[plater]

Electric wire bus is better than tram as it does not require expensive tracks. It is also much easier to change the route. The tracks also create a lot of noise and vibration that gets into nearby buildings. Tracks are also dangerous for bicycles, and slippery for cars and trams.

There might be benefits with trams, but I do not know what.

[dfawcus]

Not having a consumable battery pack which has to be replaced, and mineral resources expended upon making new sets?

There is obviously a trade off, some routes are obviously suitable to trams, some others to buses, be they all electric or hybrid. So possibly in ICE mode out of urban areas, and on battery within?

[yakak]

> There might be benefits with trams, but I do not know what.

Good tram systems don't share the asphalt except at intersections making public transportation a win for the individual which in turn reduces traffic. Buses always suck, that is an important part of their design.

[goodpoint]

> expensive tracks

Trams and trains are incredibly energy efficient even with heavy loads because of that.

In the long term their TCO wins.

> Tracks are also dangerous for bicycles, and slippery for cars and trams

Not really. Besides, bicycles should have their lanes anyways.

[Drunk_Engineer]

The main benefit of trams is that multiple cars can be coupled together.

[frosted-flakes]

And comfort. Streetcars on rails are so smooooth, compared to buses where it's always a bumpy ride.

[quesera]

> Streetcars on rails are so smooooth

They should be, at least. San Francisco runs historic (interesting, attractive) cars on the Market Street line, some of which sound and feel like the rails are surfaced with gravel.

Every time I ride one of the orange cars from Milan Italy, I am reminded that the Milanese in the 1930s had bigger things to worry about, and that I should just get over it. :)