Hype-Brids
The NFTA recently transformed a lot of its buses to diesel/electric hybrids. So did Toronto’s TTC. But in Toronto, they discovered this:
Toronto’s new and expensive hybrid buses are saving less than half the amount of diesel fuel the transit agency - and the governments that paid for them - claimed.
The Toronto Transit Commission and the federal, provincial and city governments said as recently as March that the new hybrid diesel-electric buses - which cost $734,000, compared with $500,000 for a conventional bus - were using 20 to 30 per cent less fuel.
But the TTC’s current fuel-savings estimate, incorporated in its 2008 budget after tests on the new fleet last summer, is just 10 per cent - although officials expect that number to improve.
Since hybrids only make sense in stop-and-go, heavy traffic*, I’d wager that the fuel savings in the Buffalo-Niagara region is even lower still.
The NFTA says:
Metro estimates a 25% to 30% reduction in fuel based on the efficiencies of the hybrid drivetrain.
If Toronto is getting 10 - 20% savings, I’d bet that we’re getting 5 - 10%. If that.
*The hallmarks of hybrid engines are engine start/stop, occasional electric propulsion, and brake regeneration. For that to make sense, you need to be stopping and braking a lot. Hybrid vehicles make zero sense in zero traffic WNY.
indabuff Says:May 16th, 2008 at 8:55 am
A majority of NFTA ridership is in the city and in high density first ring suburbs…if you have ever ridden the bus in the city, there is a lot of stop-n-go traffic…between the lights and stops alone, there is a lot of s-n-g…I can’t attest for every route, but I know that Main, Bailey, Broadway, Elmwood & Kenmore busses stop often…I never believe savings estimates, but I can see a 10-20% savings.
Timothy Domst Says:May 16th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Have you ever driven behind the Elmwood bus? It is stop and go all the time.