Personally, I think #Methanol #FuelCell will be the way forward simply because Methanol solves the problems of storage, logistics, recharging and scalability quite well without demaning band new infrastructure.

• You get higher #EnergyDensity than a #LithiumIon / #LithiumCobalt #battery and #hydrogen without metric tons of highly reactive metals that are prone to ugly, almost non-extinguishable fires and we don't need overhead wires for cars (tho #Trolleybuses are superior to #Diesel buses when #Trams ain't an option and a funicular would be overkill...

@straphanger Personally I see no reason to be against #Trolleybuses or better yet #Trams - tho a #Trolleybus can climb way higher gradients than a #Tram so it's way better of an option.

And if for some reason we can't accept overhead wires, we should consider #Methaol - #Fuelcells as they provide the quick refueling abilities of #Diesel with the efficiencies of #electric and without the heavy deadweight of #Hydrogen pressure tanks...

Electric-powered “tram-style” mass rapid transit “using its own road lane” - I’m sure I’m not the only one saying “please let it be trolley buses!”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn5q3e12x93o

#Transport #TransportPlanning #TrolleyBuses

@GuelphOnTwoWheels @reece better than diesel buses in most cases, would be to recognize how very far the system is from a bus every five minutes, invest in overhead wires and a fleet of #trolleybuses with much smaller battery packs that only need to handle a few off-trunk miles. In many cities that would mean raising much more ongoing revenue than the current fare box, and restructuring to deliver better governance and fareless transit might be the only way to get there from here.

Bishkek’s Tender to Convert Trolleybuses into Electric Buses Fails, Again

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://timesca.com/bishkeks-tender-to-convert-trolleybuses-into-electric-buses-fails-again/

#Gdynia is one of the three polish cities where #trolleybuses are still in operation #publictransport #poland #TransportPubliczny 🚎

@KarlHeinzHasliP @denki Personally, I think that standardized #batteries that get swapped would've been the solution to the charging speed problem.

#BEV|s are a problem and the #EnergyDensity and #Charging problems are hard walls that can only be circumvented (i.e. swapping fluids at a #RedoxFlow-#Battery) or ignored (i.e. #Methanol #FuelCell)...

• Personally, I think #Trolleybuses are the best option if #Trams & #Trains ain't feasible (i.e. steep grates like in #Solingen) and the few edgecases that'll never get 24/7 once per hour bus service or even an on-call minibus need to get more efficient without #ConflictMinerals from #UnfairTrade (i.e. #Cobalt) and destruction of unique habitats (i.e. #Lithium)...

Solving the #EnergyProblem isn't a technological issue, but a political one (see #DESERTEC)...

On 5 April 2025, in #France, the Communauté Urbaine du Grand #Nancy and #Keolis Grand Nancy launched the upgraded all-electric ‘Tempo 1’ trolleybus line, featuring 15 lighTram® 25 DC vehicles from Swiss manufacturer HESS. The 9.78 km route between Vandœuvre-Brabois and Essey-Mouzimpré operates approximately 62% on overhead lines, with the remaining sections powered by batteries through a dynamic charging system. Charging at the depot is carried out via plug-in. The introduction of these battery #trolleybuses was well received by passengers, local authorities, and the media, representing a significant advancement in reducing emissions and enhancing urban mobility in France.
https://www.hess-ag.ch/company/news/news-detail/news/detail/News/successful-commissioning-in-nancy.html?L=2&cHash=0ce94e806bdc7d8dadc1db88ced4833e

Bishkek Activists Demand Comeback for City’s Scrapped Trolleybuses

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://timesca.com/bishkek-activists-demand-comeback-for-citys-scrapped-trolleybuses/

Škoda Group will deliver 46 trolleybuses to #Esslingen, #Germany, as part of a €41.4 million contract to support the city's transition to emission-free public transport. The vehicles, which will be delivered by 2026, include 12-metre and 18-metre models, with an option for 15 more. Equipped with batteries for up to 25 km of #autonomous operation and regenerative braking, the #trolleybuses will feature enhanced passenger comfort, including comfortable seating, electric ramps, and onboard Wi-Fi. The new fleet will help Esslingen achieve its goal of climate neutrality by 2040, making it one of the first #German cities with fully emission-free local #transport. Škoda’s role in Germany’s emission-free #mobility market continues to grow, with projects like the world’s longest tram for Rhein-Neckar-Verkehr GmbH.
https://skodagroup.com/press-release/skoda-group-to-deliver-46-trolleybuses-to-the-city-of-esslingen

When going over ${city I grew up in}'s zero emissions transit plan for 2045 I noticed that they want to have a fleet entirely of BEBs (battery-electric-buses) and hydrogen buses. No mention of trolley buses which I found weird because they're really good zero emissions transit (even better than BEBs in most cases imo).

