London transport officials see the latest Trolleybus technology		Following Transport for Londons summer exhibitions, officials form TfL, London Boroughs and the Thames Gateway Partnership, visit the Irisbus test track and City of Lyon transport undertaking. Event pages -   exhibition   roadshow 1   roadshow 2   downloads   links Thames Gateway Partnership Sytral Irisbus Transports en Communs Lyonnaise Promoting quiet, clean urban transport using Overhead Electric, Zero Emission Trolleybuses - email The Electric Tbus Group updated 1/2/06 >eQdigital
		In conjunction with Thames Gateway Partnership, the Electric Tbus Group was invited to inspect the Irisbus Cristalis 12m trolleybus and the 18m articulated Civis at the test track near Lyon. As the biggest purchaser of the Cristalis model, the transport operator of Lyon, TCL also invited the party and described their future commitment to Trolleybus technology. The Lyon transport authority, Systral, spoke of the modernity, comfort and accessibilty of the new vehicles.
		Cristalis 18m trolleybus   Irisbus specification Design Three-axle articulated trolleybus with 100% low-floor technology Type Cristalis ETB Vehicle width 2.550 mm Vehicle length 18.000 mm Vehicle capacity 19 + 15 tipup seats, 74 to149 standing Boarding height 305 mm ± 20 mm Headroom 2.5250 mm Tare mass 19.1 t Total mass 32.0 t (4 Pers./m2) Maximum speed 75 km/h Starting acceleration 1,3 m/s2 Braking deceleration 1,4 m/s2 Traction motor 4 wheel mounted 6 pole hub motors, glycol water cooled Type 3-phase asynchronous, Alstom 6LKA1412, 350x270mm, 170kg Nominal voltage 350 V Nominal power (each) 80 kW Max. torque (each) 350 Nm, 420 Nm peak Onboard diesel motor 4 cylinder diesel generator set Motortype 2.8 litre 4 stroke EURO II Max. power 65 kW Generator type Alternator Generator output 65 kW at 1800 rpm Generator max.power 2 x 165 kW at 1500 rpm Traction motor converter Alstom Onix 350 IGBT Direct Pulse Inverter Input voltage DC 600 V or 750 V (+25%, -33%) Output power 80 kW Design Pulse inverter operated directly at the line Cooling Glycol water to external air/water refrigeration exchanger Characteristics IGBT technology, triggering of the driver stages via fibre optics Dimensions 350x300x100mm, 18kg On-board power supply 3 AC 350/230 V, 50 Hz, 14 kVA   DC 24 V, 220 A Heating type Electrical ceramic convection heating for passenger compartment Electrical collectors 6.2m poles, min. operating height 3.9m Retarder Electrical with notch controller, dissapation via rheostat or to overhead Line voltage 600 V or 750V
		The Thames Gateway report states -   The Study Tour to Lyon/Irisbus has given Officers and Members a tangible demonstration of the non-tram rapid transit technology potentially available for implementation for Thames Gateway Transit. Much of what has been seen has impressed and provides some answer on how to give a bus-based system a tram-like image. It is also likely that the implementation of Cristalis/Civis technology, has far greater chance of persuading car drivers to switch mode to public transport. It is clear from feedback that some members of the delegation are strongly sold on trolleybuses as the solution to Thames Gateway Transit, particularly if articulated. Key advantages include lower cost and greater flexibility compared to tram, lower noise and emissions impacts and improved performance on acceleration and braking making for shorter journey times.
		Civis demonstration   Irisbus also showed the optical guidance system fitted as standard to the Civis electric traction vehicle. Developed by Matra this system provides accurate automatic steering. The major functions are - ¤ vision that analyzes the video camera image and extracts the roadway marking ¤ estimation of required trajectory by combining data from system senors that include       ¤ gyrometer       ¤ steering wheel angle encoder       ¤ steering arm encoder       ¤ speedometer ¤ computer command that sets the angular velocity set-point to apply ¤ servo control that pilots the servo acting on the vehicle steering ¤ supervisory control to ensure guidance safety Ashley Bruce, with thanks to Bruno Arabian, Jonathon Spear and Martin Wright