Yesterday at Alexandra Palace, six Volvo B5L Hybrid Double Deck buses were debuted in London. The buses have already started service on Route 141 in the capital.
The buses feature Volvo's I-SAM parallel hybrid system that is comprised of a starter motor, drive motor and alternator. The system supports regenerative breaking, electric launch and assist and electrification of power steering, air compressor and air conditioning. The buses will be able to go up to 12 mph without using their diesel engines, which, on a route with a lot of stops like the one these buses are deployed on, could result in large fuel savings.
No numbers on fuel economy or emissions reductions have been released yet, but Volvo's Hybrid Single Deck buses in Gothenburg, Sweden have achieved a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy on routes with longer intervals between stops than those in London.
via Volvo and Treehugger
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written by Ken Grubb, July 09, 2009
NYC Metro Transit Authority is rolling out 8 series hybrid Ecosaver IV buses by August.
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written by Sam, July 13, 2009
the other day. Electric/hybrid motors have a special advantage for double deckers. Diesel models have to lug around a giant heavy metal weight to keep them safely upright around corners. Replacing that weight with heavy batteries both performs the function of keeping the bus stable and increases the power-to-weight ratio.
I can testify to this first hand - I still have the bruise on my leg which broke my fall when the driver unexpectedly floored the accelerator and knocked me flying as I got up for my stop (not something that happens on a normal double decker bus).
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JUL 08
"They're on other routes too - purely by chance I went on a double-deck..."
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