Canberra’s light rail fleet has received upgrades to enable the vehicles to travel without wires.

Fourteen existing vehicles have been retrofitted with on-board energy storage systems (OESS), as part of the Light Rail Procurement, Retrofit and Depot Expansion (LPRDE) Project.

Five new vehicles have also been added to the fleet, which are already equipped with the new technology.

Under Light Rail Stage 2A – an extension to the light rail network which is currently under construction – vehicles will travel wire-free between the Alinga Street and Commonwealth Park stops.

The new OESS technology removes the need for lineside poles and wires, reducing impacts on sensitive national areas and maintaining city views.

Other benefits include a narrower track area and less disruption to street space.

Each OESS contains batteries, control electronics and a thermal management system that helps maintain optimum battery temperature in different weather conditions.

The OESS charges when the vehicles operate on wired sections of track, then uses that energy to power the vehicle on wire-free sections. Energy is also created through regenerative braking.

Each light rail vehicle was taken out of service, fitted with batteries, and tested before returning to operations.