Problem. Trolleybus transport, as one of the types of environmentally friendly transport, is used to transport passengers in more than 280 cities of many countries around the world. In the 20th century, along with traditional trolleybuses, trolleybuses with autonomous running are becoming more and more widely used. However, in our country of trolleybuses with autonomous running, manufactured by Ukrainian enterprises, only four copies undergo operational tests. Goal. The goal is evaluation of the technical excellence of city trolleybuses of various types and the selection of the optimal type of trolleybuses with autonomous running for the design and organization of small-scale production at enterprises of Ukraine and their further operation on city and suburban routes. Methodology. The choice of the type of promising competitive city trolleybus with autonomous running for the domestic conditions of economic development is based on the analysis of the technical parameters of trolleybuses of various types, the sketch designs of which are developed on the basis of the maximum identity of their structures and the economic parameters of the "type of trolleybus - necessary infrastructure" systems. Results. Five versions of sketch projects of city trolleybuses of various types have been developed, an analysis of their structural and operational parameters has been carried out, and a relative assessment of the economic parameters of the "trolleybus - necessary infrastructure" system has been given. Originality. A method of analyzing the technical perfection of trolleybuses of various types, the sketch designs of which are developed on the basis of the application of the principle of "other things being equal", i.e., under the conditions of ensuring the maximum identity of their structures, is proposed. Practical value. The practical value is the reasoned selection of the type of city trolleybus for the design of promising competitive models or modifications that are most suitable for use in urban and suburban passenger transportation systems at this stage of economic development of Ukraine.