They are also much more passenger friendly and help to make public transport more attractive, because they are much quieter due to their electric behaviour. The latest generation of full hybrids from various bus manufacturers not only offer good capabilities to reduce GHG emissions when compared with diesel, mild hybrids and CNG buses. Also, full hybrid technology has gone through a silent revolution in recent years. This is already reflected in recent “diesel” tenders. Therefore, interest in full hybrid technology for the second-choice segment is set to increase. By choosing a mix of both full hybrid and electric buses during this transitional period, there is no compromise on operational convenience and productivity, and there are clear environmental benefits. Now the urgent need to mitigate climate change means it’s time for them to receive the recognition they deserve as a very important bridging solution, where the implementation of large numbers of electric buses is simply not possible, given the current complexities and pace of electrification. You could even say that the goal of full hybrid technology is to exploit all the benefits of electrification that come without strings attached.ĭue to the buzz around electrification, full hybrids have been somewhat overlooked. Put simply, because they use recovered kinetic energy to drive in electric mode, they do not require charging infrastructure and are therefore quick and easy to implement. Therefore, in these emission-sensitive areas, full hybrids can be more electric than the average values suggest.įurthermore, full hybrids offer a mature technology that has greatly improved in recent years and combines the benefits of electrification with the operational convenience and productivity of diesel buses. Full hybrids also offer a targeted approach their electric behaviour can be concentrated on curbing emissions and noise in city centres and at bus stops where it matters most. Typically, they can spend as much as 25 to 50 percent of their operating time, and 10 to 30 percent of the distance they drive, in quiet electric mode. The latest generation of full hybrids can be enhanced by connectivity and geofencing and are now more electric than ever before. The limited availability of biofuels also restricts the various options and, in reality, in most cases the choice is between diesel, CNG, mild or full hybrids. Diesel, gas, and hybrid buses, including their alternative fuel variants, are all possible choices, but not necessarily equally beneficial. This means that in the years to come, fleet renewals will need to include alternative technologies alongside electric buses. However, due to several constraints, not least the wait for adequate charging infrastructure, the large-scale, robust, and cost-effective implementation of electric buses will be a progressive journey rather than an overnight transition. The future of public transport is absolutely electric.
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