Trolley bus conversion to electric on track

The poles have come off Wellington Trolley Bus number 362 as it becomes the prototype self-propelled electric bus for the NZ Bus fleet.

NZ Bus are refitting a Wrightspeed battery system with a turbine range extender to number 362, and the company told Stuff it is expecting the vehicle to be operational by the middle of October.

The first trolley bus conversion is taking place in a workshop in Newlands under Wrightspeed project engineer Syste Tacoma, who was hired by Wrightspeed founder Ian Wright.

Wright saw an electric motorbike which Tacoma built for his personal use in the media, and hired him to work on the Wellington bus programme.

Number 362 will be the first in a $43 million refit of the trolleys as well as more than several hundred diesel buses. It will also future-proof the NZ Bus fleet because Wrightspeed can become fully electric as battery technology improves.

NZ Bus chief executive officer Zane Fulljames told Stuff that as the trolleys came off the road, the company will be introducing Wrightspeed or diesel buses.

The company was in discussions with Greater Wellington Regional Council over the transition for the trolley routes once they stopped next year, says Fulljames.

When the trolley bus fleet ceases operation in mid-2017, Wellington Regional Council will have to take down about 80km of wires, and the poles which are not required to support other critical infrastructure.

The bill to remove the wires and poles is expected to hit about $11m according to Stuff.