"Boltar" wrote in message
ups.com
On 6 Jul, 09:56, Adrian wrote:
February
2006.http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/medi...ntre/3680.aspx

From the article:

"The battery pack is kept at optimum power by a 1.9 litre diesel Euro
IV engine. In other words, an engine which would normally be found in
a family car keeps the battery"

1.9 sounds a bit too small. I'm sure in start and stop traffic it
might be ok but ultimately the energy all comes from that engine.
Seems to me the bus would be hopeless for any long or even middle
distance runs especially if any hills are involved, since once the
battery has been used up its relying on the engine only and a 10 ton
(probably more) bus won't be going anywhere fast with an engine that
size.

I was in Seattle a couple of months ago and noticed that all their bendy
buses proudly claim to be hybrids. The buses certainly didn't look new,
so presumably have older technology than the London buses, and Seattle
is a lot more hilly than central London. They seemed to get up the hills
all right, though I've no idea what size diesel engines they have.

Seattle has another pro-public transport featu buses are free in the
central area, so encouraging people to park their cars and then move
around by bus (I doubt that many people get into town other than by
car).