Pescara: Kiepe Electric delivers overhead line charging technology

Van Hool and Kiepe Electric will deliver six 18 m long Exqui.City buses with IMC technology (In Motion Charging) to the public transport operators in Pescara starting mid-2022. TUA (Trasporto Unico Abruzzese) has tasked Colas Rail Italia with forming a consortium to realize the public transport project in Pescara. This includes the construction of the overhead line infrastructure and the procurement of the vehicles. For this purpose, six IMC500 buses have been ordered from Van Hool and Kiepe Electric, with an option for three additional units. Kiepe Electric is providing the entire high-voltage system with traction equipment for the dual-axle drive, onboard converters, battery chargers, as well as the batteries and IMC pantographs, including diagnostic systems. 

Also for BRT use

The IMC buses will operate on an IMC charging route with completely new infrastructure: The 8 km long connection between the coastal cities of Pescara and Montesilvano is exclusively designed for bus traffic and can also be used as an electric BRT line. Thanks to IMC technology, it is possible to reach destinations without overhead lines. The IMC buses charge while driving on routes with overhead lines. Outside of these routes, the buses continue to drive flexibly in battery mode. Thus, the intention is to extend the route up to the courthouse in Pescara using overhead line-free driving. 

Rimini deployment starts

IMC technology from Kiepe Electric is well-established in Italian public transport, as the electrotechnical specialist is, according to its own information, a leader in the Italian public transport sector for equipping trolleybuses. While the Pescara project team prepares in Düsseldorf and Italy, the new IMC trolleybuses are currently being accepted in the holiday resort of Rimini: They will serve the new Rapid Coast Transport (TRC) express line between the coastal towns of Rimini and Riccione. For the new E-BRT line, an overhead line infrastructure was installed. Here too, Van Hool Exqui.City18 with IMC500 from Kiepe Electric will be in operation.