The Electric Routemaster
Routemaster RML2646 in service: Chris Sampson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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A New Future for Classic Buses? #
Spare parts for the famous Routemasters and other vintage buses are becoming scarce and the skills to service these fine vehicles is gradually being lost. Is the Electric Routemaster a possible solution to keep buses like these running for years to come?
Routemaster RML2646 in service: Chris Sampson, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The RML2646 as a Dualway Coaches tour bus, Dublin (2011): William Murphy from Dublin, Ireland (original file), cropped by User:Ultra7, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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The Electric Routemaster: Video by Pete And His Bus #
The RML2646 can continue to be a London Tour Bus for a few more years.
5 key points from this video
- This bus has a range of 120 miles - guaranteed for 10 years
- It only takes 3 hours to charge - not fast charge
- it has 5 batteries, with a combined capacity of 200 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
- The bus is powered by one electric motor
- The chassis, prop, diff, brakes are all original