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Hybrid buses finally coming to HK

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  1. #1

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    Hybrid buses finally coming to HK

    After the government granted 180 million HKD to the bus companies in Hong Kong, they are finally coming to a road near you in 2014:

    http://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E4%B9%9D%E...225040189.html

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  2. #2

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    What's a hybrid bus and what does that article say?


  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by d-28:
    What's a hybrid bus and what does that article say?
    A bus that has batteries in addition to the usual fossil fuel powered engine.

    The bus companies received $180 million from the government.
    They are going to buy 3 buses for it
    They will install an aircon.
    Bus fans are lining up to see this (apparently on Stone Cutters Island container terminus)

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    Hope that helps.

  4. #4

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    HK$180 million for three buses?

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  5. #5

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    hybrid only? y not full electrical?


  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by Pidaras:
    hybrid only? y not full electrical?
    Because you have to start somewhere.

    The Hybrid Bus will certainly have some worthy attributes, that will markedly lower fuel consumption, drastically lower noise in built up residential areas and if it has ( I assume it does ) a stop/start ICE -Electric drive system, cutting down roadside exhaust emissions ( noticeably ) during peak hour traffic times.

    Battery technology, even with the massive improvements, especially over the last 5 years, is still not quite there yet to run a hulking big bus in its own right, the range just isn't there.

    In the near future, I'd like to see, single speed, gas turbine, range extending, hybrid equipped heavy vehicles; the main advantage of those is they can use pretty much any combustible fuel ie LPG/CNG, vegetable oil, petrol, ethanol, Jet A1 fuel, bio-diesel etc. This I feel, would be the next progressive step, before we get to long range, battery only powered, electric heavy vehicles.

    By next decade, we should start seeing them though.
    Last edited by Skyhook; 20-10-2013 at 10:43 AM.

  7. #7
    Quote Originally Posted by Pidaras:
    hybrid only? y not full electrical?
    Only when we are not burning fossil fuel to generate electricity.

  8. #8

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    Are they going to be quieter? Frigging loud and obnoxious


  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by d-28:
    Are they going to be quieter? Frigging loud and obnoxious
    While the bus is in electric mode, yes very quiet, as the internal combustion engine wouldnt be running in that mode. You can get more info from Volvo, although they don't specify how much range the bus has while its in pure electric mode, or how long it takes to recover via the regenerative braking system and Ice motor are employed. But it seems that Volvo are responsible for this hybrid drivetrain. http://www.volvobuses.com/SiteCollec...R%29%20new.pdf

    Checking the specs listed on volvos website, I reckon they could have been a little more innovative, and adopted Ian Wrights gas micro-turbine hybrid system, ( you can hold the turbine engine with two hands, its very light ) as it dramatically reduces weight and produces virtually the same performance characteristics as the volvo 4.76litre diesel engine, but with superior mechanical, longevity aspects and technically would consume approx 50% less fuel than a diesel engine counterpart. The other attraction is the fuel flexibility, a gas turbine engine can use CNG/LPG, regular diesel, bio diesel, vegetable oil, and Jet A1 fuel, which makes it more attractive to third world countries where fuel quality/availability varies. No modifications are required also, you can run all these fuels without any adjustment required, only performance would increase / decrease depending on the caloric value of the fuel used. More info on Ians US website, who happens to be a native born Kiwi. http://wrightspeed.com/products/the-route/




    Last edited by Skyhook; 21-10-2013 at 05:56 PM.
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  10. #10

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    Quote Originally Posted by Skyhook:
    Battery technology, even with the massive improvements, especially over the last 5 years, is still not quite there yet to run a hulking big bus in its own right, the range just isn't there.
    The technology is in use and there are many ZEV vehicles currently in operation in Canada and the US using hydrogen fuel cells.

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