Today we launched the Bath Hybrid vehicle 39000 - it is one of only a very few hybrid buses outside London.
This one is part of the EU CIVITAS Renaissance Project which brings hybrids to a range of European cities reliant on heritage and tourism - namely Szczecinek, Perugia, Skopje, Gorna Oriahovitsa and Bath.
This is a former London demonstration vehicle is now refurbished and converted to one door for the six-month trial and brings the low emission benefits of hybrid to a city where air quality is a priority. It represents the culmination of a good deal of work by Bath and North East Somerset Council.
Joining us today for the inaugural run were representatives from the various parties involved and Don Foster MP for Bath.
The bus normally operates with its diesel engine running at a constant and optimal speed to generate electrical power to drive the bus. Power is also provided from regenerative braking.
On today's run as we approached Bath driver Mike Whitaker switched off the engine completely and it ran into the city on battery power alone so creating no emissions whatsoever.
Although this was done manually by Mike it is technically possible to do this by GPS tracking providing automatic switching between battery and generator power.
A number of other initiatives will be delivered by BaNES as part of this project including a new city information scheme, an innovative cycle hire scheme, and a freight consolidation demonstration later this year.
Bristol, Somerset and Avon MD Tony McNiff, me and Projects Director John Birtwistle pose in a glorious Bath North Parade with the bus which is also shown in greater detail.
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On today's run as we approached Bath driver Mike Whitaker switched off the engine completely and it ran into the city on battery power alone so creating no emissions whatsoever.
Although this was done manually by Mike it is technically possible to do this by GPS tracking providing automatic switching between battery and generator power.
A number of other initiatives will be delivered by BaNES as part of this project including a new city information scheme, an innovative cycle hire scheme, and a freight consolidation demonstration later this year.
Bristol, Somerset and Avon MD Tony McNiff, me and Projects Director John Birtwistle pose in a glorious Bath North Parade with the bus which is also shown in greater detail.
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Nice, clean livery. Mr Stenning perhaps?
ReplyDeleteWill this be on one particular route or moved around to compare performence? I would be interested to hear how it gets on with the Lansdown Park & Ride where the pollution in the past from buses coming up from the city must have been considerable.
ReplyDeleteIt will work on all of the P&R services. Hopefully also at an event later in September
ReplyDeleteA really excellently hybrid buses and i know The bus normally operates with its diesel engine running at a constant and optimal speed to generate electrical power to drive the bus. all people like it.
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samy
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