Catenary free & ground feeding solutions

SRS: Innovative, safe and automatic charging for trams and electric buses

SRS at a glance

Compact ground-based charging solution
Eliminates masts and overhead wires
Compatible with any vehicle dimensions (including double-decker buses)
Safe, automatic and rapid charging

Building on over 20 years of expertise acquired from the development of APS™ (Aesthetic Power Supply), Alstom extends its feeding systems portfolio with SRS™ (Static Recharging Sytem). This innovative, safe, and automatic ground-based charging solution is designed for trams and electric buses, offering a catenary-free alternative that blends seamlessly into the urban landscape.

SRS for electric trams and buses

Tramway line n°2 equipped with SRS (ground-based static charging system). Nice. France. July 2018. — Tramway line equipped with SRS, in Nice, France. Credit: Alstom SA / TOMA - David Richard

Clear skies for cities

Alstom’s SRS is revolutionizing electric public transport by enabling catenary-free charging for trams and electric buses. Designed for cities with narrow streets, bridges, or historic architecture, SRS eliminates the need for overhead lines, preserving urban aesthetics. The system delivers fast, automatic ground-level charging at stops and terminuses, allowing electric buses to fully recharge in just minutes. With SRS, cities can operate quiet, electric fleets while maintaining visual harmony and infrastructure flexibility.

Fast and unobtrusive

Power is supplied through a conductive device (rails or pads) embedded in the road or track surface at the bus or tram stop. When tram or electric bus stops, a current collector shoe automatically lowers and makes contact to charge the on-board battery. In tramway operation, this process takes no longer than 20 seconds – ordinary dwell time - leading to seamless operations.

SRS ground-based recharging system for electric buses

11

km of SRS powered tramway in Nice
>20

years of commercial service with APS

Focus on our APS™ (Aesthetic Power Supply) solution

APS is Alstom’s innovative ground-level power supply system for trams, enabling catenary-free operation in urban environments. APS enhances city aesthetics and delivers reliable, wire-free energy. Ideal for heritage zones, APS combines efficiency, elegance, and sustainability.

Discover our solution.

Alstom - Citadis APS Barcelona. Credit: Alstom

Malaga SRS for e-buses

In front of the University of Malaga the local transport operator EMT is operating a prototype of SRS for e-buses on line 1. It is equipped with a 200kW charger and is associated with a twelve-metre Linkker e-bus. This will enable the world’s first automatic, ground-level rapid charging system for a 100% electric bus.
Seamless tramway integration in Nice

Alstom France has successfully supplied its latest-generation Citadis tram together with the innovative ground-based static charging solution SRS to the city of Nice. As a result, the tramway lines 2 and 3 are perfectly integrated into the architecture of the city.
Innovative and sustainable bus system for Paris

Alstom, HESS, and Kiepe Electric are delivering 30 units of 24-metres, bi-articulated electric buses for Paris’s T Zen project. TZEN 4 line length of 14,3km equipped of 10 fast SRS charging points and 2 fast SRS charging point at depot area is powered by fast-charging batteries and Alstom’s ground-based SRS system. The solution offers high-capacity, and unobtrusive public transport.