Hitachi Rail and Hitachi Energy are partnering to supply the Grid-eMotion Flash charging system for electric buses on Vicenza’s Red LAM line in Italy. This ultrafast charging solution will facilitate rapid recharging for electric buses on a new public transit route linking the city’s western and eastern sections. The initiative is also part of Vicenza’s infrastructure improvements associated with the Verona-Padova High-Speed Line.
Commissioned by RFI, the Verona-Padova AV line project involves the IRICAVDUE Consortium as the general contractor, which includes Hitachi Rail, Partecipazioni Italia, Webuild Italia, Lamaro Appalti, and Fintecna. This route will span over 10 km with 36 stops, 10 of which, along with the terminals, will feature Hitachi Energy’s advanced Grid-eMotion Flash charging technology.
The Grid-eMotion technology enables full charging in less than four minutes at line endpoints and in under 20 seconds at stops, preserving the bus schedule and speed. Using an automated pantograph on the bus roof, vehicles can connect to the charging infrastructure instantly. Batteries, also positioned on the roof, free up interior space for passengers, allowing the system to transport up to 1,500 passengers per hour in each direction.
This ultrafast charging system represents a sustainable transit solution that minimizes environmental impact while maximizing service flexibility and capacity. The project also highlights Hitachi’s strength as an integrated provider, leveraging multiple business synergies to meet complex infrastructure needs.
Domenico Lanciotto, General Manager of Italy, Central, Eastern & Southern Europe & Latin America at Hitachi Rail, emphasized that providing sustainable, integrated urban transit aligns with Hitachi Rail’s core mission. He noted that the “One Hitachi” flash-charging solution will enhance Vicenza’s connectivity to high-speed and interregional rail lines, promoting sustainable public transportation for medium and long distances.
Filippo Passante, Grid Integration Operating Unit Manager for Hitachi Energy in Italy, expressed confidence that the system would improve citizens’ quality of life by reducing carbon emissions, traffic, and noise in Vicenza, all without impacting transit schedules. Hitachi Energy, as a technology leader, collaborates with clients to support sustainable energy solutions for both present and future generations.
Hitachi’s Grid-eMotion solutions are in use or development in Australia, Canada, India, the Middle East, the United States, and across Europe, including in Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Ireland, and France. Italy’s first implementation is on Genoa’s Valbisagno line, as part of the “4 Axes of Force” project. This technology has already facilitated millions of passenger journeys globally, offering efficient, eco-friendly transit solutions to urban centers worldwide.
