I had a ride on this bus this week. Amazing bit of kit.
It is doing a test loop between Geneva airport and the Palexpo exhibition centre where the motor show takes place, part of route 5. This takes in a short stretch of highway and is about 1 mile between the two stops. Consequently, as there was no big show on I had the bus to myself.
It really does recharge in 15 seconds. When I returned to my start point I got out and crossed the street. By the time I reached the other side, the pantograph had lowered again and it was ready to leave.
Not only that, but it performs like any other bus and has enough performance to accelerate onto the highway feeder road that takes it to the airport. I know the Geneva bus route 5 quite well and this section has to be the toughest for it to tackle.
I tried to find out further information on the drive train. The charging station itself is using ultracapacitors to keep the grid demand at 50 kW, while supplying 400 kW to the bus when needed. There's little info on what is in the bus, but my guess is lithium titanate batteries as the storage is put at 40 kWh and they can give the bus a long charge at the depot.
Not only that, but my old friend the Geneva Model S was stationed at the hotel where we were meeting again. I drove this one last time I was in town.
And to top off a trip of fast EVs, I found myself riding down there on the world speed record holding train (yes, that's 360 mph)