State of the Art Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Electrification
6 x 450 kW
Pantograph chargers
15 Year
Bus operator contract
1100 Tonnes of CO₂
Saved per year
Challenge
Kent County Council (KCC) operates Fastrack Thameside — a high-frequency Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network running on dedicated lanes since 2006 and carrying 2.75 million passengers per year.
With £9.5 million ZeBRA funding, Fastrack BRT committed to going electric. The transition required specialist opportunity charging infrastructure across two locations to support 28 Go-Ahead electric BRT buses operating in Gravesend and Dartford.
The challenge was to:
- Deliver reliable opportunity charging at route endpoints
- Support continuous BRT operations without extended downtime
- Integrate seamlessly with existing high-frequency service
- Align with KCC’s net-zero targets
Solution
KCC appointed VEV to build, manage and maintain specialist opportunity charging infrastructure across the Fastrack Thameside and Dover networks.
The solution included:
- Installation of 6 high-powered 450 kW pantograph chargers
- Opportunity charging at three locations
- Rapid top-up charging in under 6 minutes at route endpoints while passengers remain onboard
- Long-term infrastructure support aligned with a 15-year operator contract
The pantograph system enables lighter batteries and continuous power delivery, optimised for high-frequency BRT operations.
"We were confident VEV understood our innovative requirements and had the skills and knowledge to build, manage & maintain our bus charging infrastructure for Fastrack Electric BRT. We also felt VEV were aligned with our ambitious environmental goals and Fastrack Electric programme to achieve net zero by 2030."
Outcome
- Reliable high-power opportunity charging integrated into live BRT routes
- Electrification of 28 buses serving2.75 million passengers annually
- Rapid sub-6-minute top-up charging supporting continuous service
- Predicted annual carbon emissions savings of 1,100tonnes
The project demonstrates how high-frequency BRT networks can electrify successfully using opportunity charging rather than large depot-based systems.
"We were confident VEV understood our innovative requirements and had the skills and knowledge to build, manage & maintain our bus charging infrastructure for Fastrack Electric BRT. We also felt VEV were aligned with our ambitious environmental goals and Fastrack Electric programme to achieve net zero by 2030."
More than 1 in 5 UK buses charge, operate and cut cost using VEV IQ.
Councils and bus operators are leading the way with the take up of electric vehicles to decarbonise and meet net zero targets. Electric buses improve local air quality and reduce noise pollution, providing a positive impact on local communities.
Detail
Kent County Council is the country’s largest council, serving 1.7 million people across 12 local authority districts.
The Fastrack Electric BRT project integrates high-powered pantograph charging infrastructure with a long-term operational framework, enabling continuous power delivery for long bus operations while maintaining passenger service.
Through opportunity charging and high-capacity infrastructure, the network is positioned to support long-term decarbonisation while maintaining the performance expected from a Bus Rapid Transit system.
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