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Electric vehicles for mass transit make sense

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Maybe, just maybe, the best place for electric vehicles might be on commercial bus routes where travel time, distance and fuel consumption follow consistent and predictable patterns.

New Flyer Industries, a bus manufacturer based in Winnipeg just unveiled its first all-electric bus and is testing it in partnership with the Manitoba government, Mitsubishi Heavy Indistries (MHI), a local utility company and a college. They plan two years of testing before launching a commercial version.

Electric buses are already in use in Seooul, Korea and there's a lot of reasons why they make sense in N. America too, according to Forbes writer, Tom Konrad.

Konrad reports that the electric bus prototype is based on...

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Submitted Jun 04, 2012 By: PD

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stonecold5005 All-Star Author Waco Posts:817 Points:20,240 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jun 16, 2012 7:47:06 AM Ignore stonecold5005 Report Abuse yes
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,967 Points:1,276,000 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Jun 15, 2012 11:25:04 PM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse Yes...
stonecold5005 All-Star Author Waco Posts:817 Points:20,240 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jun 15, 2012 8:20:03 AM Ignore stonecold5005 Report Abuse sure
t1gerclaw Rookie Author New Jersey Posts:23 Points:20,125 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Jun 13, 2012 11:57:03 PM Ignore t1gerclaw Report Abuse If I am not wrong, Electric buses are only viable in places where gas is very high priced. In USA, I don't see it coming anytime soon. May be in next 10 to 20 years after electric cars become popular and when there is enough infrastructure to handle electric buses.
albert2008 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:7,352 Points:1,481,010 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 12, 2012 7:23:01 AM Ignore albert2008 Report Abuse only at the right price
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,941 Points:1,925,580 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jun 11, 2012 8:51:34 PM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse Now if we conserve electric usage so we have capacity to use for this. And produce that electricity in cleaner way than coal. I'm tired of the acid rain. We can't afford to Not to stop coal burning!
isis1812 Veteran Author West Virginia Posts:367 Points:192,165 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jun 11, 2012 12:11:54 PM Ignore isis1812 Report Abuse Makes sense
Math6149 All-Star Author Jacksonville Posts:873 Points:1,796,375 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jun 11, 2012 8:42:49 AM Ignore Math6149 Report Abuse Just what we need?
albert2008 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:7,352 Points:1,481,010 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 11, 2012 7:44:43 AM Ignore albert2008 Report Abuse time will tell
mrjames1818 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,545 Points:1,998,095 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jun 11, 2012 2:28:39 AM Ignore mrjames1818 Report Abuse Definitely
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 10, 2012 7:30:47 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse definitely makes sense for those areas suffering from bad smog and who have dense populations.
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,941 Points:1,925,580 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:18:38 PM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse sure
jwalkerh Champion Author Louisiana Posts:6,132 Points:1,368,945 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 10:03:46 PM Ignore jwalkerh Report Abuse It is a good choice if the cities can afford them.
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,121 Points:292,685 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 7:55:21 AM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse ok
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 6:56:49 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse ftl: public transportation can't be like short people movers. Busses need to reach the destination of their respctive routes b/c you never know if there is someone waiting for them five stops over.
ftlbear Rookie Author Dallas Posts:54 Points:234,015 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jun 9, 2012 12:10:05 AM Ignore ftlbear Report Abuse This will only be efficient if it works like the Disney WED Way people mover with electric magnets which only work as needed. Other electric ways, just move the pollution to the electric producing sites, and do not actually save on energy
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,941 Points:1,925,580 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jun 8, 2012 3:20:24 PM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse Time to make it happen, again.
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,121 Points:292,685 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 8, 2012 10:00:59 AM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse yep
albert2008 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:7,352 Points:1,481,010 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 8, 2012 8:15:46 AM Ignore albert2008 Report Abuse time will tell
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 8, 2012 4:50:08 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse Donatelo: wouldn't call it innovation, but returning back to alternatives we previously discarded when oil was super cheap.
FLP448 Rookie Author Miami Posts:2 Points:290 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jun 7, 2012 5:39:52 PM Ignore FLP448 Report Abuse Shades of WHO KILLED ROGER RABBIT ? indeed. And by the way,LPG and CNG vehicles have been in use in Europe for well over 40 years that i know of. Check Wikipedia about all the millions more in use around the world.
FLP448 Rookie Author Miami Posts:2 Points:290 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jun 7, 2012 5:23:01 PM Ignore FLP448 Report Abuse The oil companies pushed out the electric cable car w/only 1 left in San Francisco (I THINK only 1 ??)today. Now that the tide has turned let us employ every means of propulsion available for mass transit EXCEPT for the internal combustion engine.
trugasCA Champion Author California Posts:3,859 Points:160,455 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jun 7, 2012 9:08:37 AM Ignore trugasCA Report Abuse Makes sense to my mind
Donatelo Champion Author Dayton Posts:1,121 Points:292,685 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jun 7, 2012 7:58:55 AM Ignore Donatelo Report Abuse moving forward with innovation.
honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,624 Points:1,609,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 7, 2012 4:57:22 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse trolleys and "trams" as they are sometimes called in Europe are perfect for electrification. So are subways and busses.
