Alstom APS

Bordeaux tram using APS on route B near the Roustaing tramstop
A section of APS track showing the neutral sections at the end of the powered segments plus one of the insulating joint boxes which mechanically and electrically join the APS rail segments

Alstom APS, also known as Alimentation par Sol or Alimentation Par le Sol (which literally means "feeding via the ground"), is a form of ground-level power supply for street trams and, potentially, other vehicles. APS was developed by Innorail, a subsidiary of Spie Enertrans, but was sold to Alstom when Spie was acquired by Amec. It was originally created for the Bordeaux tramway, which began construction in 2000 and opened in 2003.[1] From 2011, the technology has been used in a number of other cities around the world.

APS is used, primarily for aesthetic reasons, as an alternative to overhead lines. As such, it competes with other ground-level power supply systems but also with energy storage systems such as batteries. In 2015, Alstom developed a derivative of APS, Alstom SRS (Système de Recharge statique par le sol or static-based ground charging system), which can be used to recharge battery powered trams and buses while they are stationary at stops.[2]

Alstom further developed the APS system for use with buses and other vehicles. The system has been tested for safety when the road is cleared by snowplows, under exposure to snow, ice, salting, and saturated brine,[3] and for skid and road adherence safety for vehicles, including motorcycles.[4] Alstom will trial its electric road system (ERS) on the public road RN205[5] in the Rhône-Alpes region between 2024 and 2027.[6] The system is expected to supply 500kW of power for electric heavy trucks, as well as power for road utility vehicles and electric cars.[4]

  1. ^ "Third-rail trams across the Garonne". Railway Gazette International. 2004-02-01. Archived from the original on 2010-04-26. Retrieved 2008-05-02.
  2. ^ "Alstom transfers tram power supply technology to buses". Rail Insider. September 26, 2019. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  3. ^ Patrick Duprat (February 11, 2022), Compatibility of an in-road Electric Road System with winter service operations (PDF), Alstom, PIARC
  4. ^ a b Patrick Duprat (January 16, 2024), "Présentation du projet eRoadMontBlanc" (PDF), Cercle des Transports
  5. ^ "Les aides proposées par ATMB à ses clients légers et lourds pour la décarbonation des transports", ATMB, June 30, 2023
  6. ^ Jean-Philippe Pastre (June 30, 2023), "L'APS d'Alstom bientôt testé sur les routes", TRM24