Opportunity charging rolled out on London route

Energy specialist Jema Energy has been contracted by Go-Ahead-owned Metrobus for the electrification of London bus route 358, which runs approximately 16 miles (longer than standard). It has installed two opportunity charging stations using inverted pantographs to electrify the line, along with fire detection and extinguishing systems. Using this system, buses can be fully charged at the start of each day and use a pantograph to charge via overhead wires at both ends of the route – Orpington and Crystal Palace. This has been the first route in London to use this technology.

The project has been used to validate the future corridor of opportunity charging points planned for London.

The equipment supplied by Jemma include two charging stations comprising a 500 kW charger feeding the buses via an OppCharge inverted pantograph, as well as a set of auxiliary systems for monitoring, control and protection.

Route 358 is earmarked for the introduction of Irizar ieTram electric buses later this year.