Alstom APS, also known as Alimentation par Sol or Alimentation Par le Sol, is a form of ground-level power supply for street trams and, potentially, other vehicles. APS was developed by Innorail, a subsidiary of Spie Enertrans, but was sold to Alstom when Spie was acquired by Amec. It was originally created for the Bordeaux tramway, which was constructed from 2000 and opened in 2003. From 2011, the technology has been used in a number of other cities around the world.
Bordeaux tram using APS on route B near the Roustaing tramstop
A section of APS track showing the neutral sections at the end of the powered segments plus one of the insulating joint boxes which mechanically and electrically join the APS rail segments
Track with APS under construction in Place Paul Doumer, Bordeaux
Alstom APS tracks on the CBD and South East Light Rail in Sydney
Ground-level power supply
Ground-level power supply, also known as surface current collection or, in French, alimentation par le sol, is a concept and group of technologies whereby electric vehicles collect electric power at ground level from individually-powered segments instead of the more common overhead lines. Ground-level power supply was developed for aesthetic reasons, to avoid the presence of overhead lines in city centres.
Bordeaux tramway with ground-level power supply
Conduit for current collection between the rails of streetcars in Washington, D.C., 1939. First installed in 1895, it remained in operation until 1962
Remaining conduit tram track on the ramp to the abandoned Kingsway tram subway in London, with plants growing in the conduit
Electric truck driving on a public road with Elways-Evias ground-level power supply, near Arlanda airport, 2019.
