Toshiba develops electric-powered bus with short charging time

Small buses owned by Tokyo's Minato Ward, in Japan, will be retrofitted by with new motors and lithium-ion cells developed by electronics major Toshiba. In fiscal 2013, the Ward aims to start full operations of the electric-powered buses and conduct pilot runs by end-fiscal 2012. The Ward intends to deploy the buses for short journeys in housing locations, as the buses need to be recharged after a trip about 12km in a bid to maintain the battery level higher than 50 per cent. At this level of battery status
May 1, 2012 Read time: 1 min
Small buses owned by Tokyo's Minato Ward, in Japan, will be retrofitted by with new motors and lithium-ion cells developed by electronics major 5392 Toshiba. In fiscal 2013, the Ward aims to start full operations of the electric-powered buses and conduct pilot runs by end-fiscal 2012.

The Ward intends to deploy the buses for short journeys in housing locations, as the buses need to be recharged after a trip about 12km in a bid to maintain the battery level higher than 50 per cent. At this level of battery status, the buses only require five minutes of charging time, which is a quarter of time needed with regular lithium-ion battery.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Substantial savings from smarter street lighting
    February 25, 2015
    As authorities strive to reduce expenditure and carbon emissions, Colin Sowman looks at some of the smart ways of managing street lighting while containing costs and maintaining safety. Street lighting can account for 40% of an authority’s energy consumption. So, faced with the need to reduce outgoings, some authorities are looking for smart ways of managing street lighting or even turning off swathes of street lights in the small hours. Back in 2008 the E-street Initiative report concluded that authorities
    Read More
  • AmeriTram demonstrated in Dallas
    April 25, 2012
    Kinkisharyo International, a supplier of low-floor, light-rail vehicles in North America, has undertaken a demonstration in Dallas, Texas, for officials and invited guests of the AmeriTram, the company’s prototype of the 100 per cent low-floor, electro-hybrid streetcar specifically designed for North America.
    Read More
  • Cable cars come of age in trans-continental expansion
    April 30, 2015
    David Crawford explores a high-level option of public transport. Sharing its origin with that of ski lifts at winter sports resorts in the European Alps, urban aerial cable transport is attracting growing interest as a low-footprint, low-energy alternative to conventional public transport that can swoop over ground-level traffic congestion.
    Read More
  • Wireless charging project could change perceptions of electric vehicles
    October 10, 2012
    A two-year pilot project has begun in London with taxi firm Addison Lee and electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer Renault, which uses the principle of magnetic induction to jump electricity from a base station direct to the vehicle’s battery to deliver wireless charging. The charging technology being used is called Halo and has been developed by mobile innovations company Qualcomm, the organisation responsible for processors powering the latest generation of smartphones and tablets. ‘EV drivers will opt for th
    Read More

Highlighted Content