Irisbus Cristalis

The Irisbus Cristalis is a low-floor trolleybus built by Irisbus and introduced in 2000, with production ending in 2010. The second of three prototypes, built for the Lyon trolleybus system, was first shown to the public in Lyon in December 2000, and the first production vehicles entered service there in January 2002. Its distinguishing feature was the use of wheel hub motors, which allowed an unobstructed low floor and made it radically different from earlier French-built trolleybuses. The electrical equipment came from Alstom, and the initial design work was done by Renault before Irisbus was formed. It was offered as a 12 metre two-axle ETB12 and an 18 metre articulated ETB18. Besides Lyon, trolleybus systems in Limoges, Saint-Etienne and Milan bought it, while an order from Grenoble was cancelled in 2002. About 180 were in service in 2016.