Hess scores new contract to supply XXL trolleybuses in Switzerland

Hess writes that the lighTram 25 DC measures 25 metres and has 48 seats surrounded by large standing room areas and optimised passenger flow. DC stands for dynamic charging, meaning the buses charge on overhead lines while moving but can also run independently.

While not mentioned in the current announcement, Hess has been working with Hitachi Energy (formerly Hitachi ABB Power Grids) as a subcontractor for other orders which involved “flash charging technology” for intermediate charging along the line as reported.

BernMobil wants to deploy the new trolleybuses on route 10 between Bern railway station and Köniz/Schliern in the summer of 2026. The switch to double-articulated trolleybuses will increase the capacity of the line and optimise the timetable with a more stable interval, adds the company.

Hess offers the lighTram series in lengths of 10, 12, 19 or 25 metres. The company has been experiencing increased demand for its electric bus trams and is expanding its production capacities at the Swiss plant in Bellach and Solothurn.

Hess is reportedly also setting up a new plant in Portugal and growing the workforce to 800 staff. The Porto plant replaces the former second assembly in Minsk, Belarus, where production halted in the spring of 2022 due to the Russian war in Ukraine.

hess-ag.ch (in German)