Thanks.

It is coincidence that just the other day, the transit agency of the Swiss city of St.Gallen (maybe better known because of its big library of really old books) published their plans for the next years. A considerable percentage of their passenger-km are produced with trolleybuses (my guesstimate, we are talking about 60%).

By 2025, they plan to no longer have non-electric vehicles in the scheduled operation. In November, there will be a vote for procurement of 6 "single articulated battery trolleybuses" and 11 "double articulated battery trolleybuses" (which means that these vehicles are equipped with powerful batteries, allowing regular operation over longer stretches. Part of the same vote is the electrification of some sections of not yet electrified lines. Now, using powerful batteries in the trolleybuses allows to not have to electrify certain stretches of the lines where it would be awkward or very pricey (such as a certain bridge).

There are some other lines where current diesel buses trolleybuses with powerful batteries can be used with only minimal additional electrification (considerable length of the lines is already electrified).

A bit FWIW, this is a presentation by the presentation by the St.Gallen Transit Authority covering the coming developments. They also mention the planned test of a pure battery bus by Solaris for the minor lines, where standard buses have to be replaced sooner or later.

Considering these thoughts, it appears to be very feasible to equip those lines in Daly City with trolley buses with powerful batteries, and some segments of electrification (just as mentioned in another message, around the end point of the lines).

If anyone is concerned about lowering and raising trolley poles, this is a non issue. In St.Gallen, all trolleybuses have automatic lowering capabilities (meaning that the driver pushes a button, and the poles are lowered). Currently raising is done manually, but at the place where it is done right away, there are enough vehicles passing that they have an agent ready to raise the poles. For a more permanent solution (which would be at the end of intentionally non-electrified stretches), there exist poles with actuators and A-shaped guides around the wires, which allow for automatic raising. Such poles have been around for almost three decades.

In other words, no big deal… all it needs is some reason and will…