Wirelessly charged electric buses are taking on a rigorous route in the Milton Keynes in their first ever outing in the UK.

Eight battery-powered buses will run 17 hours a day, seven days a week, each one covering more 56,000 miles per year.

Run by transport operator Arriva, the five year trial begins on 19 January and will be carefully monitored to see how the buses shape up versus diesel ones.

During scheduled breaks, wireless charging plates set into the road will transfer power directly to receiving plates underneath the bus. This technique is based on the principles of electrical induction.

In 10 minutes, a bus parked over one of two charging points can replenish two-thirds of the energy used on the 15-mile route.

Arriva said the buses will remove roughly five tonnes of particulates and noxious tailpipe emissions from the city’s streets each year and around 270 tonnes of CO2 per year from the atmosphere.

Baroness Kramer, Minister of State for Transport who launched the trial this week said: “These ultra-low emission buses will offer the travelling public a quieter, smoother journey as well as cutting carbon and improving air quality.”

Milton Keynes Cllr Andrew Geary added: “A shift to greener modes of transport benefits the whole city and could in turn provide a template for other councils to use. Route 7 buses carry nearly 800,000 passengers each year, so it’s the perfect way to really put electric buses through their paces.”