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10 Transport - TOSA electric bus fleet (Switzerland)
Size of investment: USD 38 million
(USD 33 million – cost of the project + USD 5 million – cost of the prototype)
Start date: 2016
End date: 2018
Project stage: maintenance
Project partners
• Public partners:
o TPG (public transport company of Geneva)
o Canton of Geneva
o Office of Industrial Promotion
o SIG (local electric company)
o Government of Switzerland
• Private partner: ABB (an international infrastructure company)
Project description
The project involves the creation of a fleet of 12 electric buses which use flash-charging technology
via an overhead charging arm every three or four stops. The new bus fleet reduces three types of
pollution: air pollution (no particle emissions), noise pollution (50 per cent quieter than a diesel
bus) and visual pollution (no overhead lines). The trolleybus system optimization power supply
or “Trolleybus Optimisation Système Alimentation” (TOSA) protoype was launched in 2013 at the
Geneva UITP Summit, and the first commercial line was launched five years later. After a year in
operation, the electric buses covered more than 500 000 km, connecting the Leman express Bachet
de Pesay station to the Geneva international airport.
Sustainable Development Goals impacts
SDG 9: Increased in resource-use efficiency and adoption of climate-neutral technology.
SDG 11: The growth in the use of public transport and connectivity within Geneva will improve the
sustainability of the city as it reduces air and noise pollution.
Compendium of practices on innovative financing for SSC projects | January 2023 39
