Hybrid Buses in Europe – expectations and experience presented in the Hybrid User Forum

The European Union funded Hybrid Commercial Vehicle (HCV) project works on advanced (second generation) hybrid electric powertrains for urban buses and trucks. Fuel economy and reduced environmental impacts are main targets. A Hybrid User Forum brings together (potential) users of heavy duty hybrid vehicles with the Research and Technical Development (RTD) project. It is independently organised and moderated. The Hybrid User Forum collaborates closely with UIPT (International Association of Public Transport). One task is the analysis of market obstacles. Real-world expectations and experience can be compared to the expected outcomes of the HCV project. Periodic questionnaires and annual workshops clearly demonstrate a gap between user expectations and the experience of practical operation – especially in terms of fuel consumption, reliability/availability and maintenance. Although hybrid buses have achieved a recognizable share in the urban bus fleets, the satisfaction level is not always sufficient. Especially with the available 18 m (60 ft) articulated buses, the expectations were not fully met. The 12 m (40 ft) standard buses and double-deckers achieve in general better results. The Forum also shows a growing interest in full electric solutions – not only with battery-buses but as well with trolley-buses and trolley-battery hybrids.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADC80 Alternative Transportation Fuels and Technologies.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Glotz-Richter, Michael
  • Fenton, Bonnie
  • Erkfeldt, Sara
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Photos; References;
• Pagination: 5p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Buses; Commercial vehicles; Customer satisfaction; Fuel consumption; Hybrid vehicles; Maintenance; Urban areas; Workshops
• Subject Areas: Energy; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01516624
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-1427
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 28 2014 1:32PM