Request for proposal:

Request for Proposals: Training programme on in motion charging trolleybus

By the present procurement procedure, the EIT Urban Mobility is aiming to identify a supplier capable of designing and delivering a face-to-face (F2F) training course on the topic of ‘In-Motion Charging Trolleybus’.

Europe is leading global decarbonising transport efforts which do not rely on one single solution. While technological change, more stringent emission standards and electrification are key to achieve decarbonisation, mode shift away from private car to public or shared transport is a critical part of the process. Advancing clean transport in cities knowns as the hubs of innovation is what we need for the net zero transition. Cities are home to 75% of EU citizens, which differ in size, geography, and local economy. European cities are aiming at the fully zero emission public transport fleets thus drastically reducing emissions and air pollution in urban communities. Electric and hydrogen are leading the decarbonisation efforts, and while electric is dominating, electric buses are not the only protagonist of the energy transition in city public transport.

‘In motion charging’ is based on proven trolleybus systems that are largely standardised and operating in almost 300 cities across the world. Global standardisation allows trolleybuses from any bus manufacturer to operate in any city worldwide. In motion charging trolleybus projects and investment are on the rise in several European countries with existing or revived trolleybus networks in Switzerland, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, while even expanding. The battery systems of the in-motion technology allow the trolleybus to charge while driving and does not need large investments in the new charging infrastructure of the overhead wires due to the on-board battery packs. The increased flexibility, high passenger capacity, uninterrupted 24/7 operation, reliability of the timetables, improved air quality, noise reduction and their total cost of ownership also due to flexibility of off-wire service is proving to be cost-effective. Because trams and trolleybuses transport systems operate in complementarity in several European cities, this raises opportunities about the possibility of their joint supply of electricity. Taking all of the above in consideration, in motion charging trolleybus represents one of the cost-effective and sustainable solutions for the transition to cleaner, greener, and smarter mobility, enabling the EU to achieve a 90% reduction in transport-related greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 thus becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, as outlined in the European Green Deal.

The general objective of this pilot course is to improve or develop the capacity of practitioners and executives to design, implement, and/or improve in motion charging trolleybus operations (infrastructure management, exploitation of synergies with other public transport modes, procurement and commissioning, and promotional activities and stakeholder engagement), for international geographically distributed audience. The aim of the course is to equip the participants with skills, knowledge, and tools to evaluate the in-motion trolleybus system for various perspectives (operator, a city, public transport authority) to support decision-making, development, and operations in various context.

All information, including the detailed scope of work, deliverables, and terms & conditions can be found in the Request for Proposals.

Deadline for submissions: 24 October 2022 at 16:00 Central European Time.