AUSTRALIA
Brisbane Metro’s pilot vehicle, a battery-electric bi-articulated bus, has arrived in Australia, two and half years after the initial contract award. The 24.5-metre Hess LighTram 25, built and designed by Swiss vehicle manufacturer HESS, has arrived in Brisbane. The 24.5-metre bus will go through an extensive testing and acceptance process, including on-road testing on Brisbane’s busways, and assessment of flash-charging capabilities.
Alex Naef, CEO of Hess, said: “The LighTram 25 is capable of quietly, efficiently and cleanly moving large numbers of people, all while providing a new level of passenger experience. This is a flexible transport system that is not tied to rail infrastructure and that can be easily adapted to different transport routes because of the vehicle’s manoeuvrability. Over the full lifetime of the vehicles, the LighTram 25 offers cities one of the most cost-effective solutions for improving public transport and reaching governments’ sustainability goals.”
Peter Dale, Country Manager for HESS, added: “Since the contract award, Hess has collaborated closely with Brisbane City Council across all stages of the design process to make sure that their requirements and wishes aligned with the ultimate vehicle design. The vehicle today incorporates solutions to maximise access, comfort and safety. There are three large and easily accessible mobility aid bays all in one carriage, an electric ramp, hearing loops and the ability to communicate with the driver via microphone and cameras, among other features.”
