Charging infrastructure for 37 new electric buses has been installed at a West London depot by Siemens Smart Infrastructure.
It was done in partnership with bus operator Tower Transit, with the Westbourne Park garage being its first depot in London to incorporate fully electric routes with power infrastructure, maintenance and charging facilities.
Siemens has provided 34 AC and four DC Sicharge units supplying a total charging power of 2MW, with the buses mostly charged overnight or during operation breaks. The chargers themselves are located on the 180-metre elevated bus deck extension built over railway lines in 2017.
Siemens is also providing a preventative maintenance programme and ongoing 24/7 service level support for the infrastructure.
The first of the Optare Metrodecker zero-emission double-deckers are already in operation, with the remaining fleet expected to be in service in the next months.
“Helping Tower Transit deliver its first depot for fully-electric routes, with these iconic double decker buses, is an important milestone for both the operator and London, as progress continues to be made with improving the air quality and lives of people in the capital,” Matthias Rebellius, managing board member of Siemens AG and CEO of Smart Infrastructure, said, adding the project helps to “reinforce Siemens’ growing reputation as one of the world’s leading providers of electrical infrastructure and transport solutions”.
In March, Siemens celebrated fully converting the UK’s first residential avenue to lamppost charging. Sutherland Avenue in London saw 24 chargers installed in collaboration with ubitricity and Westminster City Council. This followed Siemens and ubitricity partnering in 2018 to install lamppost chargers in the capital.
