Fastest charging electric bus operationalised in China

BEIJING: The world's fastest rechargeable electric bus that takes just 10 seconds to be fully charged has been put into operation in China.

The bus was put into service in Chinese city of Ningbo yesterday.

The bus operates a 11-km route with 24 stops in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, state-run Xinhua news agency reported today.

In the next three years, a total of 1,200 such buses will be used for public transport in the city, where the electric bus plant is located.

The bus recharges while stationary or while passengers get on or off, and each charge enables the bus to run for at least five kms, Zhou Qinghe, president of Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive - a subsidiary of high-speed train maker China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) - said.

In addition, the bus, which rolled off production line in April, consumes 30 to 50 per cent less energy than other electric vehicles.

The capacitor can be charged one million times and has a 10-year life cycle, the report said.