Abstract: FirstBus, with 8,000 buses and 20,000 staff, is Britain's largest provincial bus operator. The paper describes experience with gas powered vehicles and other forms of motive power. Initial trials were with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and compressed natural gas (CNG). The buses converted for LPG use in the city of Bath were two 18 year old double-deckers, and although environmentally friendly, their lack of up-to-date passenger facilities was a disadvantage. Initial experience with a specially designed CNG powered bus has been more successful. Use of Wavedriver technology, which allows maximum exploitation of lead-acid batteries, is described. The technique has been used on a prototype 40 seat bus and is shortly to be used on a full size vehicle. A project to design a hybrid vehicle based on a small diesel engine, and electric motor and storage batteries, is outlined. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 882649.
Publication Year: 1996
Publication Date: 1996-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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