Kawibiker Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,170 Points:204,475 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jun 7, 2012 12:04:06 AM Ignore Kawibiker Report Abuse need to go for it
sparky808 Champion Author Honolulu Posts:3,003 Points:598,710 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jun 6, 2012 12:29:57 PM Ignore sparky808 Report Abuse ok
HailstormCA Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,855 Points:1,472,020 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 6, 2012 10:25:53 AM Ignore HailstormCA Report Abuse Trolly's ring a bell?
albert2008 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:7,352 Points:1,481,010 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jun 6, 2012 7:56:57 AM Ignore albert2008 Report Abuse time will tell all
gudrench Champion Author Houston Posts:2,623 Points:529,990 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Jun 6, 2012 7:31:27 AM Ignore gudrench Report Abuse I prefer a magic bus.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:33,017 Points:2,345,510 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Jun 6, 2012 2:07:07 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse EV's for bus routes where the travel time, distance and fuel consumption follow consistent and predictable patterns. Yes! The vehicle batteries last for the day, from start and back to the bus barn – 300 miles or more. No more noxious fumes exhausting from the back of the bus while you try to breathe following behind. Close in city garbage trucks and delivery vehicles like: USPS, UPS, DHL, etc. can be EV's too! Operate the AC in summer and have heat during the winter And provide power to the electrical motors for propulsion of the vehicle, all power provided by the storage batteries. Much cheaper produced renewable energy supply from solar, wind, hydro, tidal, thermal and/or nuclear to supply the electricity. Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost, if possible. The price of fuel at the pump is too high! 12/22/2012!
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:23,608 Points:1,075,890 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 11:29:46 PM Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse => This is one of the few places where this may actually make sense ... but they've basically reinvented the San Francisco cable car ... <= I believe the cable cars actually run on a cable, not electricity. But this is a case of 'back to the future' -- in the earlier 20th century there were electric trolleys, trackless trolleys (electric buses) and streetcars all over urban areas. They were mostly bought up by General Motors who bought them so they could close them and replace them with their own fossil-burnin' buses. Nice guys huh?
Ray_10589 Champion Author New York Posts:4,946 Points:1,182,985 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 10:16:44 PM Ignore Ray_10589 Report Abuse maybe
bell05 Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,255 Points:1,876,610 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 7:53:05 PM Ignore bell05 Report Abuse old news.
GryphonX Champion Author Nevada Posts:6,100 Points:1,588,100 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 4:13:31 PM Ignore GryphonX Report Abuse This is one of the few places where this may actually make sense ... but they've basically reinvented the San Francisco cable car ...
BoerneWatch Champion Author San Antonio Posts:15,546 Points:2,454,765 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 3:26:24 PM Ignore BoerneWatch Report Abuse Wonderful. How much? Because money is not mentioned, you know it is still not even close to being economically feasible.
roadjet Champion Author Baton Rouge Posts:15,487 Points:2,093,625 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 2:19:20 PM Ignore roadjet Report Abuse Electric makes perfect sense for Big Cities and short overall distances. It's the more rural areas that could use viable, long term alternatives.
rjhenn Champion Author Des Moines Posts:22,444 Points:2,229,925 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 2:16:02 PM Ignore rjhenn Report Abuse sammy518 - "can we actually consider electric vehicles better for the environment? that electricity they use still has to be generated from something, nuclear, coal etc. which is still polluting." Or wind or solar or hydro. And it's a lot easier to control pollution from one central source than hundreds of thousand of mobile sources. Unless those mobile sources don't pollute at all.
rjhenn Champion Author Des Moines Posts:22,444 Points:2,229,925 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 2:06:55 PM Ignore rjhenn Report Abuse beachmanglen - "CNG vehicles make more sense than electric. It's readily available and has no adverse environmental effects since water is the pollutant." You're thinking of hydrogen, not CNG.
Grismer Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:8,534 Points:1,724,045 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:55:12 PM Ignore Grismer Report Abuse Get more pilot studies up and running in various urban communities so that actual data is available to make informed decisions.
HailstormCA Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,855 Points:1,472,020 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:48:40 PM Ignore HailstormCA Report Abuse Trolly come to mind?
WBBNC Veteran Author North Carolina Posts:499 Points:488,640 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:47:07 PM Ignore WBBNC Report Abuse Sure, it does make sense!
Mowerman08 Champion Author Milwaukee Posts:4,760 Points:1,217,995 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:43:37 PM Ignore Mowerman08 Report Abuse Batteries required.
indrix All-Star Author Toronto Posts:582 Points:161,790 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:41:34 PM Ignore indrix Report Abuse Already in use in some form or another here in Toronto.
joeborge Champion Author Ventura Posts:2,536 Points:905,555 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:40:05 PM Ignore joeborge Report Abuse maybe
beachmanglen All-Star Author Tampa Posts:679 Points:496,350 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:39:10 PM Ignore beachmanglen Report Abuse CNG vehicles make more sense than electric. It's readily available and has no adverse environmental effects since water is the pollutant.
K9LO Champion Author North Dakota Posts:2,685 Points:543,980 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:36:08 PM Ignore K9LO Report Abuse Lets bring back the electric bus and the street cars.
sammy518 Champion Author Austin Posts:2,589 Points:539,790 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:33:49 PM Ignore sammy518 Report Abuse can we actually consider electric vehicles better for the environment? that electricity they use still has to be generated from something, nuclear, coal etc. which is still polluting.
JerryBx7 Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:8,667 Points:1,142,165 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:33:38 PM Ignore JerryBx7 Report Abuse I'll check back after the two year testing period.
VetteFan Champion Author Indiana Posts:9,739 Points:2,028,480 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jun 5, 2012 1:33:31 PM Ignore VetteFan Report Abuse The most likely possibility would be LNG buses. The electric motors would cost an arm and a leg.