Flash-Charging Electric Public Transport: TOSA Buses

clf — Thu, 22 Dec 2016 15:11:59 +0000

The TOSA (Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation) bus planned to be running a full bus route in the city of Geneva takes only 15 seconds to charge during stationing time at a bus stop. In the time that it takes for passengers to get on and off the bus, a laser-guided arm sends 600 kW straight into onboard lightweight batteries with a brand-new flashing technology developed by engineers at ABB, a leading global technology company in power and automation. The charge allows for the propulsion until the next bus / next charging station. Since May 2013, the city is successfully running a pilot and plans to operate the full bus line by 2018.

Forum Chriesbach - "green building"

clf — Thu, 18 Feb 2016 12:27:10 +0000

Forum Chriesbach is a high-tech research and development center near Zurich, Switzerland. It exemplifies how “green buildings”, which consume a minimum amount of energy, water, and other resources, need not conflict with unique ambiance, comfort of the users, nor with architectural expression. Forum Chriesbach is energy efficient and relies on passive energy sources instead of fossil fuels. In fact, it consumes roughly as much heating energy as a normal single-family house although it is forty times larger. It produces a third of its own electrical power needs. Because the building has no conventional heating and air-conditioning systems, CO2 emitted by the building itself during operation is near zero. Forum Chriesbach shows that “green buildings” need not be an exception, but that they can become mainstream, state-of-the-art, contemporary architecture. It exemplifies a good practice example for future building construction in urban areas to promote future sustainable urban development. Once widely adopted, these practices become tomorrow’s standards for future low carbon cities around the world.

POCACITO - Switzerland

Flash-Charging Electric Public Transport: TOSA Buses

Forum Chriesbach - "green building"