+- North East Buses (https://northeastbuses.co.uk)
+-- Forum: Local Bus Scene (https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=1)
+--- Forum: Management & Infrastructure (https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?fid=3)
+--- Thread: TFL to consider pantographs (/showthread.php?tid=3423)
TFL to consider pantographs - 8222 - 01 Jun 2021
Thoughts?
https://www.ianvisits.co.uk/blog/2021/06/01/could-the-pantograph-make-a-return-to-londons-buses/?fbclid=IwAR0eVp93EQqh8p-5UfJC02EMg_lcUUuHVpBqjEKr_Gzb0EC6FUznNdoloqA
TFL to consider pantographs - cbma06 - 01 Jun 2021
A trial of a new electric bus in South London could see the pantograph return to London’s buses, some 60 years after the last Trolleybus ran in London.
Not the same as the old system though, as these pantographs will be upside down, mounted on fixed locations with the buses driving up to them to recharge their batteries.
If you’re not familiar with the term, a pantograph is the unit mounted on the roof of an electric vehicle, typically a train or tram to collect electricity through contact with an overhead wire.
The latest development is part of TfL’s plans to convert its bus fleet to zero-emission at the point of use, by switching them to electric supply. A number of bus garages are already switching to electric buses, and this works well for around three-quarters of London’s buses which have compact routes and can return to the garage for a battery top-up. However, that leaves about a quarter of bus routes unsuitable for that sort of conversion to electric battery operation.
A trial of a hydrogen double-decker bus will investigate that alternative, but TfL says that it has high costs and a limited supply chain. So, they’re looking to test an idea for “opportunity charged” buses, which have their batteries topped up along the route at convenient locations, by overhead power supplies.
The trial being proposed is along Route 358, which runs along a long path between Crystal Palace and Orpington. The route is currently served by a fleet of single-deck diesel buses, which will be replaced by the sleek looking “ie tram” from Spanish bus and coach maker, Irizar.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
RE: TFL to consider pantographs - N1cholas - 01 Jun 2021
The technology already exists and is in use in some places already, but what happens if a bus is running late? do they have to wait a few mins to recharge or do they risk not fully charging and leaving straight away? what happens in the charging infrastructure stops working due to a fault, do the buses just not run? don't think this will work on longer distance routes outside of cities unless charging points were installed frequently along the way which would be costly, not just for the installation but the maintenance and the risk of vandalism, technology is evolving very quickly and it wont be much longer until a long range battery is available for buses just like they have evolved to with cars, now able to travel greater distances to when they first came around, electric buses are still a new concept considering how long battery operated vehicles have been around but one day all vehicles will be battery powered, I hope it is a success
RE: TFL to consider pantographs - Adrian - 01 Jun 2021
Sounds very similar to what is in use for the Harrogate Electrics? They charge on pantographs every time they're back at Harrogate bus station, which gives them enough charge to keep on going etc.
I did a bit of a write up on this during Feb last year: https://www.busesandbeyond.co.uk/2020/02/02/harrogate-electrics-green-town-travel/