USA: First Electric Vehicles Are Now Driving Through Universal Studios Hollywood

During the “Studio Tour“ experience, visitors to Universal Studios Hollywood are are able to marvel at original film or television sets from an open bus-like vehicle. Now, four of these 21 vehicles have been replaced with electric motorised ones. “I am extremely proud of this innovative undertaking and our commitment to creating a zero-emissions Studio Tour fleet in collaboration with our parent company and local partners. This is just one of many steps we are taking to transform our business in line with Comcast NBCUniversal’s carbon neutral goal, all while pioneering first-class attractions for our guests,” said Scott Strobl, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Universal Studios Hollywood.

In the future, all of the diesel-hydraulic vehicles will be replaced by electric cars, which is not only to reduce emissions but also the noise. The new vehicles are particularly energy-efficient thanks to a regenerative braking function that ensures that the trams charge themselves, for example, when going downhill through the braking process. Using the inductive charging technology WAVE by Ideanomics, the vehicles can be fully recharged wirelessly at the beginning and end of their tours. The four new vehicles were funded by a grant from the South Coast Air Quality Management District, parent company Comcast NBCUniversal, and electric utility Southern California Edison through its “Charge Ready Transport Program“. (eap)