More good news from Green Car Congress for the local economy. And, when I say local, I mean just around the corner.
Hybrid bus sales are booming and BAE Systems makes the HybriDrive, which is the series-hybrid propulsion system that goes in Orion buses. “Orion is now clearly the leading brand of hybrid buses worldwide with more than 300 units in revenue service and 700 more units on order for the Toronto Transit Commission, San Francisco MUNI and now New York City Transit and MTA Bus,” says GCC.
This is an example of meeting the need for cleaner, cheaper, public transportation. New York City Transit has ordered 216, and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA Bus) 284. Orion VII series-hybrid-electric buses from DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America because their own studies show operational gains in fuel efficiency average 28% over conventional diesel buses. Plus they are cleaner. States GCC, “The series hybrid units greatly reduce emissions compared to a conventional diesel bus: 90% less particulate matter, 40% less NOx and 30% less greenhouse gases.”
The Orion VII buses with the BAE HybriDrive combine a 5.9-liter, 260 hp (194 kW) Cummins ULSD (Ultra Low-Sulfur Diesel) engine with a 120 kW traction generator. The traction motor delivers 250 hp (186 kW) and 2,700 lb-ft (3,657 Nm) of low-end torque.
I wonder if we could get Ed Koch to endorse a brand of biodiesel?
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[...] Postulating about electric short-haul tractors and reflecting about the popularity of serial hybrid public transportation has got me ruminating about where else electric vehicles are used for work? [...]
[...] Thus, in monitoring the results of studies it would be important to note the type of diesel-electric hybrid employed. Despite a higher initial price, urban transit companies are investing in cleaner, cheaper, diesel-electric serial hybrids. [...]
[...] Anyway, posting about cogeneration got me to wonder how stringent the city of Adelaide would be about their all electric requirement? I was thinking about something other than a serial hybrid diesel-electric bus. I wondered if they would consider a FCHV bus, i.e., a serial hybrid electric bus that used a fuel cell as a range extender, like the one pictured above from UTC Power? [...]