Could Cincinnati adopt battery-powered streetcars?

Cincinnati (OH) officials are considering a battery-powered system for the city’s planned streetcar line. A wireless system would be cheaper to build and operate than a conventional streetcar system, and eliminating overhead wires has significant aesthetic advantages. But the battery-powered vehicles need a charge every five miles and they face a challenge on hills. “I liked what I saw – a lot,” said Mayor Mark Mallory after seeing Kinkisharyo’s ameriTRAM prototype. “It comes with some very attractive advantages.” But city officials acknowledged the risks to testing a new technology. “It’s a pretty new technology, and that’s exciting,” said project manager Chris Eilerman. “At the same time, well, it’s new technology.” Link to full story in Cincinnati.com.

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