The next stage of Canberra’s light rail will be wire-free and battery powered, thanks to new onboard energy storage systems.

The storage systems, which includes batteries, control electronics and thermal management systems, charges while on wired sections of track and also captures energy through regenerative braking.

The fleet-wide upgrade will enable battery-powered, wire-free travel between Alinga Street and Commonwealth Park and the future extension of light rail through the National Triangle.

This is the first time the tech has been retrofit onto Light Rail Vehicles within Australia.