Reading Buses (RB) is trialling a fully electric bus in a first for the town and surrounding area.
The vehicle in question is a converted Alexander Dennis Enviro400H hybrid double-decker.
It will be the first fully electric bus put in regular service in the Thames Valley outside London and explores the capabilities of all-electric technology in buses.
The vehicle was previously a diesel-electric hybrid, with battery charge topped up by a diesel engine. RB replaced the engine with more batteries to experiment with entirely electric technology.
CEO of Reading Buses Robert Williams says the trials help it to see how it “performs in a real-world scenario.”
However, Mr Williams adds that more investment in charging infrastructure is necessary before a wider roll out.
“In the meantime, Reading Buses is still very much committed to using compressed natural gas,” he says. “Work is also underway to retrofit all remaining diesel vehicles to the latest standards.”
The bus will shortly be given a new exterior design so it can be spotted easily.
