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It's hard to deny that public transportation has become a necessity around the globe, but isn't it time for some of our antiquated transportation systems to join in on the 21st century? Judging from the increasing number of electric vehicles and hybrids on our streets, it was only a matter of time before some fancy new buses hopped in on the green bandwagon. Perhaps the future lies in vehicles such as the German engineered AutoTram, a mixture between a tram and bus?

The AutoTram project comes from Dresden's Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI, where German researchers aim to address the efficiency, flexibility and affordability of conventional buses. The solution to their problems is AutoTram, a fully electric, zero-emission vehicle that utilizes an innovative charging method to power itself throughout the day.




Unlike most electric vehicles that utilize a single charge, AutoTram charges up every time it stops to pick up passengers. A mere 30 seconds at each stop provides enough power to drive another mile. The system involves specialized stops for the AutoTram that are capable of providing small amounts of power in a short amount of time.

The only downside to the project at the moment is its cost. According to the team at Fraunhofer, the AutoTram would be cheaper than modern light rail systems, but still pricier than most diesel dependent buses. As great as it would be to see AutoTrams on the streets, we probably won't be seeing them around too soon until production costs get cut down.