Lausanne: TLs will go all-electric in 2030

Public transport in the Lausanne region (TL) intends to transition its entire fleet of vehicles to the electric era within around five years, with the exception of a few minibuses. The replacement of 162 diesel buses with electric vehicles is planned.

Currently, three quarters of the 126 million passengers transported by TL each year travel in an electric vehicle. “The company intends to increase this figure to 100% by 2030,” she announced on Monday. Additional investments linked to the decarbonization of the fleet are around 130 million francs.

The measure is part of the climate plans of public authorities. In Lausanne, mobility represents nearly a quarter of direct greenhouse gas emissions. “The City is aiming for zero direct emissions from 2030 in the area of ​​mobility. The decarbonization of the tl fleet allows us to move towards this objective,” declared Florence Germond, municipal manager in charge of mobility, quoted in a press release.

Many challenges

Diesel buses will be replaced “as they reach the end of their life”. The final deadline of 2030 will be met “if all the necessary purchasing, infrastructure and equipment procedures (…) can be carried out”, warn the tl. They describe the technical challenges as “numerous but clearly identified”.

To achieve their goals, the tl relies on two different technologies, namely trolleybuses with charging on the move and battery electric buses (e-bus) with charging at the terminus and/or depot.

The transition to 100% electric also implies increased electricity consumption for TL, which pushes the company to think about its energy supply. A program for the production of solar energy on buildings, as well as a search for energy sobriety and efficiency, are planned in order to limit the increase in electricity needs.

Less noise and pollution

In addition to reducing greenhouse gases, the decarbonization of the fleet must bring other benefits to the population of the Lausanne metropolitan area. Among these, an “improvement in air quality and a reduction in noise today caused by thermal engines”.

The Lausanne trolleybus network, present since 1932, also constitutes the pillar of the TL decarbonization strategy, underlines the company. This network, already in the process of being extended, will be further extended by 2030, including the extension of line 9, the passage of line 18 by trolleybus and the extension of line 21 to Mont-sur-Lausanne.

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