First West of England are introducing the state-of-the-art low emission buses in partnership with Department for Transport, Bristol City Council and University of the West of England (UWE).
These smooth and quiet buses will turn heads in their striking blue colour scheme and ‘electricity’ branding.
The buses also have a unique way of charging. Once they reach UWE’s Frenchay Campus (the terminus of their route) a special plate in the ground will charge the buses wirelessly.
“These buses will make a massive impact to air quality as they spend a huge part of the day running on pure electric mode (almost like a tram without rails), meaning that in areas (such as the City Centre) where pollution is a problem, these buses will quite literally be a breath of fresh air”
The buses will feature on Service 72 which runs from City Centre to UWE’s Frenchay Campus via Whiteladies Road & Gloucester Road. The bus will run in full electric mode throughout the City Centre, the diesel engine automatically turns on to recharge the batteries at the start of Whiteladies Road where the air quality improves. Once the buses reach the more polluted Gloucester Road they will again revert to all-electric mode.
George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol said: “I am delighted that we have been able to launch this cutting edge technology in Bristol, as the first city outside of London to do so.
“My goal is for Bristol to be one of the healthiest cities in the world and that has to start with us breathing clean air.”
“I am confident this trial of new technology will pave the way for the future of electric buses in Bristol and beyond, adding to the many new sustainable transport initiatives that are currently taking place across the city.”
The buses are expected to enter service at the end of January
