Battery powered trolleybuses in Beijing

Trolleybuses normally require a web of overhead wires in order to supply power to the electric vehicles that run beneath them – but in the streets of Beijing’s Wangfujing shopping district, they aren’t necessary.

Cars are allowed along the southern stretch of Wangfujing

The buses drop their trolleypoles.

Trolleybus running on battery power through the Wangfujing district of central Beijing

But keep moving.

Trolleybus running on battery power through the Wangfujing district of central Beijing

Having switched to battery power instead.

Trolleybus running on battery power through the Wangfujing district of central Beijing

Then put their trolleypoles back up elsewhere in the city.

Trolleybus and taxis on Jingshan Front Street

Trolleybus stuck in traffic on Jingshan Front Street

I found trolleybus routes 103 “Beijing Railway Station – Beijing Zoo” and route 104 “Beijing Railway Station – Wuluju” running through the Wanfujing pedestrian zone in battery mode – this list by Zhiyuan Jiang details Beijing’s other trolleybus routes, some of which also use battery mode in pedestrian areas.

Further reading

The Beijing Bus article at Wikipedia has more detail on the the history of Beijing’s trolleybuses.

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One Response to Battery powered trolleybuses in Beijing

  1. Myrtonos says:

    There are also trams in other places that do the same thing as these buses. Another option for light rail might be third-rail on reserved track and battery power on street running sections.

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