Comments on: New York City Orders 850 Diesel Hybrid Buses

By: tapra1

tapra1 — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:09:00 +0000

combine hybrid controls, diesel engines, and electric drives. Yesterday, Daimler AG received an order for 850 of its Orion VII hybrid diesel-electric buses from MTA, Top Windows Hosting

By: greengal

greengal — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:26:26 +0000

Does anyone have any information with regard to the availability of these diesel/hybrid technologies being used in Motor Homes? If so, what kind of costs are we talking about and what mileage improvement expected? While some may argue that those that can afford RV’s can afford the fuel – now pushing $4. per gallon, but I hardly think that is the point. Everyone should want to reduce emissions and use fuel more efficiently.

By: Collin

Collin — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:34:35 +0000

You guys (and gals) are awesome!

Simon... The pantograph idea is GREAT!!! Use the electricity when it's available. Buses could do the same thing but in either case, the cost to install the pantograph system is very high and the systems are quite 'unsightly' and (on rare occasion) dangerous.

Sean... It’s just a matter of battery technology getting better and better. If these buses are designed properly, installing a better battery (down the road) should allow the system to turn the diesel off once the battery is fully charged and back on when needed (say at half or one-third charge).

Mark... Fuel Cells are great but still very expensive (price is a very real obstacle) and there is no infrastructure (hydrogen fueling stations) in Manhattan.

By: Oklahoma Honda Civic Hybrid Dr

Oklahoma Honda Civic Hybrid Dr — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:06:25 +0000

thats awesome, I wish Tulsa would get its act together and purchase some of these buses.

By: MICHAEL PELEKIS

MICHAEL PELEKIS — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:14:08 +0000

COST OF FUELL CELL $4,000/kW

http://www.energy.ca.gov/distgen/equipment/fuel_cells/cost.html

A 150 KW ENGINE FOR A BUS WOULD COST 600,000$

HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS EMIT WATER VAPOUR
WATER VAPOUR AT HIGH CONCENTRATIONS IS NOT A HARMLESS GAS

By: mark

mark — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:59:12 +0000

why not just buy fuel cell buses? then you have no emissions, can re-fuel quickly, and hydrogen can be produced using (at least partially) renewable energy?

By: indigo

indigo — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 03:08:09 +0000

Am I missing something, or do these hybrid busses work just like how GM wants the Chevy Volt to function? If so, why isn’t the Volt out on the roads now?

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:57:38 +0000

Speaking of diesel electric trains, why is it that they don't ever have a pantograph? (the arm that goes up and down to get power from an overhead line)

I mean, couldnt they get their power from the suburban train network whilst in the city, then switch over to getting it from the deisel when in the country?

There must be a technical reason.

Actually - why not have buses with pantographs and some roads with electrical cables?

By: David Long

David Long — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:42:30 +0000

Sean, because to move a bus during the day you’d need a battery the size of Brooklyn to store enough power. You need to carry your BTUs a lot more efficiently. This is why freight trains are diesel-electric – the diesel engine does nothing but power the electric motors.

By: sean

sean — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 01:04:58 +0000

Can someone exlain to me why we produce electricity by a diesel engine and then use the electricity to drive the car. I think the big power plants produce electricity at a much higher efficiency. A plug-in, without the diesel engine is more desirable. Or I miss something here?