Busjack Posted August 22 Report Share Posted August 22 In light of the Pace announcement that a Low/No grant will be used to buy hybrid buses, I looked at New Flyer's site, which had a press release New Flyer hybrid-electric buses to include next-generation BAE Systems propulsion system, which says "Hybrid-electric vehicles can often serve as a low-emission steppingstone for agencies before they transition to zero-emission options. The implementation of these vehicles allows time for necessary support elements, such as infrastructure, to be implemented while still immediately reducing an agency’s greenhouse gas (GHG) contributions." BAE's site says it has 2 systems: Series E, which uses ultra-capacitors, runs electric accessories, has start-stop capacity and can run in electric mode for short distances. Series ER, which "allows drivers to operate the bus up to 35% of the time with the engine off," and has geofencing, which can be used to assure electric only operation in certain zones in areas affected by pollution, with normal operation elsewhere. BAE also says that each system can be converted to all-electric operation using the electrical systems already in the bus. Hopefully these are more efficient than the joke systems in Pace 2830-2831. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bus Doctor Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 As the electric bus technology evolves, something new on the horizon in the field of autos as well as buses is what is known as a series hybrid electric. How it works, is it gives you the option to charge electrically to get limited range or to use a generator on board the vehicle, which is in most cases, an engine smaller than what the vehicle uses traditionally. This is marketed to ease range anxiety, because it gives you alot more range. It seems to be newer tech in autos and pickup trucks than in bus tech, but has been around in buses since 2019, moreless in an experimental phase, but out in SF they have purchsed vehicles maybe as a test bed in the last few years. I know one of the first pickups to use this will be the 2025 dodge ram 1500, known as the ram charger, which gives it 180 mile range on the battery, but in using the generator gives it close to 700 mile range. In buses it is called a BAE systems propulsion electric hybrid. It seems to be the new kid that is in town that's all the rage. New Flyer and Nova Bus are adopting this as a model in its new 2024 buses. This is something CTA and Pace should try out and see how it works. They might not have to build charging towers at every terminal end and it's up to them how they will build the charging infrastructure but it would be cheaper than current technology allows. Fuel cell and hydrogen can also be used instead of a battery but it hasn't been researched as well, maybe a future endeavor. Big cities are already jumping on the band wagon. Dublin is buying buses this year and Phoenix,AZ has an order for some New Flyer buses. Back to SF, the MUNI, there has already jumped down the rabbit hole. They have purchased buses received and have applied the tech in its service. They have established "Green Zones" in the city where buses run all electric and in areas not in these designated areas the gas charger aboard the bus charges it up. This may very well be the future of bus transit and it will be exciting to see it's development. It can get better but you have to admit this is better than all the pans on the roofs on buses and being dependant on an electric charging station all day long. CTA and Pace are going to have to figure out something quick because the state passed a bill that says all Illinois bus purchases ran by a government agency will only be ordered as electric buses effective July 2026. This really needs its own topic. I'll see if I can throw up a few links to the bus tech story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bus Doctor Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 A few links first is a download explaining the green zones in sf https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://sfcontroller.org/sites/default/files/Muni%20Reliability%20Working%20Group/Green%20Zone%20Presentation.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjK87mMo5iJAxV6L9AFHcBkDroQFnoECDEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw25lKi9xi7dc8Tq9YTqksrH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 18 Author Report Share Posted October 18 42 minutes ago, The Bus Doctor said: something new on the horizon in the field of autos as well as buses is what is known as a series hybrid electric. New as in about 15 years ago. The BAE Orion VI bus worked this way, as did the 900 series CTA NF bus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bus Doctor Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 Here are some more bae links https://www.baesystems.com/en/productfamily/electric-and-hybrid-solutions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bus Doctor Posted October 18 Report Share Posted October 18 https://www.newflyer.com/2024/08/new-flyer-hybrid-electric-buses-to-include-next-generation-bae-systems-propulsion-system/ New flyer link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 18 Author Report Share Posted October 18 13 minutes ago, The Bus Doctor said: CTA and Pace are going to have to figure out something quick because the state passed a bill that says all Illinois bus purchases ran by a government agency will only be ordered as electric buses effective July 2026. This really needs its own topic. I'll see if I can throw up a few links to the bus tech story. This also does not meet the state requirement that (unless the agency falls within an exemption) the bus must be ZERO EMISSION, defined as "(5) is powered entirely by electricity or powered by combining hydrogen and oxygen, which runs the motor;" 70 ILCS 3615/2.10a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted October 18 Author Report Share Posted October 18 2 minutes ago, The Bus Doctor said: https://www.newflyer.com/2024/08/new-flyer-hybrid-electric-buses-to-include-next-generation-bae-systems-propulsion-system/ New flyer link And this has been noted in its own topic. Do you really believe you have something original, Doc.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.