These New Electric Tram Buses In London Can Be Charged In Only 10 Minutes

Transport for London (TfL) has revealed its most advanced clean public transport that comprises 20 fully electric tram-buses. These state-of-the-art, bubble-like London buses will go from the 358 route from Crystal Palace to Orpington beginning from 2023. 

The London electric tram-buses were acquired by Go Ahead which is London’s largest bus operator, affiliated with the Spanish e-mobility maker Irizar. The London tram-bus is officially called the iTram. It’s the first time Irizar has made and launched right-hand drive trams in the UK.

The 12-metre-long (39-feet-long) tram-buses will charge in mere 10 minutes total on one of London’s longest bus routes because, as Irizar explained yesterday in an announcement:

“[They’ll] be charged between trips using two fast-charging inverted pantograph systems to be installed at Crystal Palace and Orpington Bus Stations, allowing the buses to be charged in less than five minutes and enabling them to perform the required service effortlessly. After finishing the route, the buses will receive a short top-up using the depot-based chargers.”

The inverted pantograph system is also being used on buses on the all-electric route 132, which runs between North Greenwich and Bexleyheath.

The tram-buses seem to have a swish touch on the inside, too, and have USB chargers, Wi-Fi, Braille buttons, luggage racks, and passenger information.

The 358 route is a tram-bus pilot, and TfL says that if it’s successful. It is slated to give out more electric tram-buses on other London routes in the future.

There are currently around 850 electric buses being used for public transport in London.

TfL has said that it will deliver a zero-emission bus fleet in London by 2034 in its Bus Action Plan, and it says, subject to additional funding, may be able to escalate its target to 2030.