Among the advantages of trolleybuses we can mention the following:
1) They do not pollute the air with any type of gas or smoke and are much quieter than diesel, gas or hybrid buses.
2) The lifespan is double that of a diesel bus. The electric motor and electronic propulsion equipment last for 20 to 25 years, then it is possible to transfer them to a new bodywork when they are fatigued after 15 years of use, and can be used for another 10 years. Thus, the starting price of a trolleybus, being slightly less than twice the price of a similar 12 meter long diesel bus and lasting more than twice as long, becomes cheaper than a diesel bus.
3) Its acceleration is continuous and automatic, without the jerks of the gear changes of a diesel bus, being much more comfortable for passengers. The power of the electric motor is much higher than that of the diesel engine, enabling trolleybuses to overcome steep slopes much faster than any diesel bus. In addition, the electric motor has an efficiency of almost 90%, while the efficiency of a diesel engine does not reach 40%, the rest being lost in the form of heat and waste.
4) Because they are quieter, do not pollute the air and have more continuous acceleration, trolleybuses are absolutely ideal for use in medium-demand and high-frequency corridors. The use of diesel, gas or hybrid buses in convoys in the corridors brings an excessive concentration of pollutants and a high, harmful and irritating noise level.
New technologies applied to trolleybuses, the power grid and converter substations are providing answers to the problems that labeled trolleybuses as vehicles without flexibility and problematic electrical networks.
Even with the emergence of vehicles that emit little pollution, such as hybrid or gas buses, electric traction, coming from an air network, is still widespread in many countries, thanks to its proven efficiency.
It allows trolleybuses to operate disconnected from the network in emergencies, deviations or even in extensions of lines without a network.
Additional traction will be provided by a motor-generator system, driven by a diesel or gas engine, or else there will be a normal diesel engine (or other fuel) to function as a regular bus. In this case it will be a “bi-modal” vehicle like the current “flex” car. The use of autonomous traction makes it possible to simplify complex networks in garages.
Automatic energy harvesting equipment:
The swivel bases are equipped with pneumatic pistons with the function of lowering the levers when the connection escapes, replacing the current mechanical recuperators.
It also has the function of automatically retracting the levers for vehicle operation disconnected from the network only with the intervention of the driver on the control panel.
Hinged mobile shoe:
The Mobile Shoes provide greater speed to the trolleybuses in curved sections thanks to their additional articulation that allows an inclination of the order of 20° from the vertical, ensuring the reduction of the action of centrifugal forces on the levers.
Bodywork with a fully lowered floor (low floor):
The low floor is possible thanks to the use of lowered and offset differential axles or even smaller electric motors, coupled directly to the traction wheels, eliminating the transverse axles.
Low-floor bodies have been the main feature encouraging the use of modern trolleybuses in other countries, as the relatively small dimensions of traditional electric motors allow them to be accommodated on the sides of the body, under the seat line.
This technology is already used in national trolleybuses, operated by EMTU and SPtrans.
Automatic guidance system:
Automatic steering control eliminates operator control on sections equipped with this system, allowing greater speed in exclusive segregated corridors, created to bring urban improvements to cities.
It can be through a central rail where a mechanical device is connected, through painted strips for optical readers or through magnets for magnetic sensors.
The support of the contact wires in the Flexible System provides greater speed to the trolleybuses and less wear on the network thanks to the pendulum supports that allow the movement of the contact wires, even at the fixing points.
Remote-operated fork switches are more effective and eliminate trolleybus pedaling hassles. Radio-control devices activated directly on the vehicle’s dashboard are used.
