Electromote in Berlin, 1882
Trolleybus networks around the world:
Trolleybus networks in operation, including bus rapid transit networks Trolleybus networks in operation, without bus rapid transit networks Trolleybus networks planned (as new or reconstruction) Countries that had trolleybus networks Countries that never had trolleybus networks A trolleybus (also known as trolley bus, trolley coach, trackless trolley, trackless tram or simply trolley) is a bus which runs on electricity. It gets its power for the electric motors that drive the wheels from a pair of power lines above the street.
On the roof of the bus are two "trolley poles" from which electric current flows between the wires and the bus. One wire is for the positive current and the other is for the negative (return) current.