German testing to begin early in 2014
Bombardier has announced that it will be testing its electric bus technology next winter on buses that are operating in Montréal. The company also plans testing in early 2014 on a bus route in the city of Mannheim, Germany. Bombardier will be testing its Primove electric bus technology that allows the buses to be charged using an underground induction station when they stop to let passengers on and off.
That means the buses can trickle charge their battery packs each time they sit waiting for passengers to get on or off at stops along the route. Bombardier plans to test the technology first in the harsh Canadian winter conditions on a special track at Ile-Ste-Helene. This test will be conducted via a partnership with Hydro-Québec and an unnamed bus manufacturer.
In Q2 2014, bus riders in Mannheim, Germany will get to see the technology firsthand, as buses using the technology will be put into operation for a 12-month trial. The German bus trial will be operated by regional carrier called Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH (RNV) and will be conducted along the intercity bus routes.
Bombardier spokesperson Marc Laforge says that the electric bus technology would be appealing to governments looking for electric buses that don't need overhead wires. The same technology used in the buses could also be used in light railway systems and even for cars.
A similar system for electric trams surfaced in Korea back in 2010.
Sources: CBA, Bombardier [PDF]
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