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Electric cars to be allowed in UK bus lanes London, Milton Keynes, Bristol, and Nottingham will share £40 million from the government to improve electric vehicle infrastructure. As part of the initiative, drivers of electric cars will also be allowed to drive in bus lanes. The money, from the governments Go Ultra Low City Scheme, will mostly be used to install new electric car service stations and street lights that double as charging points. Thousands of parking spaces will also be made free for electric cars, including 20,000 in Milton Keynes alone. See http://ift.tt/2a2JYSV

Fast charging system for electric buses - quicker than filling a tank Many companies worldwide manufacture battery powered buses. As with cars, range, charging station locations, and charging times are the biggest challenges. U.S. EV bus manufacturer Proterra has developed a fast-charging system for electric buses that can get a bus back on the road in as little as ten minutes, according to Ars Technica. The Proterra charging stations use a robotic arm that lowers down to connect to the top of the bus for charging. The stations can be most conveniently located at bus terminals or at fueling yards where diesel-powered buses go to refill. The comparison of charging to filling times is interesting, as charging is faster. “The interesting thing is these diesel buses have such massive fuel tanks — given how inefficient they are — that it takes longer to completely refill an 80- or 120-gallon diesel bus system than it does to recharge our electric vehicles,” said Proterra CEO Ryan Popple. “So we’re actually getting to the point where the vehicles that are configured for fast charge can be replenished faster than you can stick a hose in the side of a diesel bus and fill it with fuel.” Popple said the fast-charging system can provide enough charging in ten minutes for a bus with a 100kWh battery to travel about 30 miles. If it has a circular route measuring less than that distance, or a terminal turn-around at the other end of its route not more than 30 miles away (which will often be the case), using electric power could be more convenient as well cleaner for the environment than diesel buses. See http://bit.ly/29rC9mS