GEST, Florence municipal transport company, runs first test of innovative Hitachi Rail’s tram powered by a bespoke battery system co-developed by Hitachi Rail and Podium Advanced Technologies

Florence, 29 January 2021 - GEST, Florence municipal transport company, runs first test of innovative Hitachi Rail’s tram powered by a bespoke battery system co-developed by Hitachi Rail and Podium Advanced Technologies With no need for overhead power lines, which is a key issue in architecturally sensitive areas, this revolutionary solution offers the opportunity to run high-capacity public transport through city centers, saving on costs and preserving the historical architectural environment. GEST, who is part of the French group RATP - Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens – has chosen Hitachi Rail to develop such innovation, truly believing that it can revolutionize this type of service within cities. Public transport, especially in historic centers, will have to be less impactful and increasingly sustainable, the Mayor of Florence has remarked. A prestigious achievement for Hitachi Rail, being a precursor in one of the most iconic places in the world, and for Podium, who has designed an innovative battery system which boasts unique features, especially in terms of state of health management, and is compliant to the most demanding and peculiar railway sector safety standards. Read the news from the press (in Italian)