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JoeHEB1
Advanced Member
498 Posts |
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bwest
Administrator
United States
3820 Posts |
 Posted - 02/02/2017 : 06:08:07 AM
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Humm, I don't think I'll be retired by 2019! I have reservations about electric. Fist off, they aren't zero emissions. Second, the cost has historically been out of reach to really make them work in a budget of all but the most wealthy school districts. Third, I think the maintenance would be a nightmare including life of the batteries. I am, none the less, intrigued by the notion of putting "electricity back into the grid, which could bring much-needed funds to school districts".
I guess we need to stay tuned. Thanks for posting. I'll make it "sticky". |
Bryan |
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JoeHEB1
Advanced Member
498 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2017 : 06:36:17 AM
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| I agree, they're not zero emission. Think of a fleet of 300 or more, if a district could afford that many I'm sure they won't be cheap. But imagine a fleet that size and the power they would consume to charge them up assuming they're all electric, and not to mention the batteries they'll go through. |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4547 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2017 : 06:38:19 AM
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| Someone has one being tested at Transportation Research Center down the road from me right now. Wish I could find out who's it is, but TRC is VERY tight lipped. |
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krmvcs
Advanced Member
362 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2017 : 07:29:59 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by bwest
Humm, I don't think I'll be retired by 2019! I have reservations about electric. Fist off, they aren't zero emissions. Second, the cost has historically been out of reach to really make them work in a budget of all but the most wealthy school districts. Third, I think the maintenance would be a nightmare including life of the batteries. I am, none the less, intrigued by the notion of putting "electricity back into the grid, which could bring much-needed funds to school districts".
I guess we need to stay tuned. Thanks for posting. I'll make it "sticky".
Ditto! These buses would surely require people like us to get PhD's in motor controllers and the like. Though cost savings on fluids and filters is a plus.
Im a bit confused about the "back to the grid" part though as it seems like a reach to describe it as much of a benefit as they do. I get the cost savings charging during off peak hours, but if youre going to use your bus to power the office then why not just build a battery storage shed for that purpose? when is that bus 'NOT' being charged for use? and if you use it for power back to the grid how much power do you have left for a route? |
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torque
Advanced Member
Canada
358 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2017 : 07:43:46 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Thomasbus24
Someone has one being tested at Transportation Research Center down the road from me right now. Wish I could find out who's it is, but TRC is VERY tight lipped.
Lion? I know they have some electric buses on the road but I have heard range is a problem.
You still need fuel on board for the heaters. Not sure what they do for AC in the parts where it is needed. |
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JoeHEB1
Advanced Member
498 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2017 : 07:55:45 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by torque
quote:
Originally posted by Thomasbus24
Someone has one being tested at Transportation Research Center down the road from me right now. Wish I could find out who's it is, but TRC is VERY tight lipped.
Lion? I know they have some electric buses on the road but I have heard range is a problem.
You still need fuel on board for the heaters. Not sure what they do for AC in the parts where it is needed.
It's gonna be tough to squeeze out good mileage from the batteries when the A/C is cranked up with a full load of kids. I'd hate to be the guy who has to write the program for that part of the build. |
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torque
Advanced Member
Canada
358 Posts |
Posted - 02/02/2017 : 11:18:26 AM
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Under **ideal** conditions, electric buses may work out OK.
But here in the cold of winter the batteries don't last as long. There in the heat, you need to run AC, shortening the life of the batteries :)
I don't think you should be worried about troubleshooting theses systems. I Imagine they are microprocessor controlled. There will be codes, you will have to check current and voltage at a few spots and then repair the wiring, replace the motor or batteries, replace the controller or circuit boards inside, much like we do with engine controllers, transmission controllers, body controllers etc now.
Much easier in the end, 1 system to deal with, electrical. |
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Blue Bird electric school bus.
