicle infrastructure, getting involved in this project made perfect sense for us.
“This project is showcasing low carbon transport in action and we are delighted to support it and also supply it with energy which will be matched with power from a variety of renewable technologies such as wind and hydro.”
SSE is involved in a number of electric vehicle (EV) and low carbon technology projects. These include the UKH2 Mobility project, working to make hydrogen-fuelled transport a reality; an electric bus project in Glasgow with Alexander Dennis Limited as well as installations of rapid and standard EV charge points across the UK.
The Milton Keynes Bus Project is a collaborative project involving eFleet Integrated Service part of Mitsui & Co, Arup, Milton Keynes Borough Council, the Department for Transport, Arriva, The University of Cambridge, Wrightbus Limited, IPT-Technology, Western Power Distribution, Chargemaster Plc and SSE.
To find out more about the project, view the video here.