After doing some digging I found the 2015 report that theyre basing their 2045 plan off of, and trolleys weren't even considered. The only electric bus they considered were BEBs.

And now Im seriously debating reaching out to the fleet transition manager to ask/comment about it <w<

#publictransit #trolleybus #trolleybuses

@CppGuy One word: #Tetraetyllead

• But fear not, when a #BEV's battery has a #ThermalRunoff (cuz they use shitty #LiCo ( #LiPo / #LiIon) and not #LiFePO4) they'll release a white cloud of #FluoricAcid #vapours and then start a #MetalFire that is basically "unextinguishable" (as in the only proven strategy is to throw dry sandbags in it and hope it glasses itself like the #ElephantsFoot from #Chornobyl...

IMHO it'll be inevitable that #Methanol #FuelCell-based #EV|s will be the future simply because:
1.#Lithium is scarce & expensive
2.#refueling will always be faster than #charging
3.#EnergyDensity of Methanol exceeds that of any #battery
4.#FussilFuel #Corporations can simply switchover pumps and flex their #EconomyOfScale and existing #Logistics to flood the market with cheap Methanol even if it has to be made 100% sustainable and without any fossil resources.
5.#EnergyStorage is another problem and #FuelCells can replace both #EmergencyPower systems running if #Diesel as well as the average #gasoline #generator.

Not to mention there needs to be #SystemChangeNotClimateChange and that necessitates way better #PublicTransport, regardless if #Trains, #Trams, #Trolleybuses or #FuelcellBuses (in that order)...

• Otherwise shit won't change.

OFC what any #BEVs won't fix is the fact that most particle emissions are #tire #brake #dust...

• And those are inherebtly unavoidable.unless we want to sacrifice #RoadSafety!

New, stronger batteries to boost King County Metro’s trolley bus fleet
https://kingcountymetro.blog/2024/12/10/new-stronger-batteries-to-boost-king-county-metros-trolley-bus-fleet/
#KingCountyMetro #trolleybuses #Batteries #News

@lmc overhead wires without any tracks in the street to fell cyclists? Do #trolleybuses really exist?

Oh when I was staying in Milano, one of the coolest things was that I could hear the 90/91 Circolare trolleybuses and the 93 trolleybus from the hotel. It was so cool. I love #trolleybuses so much.

@simonbp @reece either way I think #battery-#electric vehicles are a bad solution compared to #Methanol #Fuelcells or even better actual #Electrification like with #Trolleybuses and #Trams and #Trains!

Suppose I wanted to only ride #PublicTransit that runs on #electricity, *not* fossil fuels. (Silly, I know.)

Is there a #map of what lines / transit systems are electrified? If not, what would be the best way to create such a map? (I mostly care about the USA, but examples from other places would also be welcome.) Is there a way to prioritize electric routes when routing with OpenStreetMap data?

This shouldn't be limited to #trains, #trolleybuses are cool too.

#electrification #transportation

@tk that's because in the #USA, #Car manufacturers were allowed to buy up #PublicTransport networks for the purpose of destroying them since neither #Trams nor #Trains nor #Trolleybuses are considered #Infrastructure!

@GreenFire not really...

They still make a shitton of money with other products from oil and gas, like plastics, fertilizer and pharmaceuticals or rather the base products for all these.

Nit to mention that I think that if they didn't diversify their portfolios by now they're so bad businesspeople that they deserve to get obsoleted.

Not that Lithium-battery cars are going to save the world , far from it.

Rather look at howthe oil andncar industry not only sabotaged #PublicTransport with lobbyism and hostile takeovers but also FUD and propaganda.

In fact, #ElonMisk admitted that he solely pitched the #Hyperloop in order to sabotage #CHSR / #California #HighSpeedRail...

#Trains and #Trolleybuses, not #BatteryCars will be the nevessary shift to reduce trafcic-based emissions!