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In a US first, Seattle to deploy double-decker electric buses with inductive wireless charging

Seattle will become the first in the US to deploy double-decker electric buses with inductive wireless charging technology.

Sound Transit, Seattle’s public transit agency, has ordered 33 Alexander Dennis Enviro500EV double-decker electric buses and 15 60-foot articulated electric buses. They’ll be powered by 13 300 kW in-ground inductive chargers made by King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based wireless EV charging company InductEV.

The double-decker buses, which will feature a Voith Electrical Drive System and have increased energy storage capacity, are scheduled for delivery in 2026. UK-based Alexander Dennis’s partner, Big Rig Manufacturing, will build them in the US.

The electric buses will serve the Sound Transit’s new Stride bus rapid transit. It’s being developed along Interstate 405 to link the areas north, east, and south of Lake Washington. Sound Transit will charge its buses on route and in depots since nearly half of the electricity in the Puget Sound region comes from renewables.

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Top comment by ScottM

Liked by 9 people

Correction needed.

"Sound Transit" is the regional bus/train system.

"Seattle Metro" is the Seattle city/King county bus system.

So it's not Seattle that's getting these buses, it's the surrounding area. They both overlap. Sounds Transit buses and trains do drop people off in downtown Seattle, usually when you are coming from another county. And Metro buses run all over King county, not just the city.

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InductEV’s technology is currently in use or scheduled for deployment in about 100 electric buses throughout Washington State, along with 35 InductEV in-ground wireless charging pads.

Read more: This new electric school bus has a 300-mile range


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Avatar for Michelle Lewis Michelle Lewis

Michelle Lewis is a writer and editor on Electrek and an editor on DroneDJ, 9to5Mac, and 9to5Google. She lives in White River Junction, Vermont. She has previously worked for Fast Company, the Guardian, News Deeply, Time, and others. Message Michelle on Twitter or at michelle@9to5mac.com. Check out her personal blog.