Following extensive on-road testing, Brisbane City Council’s ‘Brisbane Metro’ project has officially placed an order with Swiss manufacturer Hess for 60 high-capacity battery electric “trackless trams”.
The Brisbane Metro project – billed as “a new era of connected transport that will link the city to the suburbs – was first announced in 2016, and make it easier to connect with the people and places you love” – was announced all the way back in 2016.
In 2019, Brisbane Council announced its plans to order 60 all-electric and high-capacity public transport vehicles from Swiss vehicle maker Hess AG, and has now confirmed the order after a successful trial of the first of these bi-articulated and battery-powered trackless trams that arrived in April.
The trackless trams are basically a very long bus with three carriages connected by two articulation segments. They measure 24.5 metres in length and will be used on Brisbane’s existing busway system.
Alex Naef, CEO of Hess said the trams had been designed to provide easily accessible mobility aid bays, including an automatic electric ramp, and hearing loops, and the driver feedback has also been very positive, particularly with stability and manoeuvrability.
“The lighTram 25 offers something unique in the Australian transport sector: a vehicle capable of quietly, efficiently and sustainably transporting large numbers of people, all while providing an elevated passenger experience,” Naef said.
The 60 lighTram 25 trackless trams will be powered by Australia’s first ever flash charging system which can charge the vehicle in under six minutes using an overhead pantograph infrastructure.
15 of the 600kW flash chargers will be set up at ‘end of route’ locations while another 60 50kW slow chargers will be deployed at the Metro depot. All the charging solutions will be delivered by Hitachi Energy in partnership with Hess and will be delivered and installed in time for the introduction of the Metro fleet.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.