The AutoTram, developed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Transportation and Infrastructure Systems IVI in Dresden, demonstrates a future-oriented technology for public transport. As an intermediate public transport vehicle, it combines features of conventional buses (e.g. high flexibility, low infrastructure costs and moderate life cycle costs) with the advantages of trams like high transport capacity, driving comfort and the possibility of partial emission-free operation.

The first version of the AutoTram was constructed in 2005 as a universal experimental platform for different technology developments. The fundamental structure features a series-hybrid vehicle, i.e. a serial connection of a combustion engine and a generator, power electronics and electric traction motors. This serial hybrid concept provides the possibility to integrate alternative energy storages in a simple manner via the intermediate electric circuit as backbone and is therefore an intermediate step towards a full electric drive train.

Presently, the next generation of the AutoTram is under construction.