Abstract
Transport in cities is one of the most important sources of emissions. Electromobility is an essential element in the catalogue of activities of local authorities aimed at combating climate change. Over the years trolleybus transport has been characterised by both phases of development and regression and is still an essential component of zero-emission urban transport in about 300 cities worldwide. The development of electricity storage technology, especially in the form of a battery, has opened up new prospects for this mode of transport. A trolleybus equipped with a battery (in-motion charging technology) gains unique characteristics for operation independent of the catenary. This study presents the approach for assessing the development of in-motion charging for trolleybuses in all Polish cities operating this means of transport. A set of KPIs has therefore, been set and analysed. The analysis covers a comparison between 2014 and 2019, aimed at showing the development of technological innovations in this field. The results clearly show that in-motion charging technology leads to the development of trolleybus transport, although this development has mainly a qualitative dimension. A key factor determining the development of trolleybus transport using in-motion charging technology is progress in the development of traction batteries.
Highlights
Such growth impacted the relations between the city and its surroundings, which resulted in the development of suburbanisation [2], contributing to, e.g., the increase in energy consumption [3] and greenhouse gas emissions [4]
This study focuses on the transformation of public transport systems in the case of three trolleybus systems already operating in Poland, namely Gdynia-Sopot, Lublin and Tychy, the only Polish cities using trolleybuses in public transport
The choice of the year 2014 is related to the fact that the first in-motion charging trolleybuses in Lublin were launched in regular operation in that year
Summary
Prior to the industrial revolution, the scale of urban development was limited by the perspective of residents walking through the city [1] This remained the case until the development of mechanised transport enabled the spatial expansion of cities. According to the European Commission [7,8], transport sector generates around a quarter of the EU greenhouse gas emissions and is the second most significant greenhouse gas emitting sector after energy production. This was the reason behind the implementation of a complex set of solutions aimed at decreasing the demand for car use and promoting sustainable and active transport. The vast majority of such strategies contain the promotion of walking and cycling [11]
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