Is electric bus the only way? Looking at hybrid trolleybuses as a path for more efficient electrification of public transport

Kargul, Piotr

4. term

Sustaianable Cities, Master

2020

2020-09-04

Electric vehicles in public transport, despite higher costs compared to ones with internal combustion engine, offer significant environmental and social benefits, and directly meet climate goals. Their implementation is therefore necessary and urgent. The remaining question is to select the most appropriate type of vehicle. Electric buses are gaining ground in the last time more and more implementation cases. However, due to operational limitations and thus increased costs, electric buses have difficulties in achieving the required scale of implementation. In turn, trolleybuses that do not have these limitations are associated with the need to build expensive traction infrastructure. Therefore, the concept of in-motion-charging and hybrid trolleybus has emerged. This paper examines their feasability and potential. Based on the experience of the considered network in Berlin-Spandau, the paper makes a critical discussion of the data found there. Considering both the economic viability in terms of lifecycle costs and environmental sustainability, it was possible to confirm that the hybrid trolleybus is a profitable solution and can be recommended for the default electrification of the public transport network.

electric bus, hybrid trolleybus, elektrification of public transport

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