PLANNING A NEW TROLLEYBUS FLEET IN SOUTH AFRICA

A trolley bus demonstration project in Johannesburg, South Africa, will appraise seven test vehicles over a 3 year test period. The operation and performance of the 7 different designs will be monitored on the same 8.8-km route and will include also non-technical aspects like driver and passenger attitudes, reliability and the cost and ease of maintenance. The final aim is to draw up specifications for trolley buses and their power supply, allowing also the economics of the old and new trolley bus systems to be carefully examined. The prototype trolley buses employ different variations of the latest available drive system features so their general suitability for Johannesburg conditions can be assessed. Common features include a standby engine of sufficient power to allow limited maneuvering, trolley pole retrievers, rheostatic braking, line filters on chopper-controlled vehicles, polarity reversal protection equipment, lightning protection, and double insulation systems. Two articulated and five double-decked designs are under test. The propulsion systems include series motor and full chopper control (2 buses); series motor, full chopper control and field weakening (1); series motor, resistor control and field weakening (1); compound motor, resistor control and field weakening (1); compound motor, full armature chopper control and separate field weakening (1); and separately excited motor, chopper control and field weakening (1).

• Authors:
  • Nierkerk, H R
• Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 3 p.
• Serial:
  • ELECTRIC VEHICLE DEVELOPMENTS
  • Issue Number: 16

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Chopper circuits; Dynamic braking; Electric power; Electric power conditioning; Electrical systems; Motors; Performance evaluations; Propulsion; Prototypes; Regenerative braking; Traction; Traction drives; Trolleybuses
• Geographic Terms: South Africa
• Old TRIS Terms: Choppers
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00377819
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1983 12:00AM