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
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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