UCLA’s olympic-ready wirelessly charged e-shuttle
Powered by Electreon, UCLA’s BruinBus shuttle fleet is going wireless and setting a new standard in clean campus transit. Backed by a major state grant, the University is gearing up to fully transition its buses to 100% electric ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The plan includes nine brand-new e-buses equipped with Electreon’s wireless charging system, plus five existing electric buses retrofitted with receivers. Together, they’ll keep UCLA moving—quietly, cleanly, and cable-free.
How? Dynamic charging coils are being embedded under a key stretch of the route, so buses can “sip power” while cruising. At pick-up and drop-off stops, stationary charging will give them quick top-ups—like grabbing an energy snack between classes. Even the overnight lot is getting wireless, so charging never misses a beat.
This hybrid approach—dynamic plus stationary—means buses won’t be tied down to plugs, schedules, or bulky batteries. Instead, they’ll enjoy more uptime, lower costs, and smarter use of the grid—for zero tailpipe emissions.
But the vision doesn’t stop at campus. UCLA aims to expand wireless charging into a connected corridor, opening the system to passenger cars, trucks, and other buses. By the time the Olympics arrive, athletes and visitors alike could be gliding through a city where vehicles recharge invisibly under the road. A new bus terminal will even link UCLA’s depot to the future Metro station, extending wireless charging across additional neighborhoods.
The project also proves interoperability: one charging system for many vehicle types. Scalable, future-ready, and student-approved—it’s UCLA leading the way, and setting the gold standard for universities everywhere.
