Skip to main content

Berlin introduces wirelessly-charged electric bus Line

Berlin has become the first capital city to introduce a wirelessly charged electric bus, as part of a project funded by Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure. The Berlin Transport Authority, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) has introduced four Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses equipped with the Bombardier Primove inductive charging system and traction equipment from Vossloh Kiepe. The buses now operate on the 6.1 kilometre line 204 between Südkreuz and Zoologischer Garten (Hertzallee). Vos
September 4, 2015 Read time: 2 mins

Berlin has become the first capital city to introduce a wirelessly charged electric bus, as part of a project funded by Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure.
The Berlin Transport Authority, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (7580 BVG) has introduced four Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses equipped with the Bombardier Primove inductive charging system and traction equipment from Vossloh Kiepe.

The buses now operate on the 6.1 kilometre line 204 between Südkreuz and Zoologischer Garten (Hertzallee). Vossloh Kiepe’s electric drive ensures the vehicles are not only emission-free, but also produce low vibration and noise, benefitting both passengers and the environment.

Each bus will be charged wirelessly and contactlessly via 513 Bombardier’s inductive Primove technology which enables the buses to recharge in just a few minutes.

Bombardier claims that the Primove battery system, with a total capacity of 90 kilowatt hours, offers sufficient energy reserves to handle even Berlin’s most demanding routes. In addition, the wireless charging system is well shielded so that the electromagnetic radiation is lower than that of a conventional induction cooker. To fully charge the batteries overnight and air condition the passenger compartment before starting operation, four stationary and one mobile charging station were also installed by Vossloh Kiepe at the BVG depot. There the buses are supplied with power via charging cables.

Like all BVG’s electric powered vehicles, the new Solaris Urbino 12 electric buses are powered exclusively with green electricity. BVG says that within one year, the four electric buses on the line 204 will travel a total of approximately 200,000 kilometres, saving 260 tons of CO2 emissions.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • UK trial of electric cars proves they are greener
    June 14, 2013
    Experts leading a major three-year trial into the impact of electric vehicles and the role they could play in our transport systems of the future, have shown that rolling them out across our city’s roads would protect both our health and the environment. Data gathered and analysed by transport experts at the UK’s Newcastle University shows that daytime air pollution levels in our towns and cities regularly exceed the Government’s recommended 40µg m-3 (21 parts per billion) for prolonged periods, putting peo
  • Swiftmile e-scooter hubs arrive in Miami 
    June 24, 2021
    Swiftmile says it hopes to roll out 100 charging hubs for 800 vehicles by end of 2022 
  • Continental focusing on LED headlight innovations
    March 14, 2014
    Used until now in vehicle exterior lighting primarily for daytime running lights, tail lights, indicators, automotive supplier Continental claims light-emitting diodes (LEDs) now provide sufficient luminosity to function as low-beam or high-beam lights as well in irradiating the vehicle surroundings. LEDs offer numerous advantages over halogen or xenon lights. They are more efficient and offer a higher degree of safety. The light emitted by the LED is more like sunlight than other light sources and is t
  • Mass production zero emission vehicle to be released
    September 21, 2012
    Following the success of its Nissan LEAF electric car, Nissan is now in the final development phase of its second mass produced zero emission vehicle: the Nissan e-NV200 compact van. Nissan has been working with FedEx Express since late last year to develop the vehicle with the delivery company seen as an ideal partner because of its fleet of 130 all-electric vehicles globally. The company says the electric van will boast an all-electric drivetrain based on the Nissan LEAF. Its power comes from a lithium-io