In October last year the Zurich Public Transport (VBZ) placed an order for twelve 24 m long double-articulated trolleybuses of the type "lighTram" with Vossloh Kiepe and Hess AG. These buses have been equipped with traction batteries for fully electrical operation. After a very short planning period of only one year the impressive vehicles are now being delivered little by little.
The delivery of the innovative battery-operated lighTrams to Zurich one after the other began a few weeks ago. Eleven of the altogether twelve double-articulated trolleybuses are already being operated in the normal line service by now. The low noise and the zero emissions of these state-of-the-art buses are particularly (un-)remarkable.
A combination of overhead contact line operation and energy storage via lithium ion batteries makes zero emission operation possible. Instead of the usual diesel generator sets the trolleybuses have been equipped with traction batteries. Thus, these battery-operated lighTrams do not only stand out due to their extremely high transport capacity, but also due to their particular and sustainable environment-friendliness.
The traction batteries are being recharged when the trolleybus is being energised via the overhead contact line and when brake energy is being saved. This recharge follows via a high-capacity battery charging device integrated into the roof-mounted equipment enclosure. Thus, it is possible to operate the trolleybus fully electrically for up to ten kilometres without an overhead contact line. It is the intention to daily drive the trolleybuses in the battery mode in 1.5 km long sections.
The delivery of the innovative battery-operated lighTrams to Zurich one after the other began a few weeks ago. Eleven of the altogether twelve double-articulated trolleybuses are already being operated in the normal line service by now. The low noise and the zero emissions of these state-of-the-art buses are particularly (un-)remarkable.
A combination of overhead contact line operation and energy storage via lithium ion batteries makes zero emission operation possible. Instead of the usual diesel generator sets the trolleybuses have been equipped with traction batteries. Thus, these battery-operated lighTrams do not only stand out due to their extremely high transport capacity, but also due to their particular and sustainable environment-friendliness.
The traction batteries are being recharged when the trolleybus is being energised via the overhead contact line and when brake energy is being saved. This recharge follows via a high-capacity battery charging device integrated into the roof-mounted equipment enclosure. Thus, it is possible to operate the trolleybus fully electrically for up to ten kilometres without an overhead contact line. It is the intention to daily drive the trolleybuses in the battery mode in 1.5 km long sections.
