UK / Spain – Bus and Coach manufacturer, Irizar eMobility of Aduna, Spain (part of the Irizar Group of Ormaiztegi, Spain) launched the 12-metre right-hand drive ie tram electric bus at the Euro Bus Expo, in Birmingham, this month.

The ie tram is the first of the range to be manufactured in right-hand drive and is also the first to be launched in the UK. This particular ‘tram’ bus, along with 19 others, is destined for service with operator Go Ahead, together with the charging infrastructure supplied by JEMA Energy SA (also part of the Irizar Group), to electrify the South London 358 route. Irizar-manufactured batteries will power the bus which will be charged between trips using two fast-charging inverted pantograph systems that have been installed at the end of the 358 line, at Crystal Palace and Orpington Bus Stations, allowing the buses to be charged in less than five minutes. Overnight charging will be used at the depots to take the charge to 100% in readiness for the next day - this will take no more than an hour.