SHIFTING GEARS. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES AND CLEANER FUELS FOR TRANSIT BUSES

As an alternative to travel in personal vehicles, transit buses reduce congestion, urban sprawl, air pollution, and oil imports, while helping to avert global warming. Ironically, buses of the early 20th century may have initially contributed to the decline of public transit. As financially troubled transit agencies sought to reduce costs, they replaced urban trolleys with buses (Gordon 1991). But buses proved less attractive to people than the displaced urban rail system, and the automobile was quickly becoming the dominant travel technology. Today, buses powered by advanced engines and new fuels are poised to revive public transit in America and usher in new technologies that will deliver clean and efficient propulsion for all modes of transportation. New propulsion technologies, specifically engines and drivetrains, are the focus of this review, since they hold the greatest promise for improving the environmental performance of transit buses.

• Corporate Authors:

  Union of Concerned Scientists

  2397 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 203
  Berkeley, CA  United States  94704-1567
• Authors:
  • Mark, J
  • Davis, L R
• Publication Date: 1998-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 37 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Buses; Fuels; Propulsion; Public transit; Transit buses; Vehicle power plants
• Uncontrolled Terms: Propulsion systems
• Subject Areas: Energy; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00751459
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1998 12:00AM