The latest electric tram technology could be heading to Australia in the next year following the news that the first Irizar ie trams will start operating on London’s 358 route.
Starting on London’s longest bus lines in between Crystal Palace and Orpington, the project will see Irizar electrify the first bus line with ultra-fast opportunity charging in London.
It could soon be on the way to Australia, with Irizar Asia Pacific managing director Steve Heanes teasing the product and its likelihood of arriving in Australia.
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When asked about the year ahead, Heanes was cagey after detailing a string of maintenance products that Irizar will launch. With new coach and charter vehicles featuring improved safety features also in the works for late 2025, another project is bubbling away under the service for the growing bodybuilder.
“We’re looking to expand our alternative fuel offerings, but rather than focusing on the traditional electric bus market, we’re more interested in developing e-trams, which align better with our goals,” Heanes told ABC.
“We’re interested in the bus rapid transit (BRT) scenario and 18m long vehicles, but we can’t say much more than that at the moment.”
The Irizar ie model in London is a 100 per cent electric, 12m long bus that has been acquired by Go Ahead Group, part of the Kinetic Group. They are the first right-hand drive models made of the Irizar ie and the first to be used in the UK, featuring zero-emissions, low noise and low vibrations.
Irizar e-mobility is also providing chargers from Jema Energy, an Irizar Group member company, two ultra-fast 450kW chargers for the line ends and 100kW chargers for the depot.
“We think the 18m model might alleviate some concerns around 12m city buses,” Heanes says.
“With there still being supply chain issues in Australia, we’re hoping to decrease that and look at bringing in some new product in 2025.”
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