Today, most trams use electrical power, usually fed by a pantograph sliding on an overhead line; older systems may use a trolley pole or a bow collector. In some cases, a contact shoe on a third rail is used.

A modern tram (or streetcar) works by drawing high-voltage Direct Current (DC) electricity from an overhead wire system. In 2026, most trams use a pantograph—a folding metal frame on the roof—that maintains a constant sliding contact with the "catenary" wire. The electricity flows through the pantograph into the tram's electric motors, which are located in the "bogies" (the wheel assemblies) beneath the floor. To complete the electrical circuit, the current passes through the metal wheels into the steel rails, which act as the "ground" or return path. Trams are controlled by a "master controller" (often a joystick or foot pedal) that regulates the amount of power sent to the motors. For braking, they use a combination of regenerative braking (which feeds power back into the wire), hydraulic disc brakes, and electromagnetic track brakes, which can "stick" the tram to the rails in an emergency. This system allows for a smooth, zero-emission ride that is perfectly integrated into urban streets.