This is a bus. This is a good bus, as it is an electric bus, charged overnight at the depot, and it has degenerative regenerative braking, that recharges its batteries when it is in service.
See the orange at the front of the bus roof? I understand that is where the batteries sit.
I have ridden a couple of route 604 electric buses and one 603. They are excellent, and any doubt I had about there being enough power for aircon in very hot weather was dispelled. They are cool inside, quiet inside and out.
When we moved here we had three bus routes from Brighton via Prahran pass by, with a stop conveniently in front of our building. Although I do prefer trams in general, the tram from Prahran was often busy, and even busier now, so we would often catch a bus to or from Prahran, especially in warm weather as they were all air conditioned.
Bus routes were rationalised and the buses then terminated at the Alfred Hospital, still a little useful to get home if there was a tram problem, as it was one stop to walk to St Kilda Road and catch a tram from there.
Bus routes were again rationalised and I now have the 604 passing by, but it is a short walk from stops in either direction for me, the Anzac Station terminus or Slater Street. I've used it a few times.
Today, because I could, I caught the 603 eclectic bus from the corner of Toorak and Williams Road to Burnley. The driver greeted me, I was the sole passenger, and I had a brief chat to her before I alighted at the terminus to find out if bus drivers like the new electric buses, and she was passionate in her praise for them. They are nice from a passenger perspective too, without the engine racket and diesel fumes of what will soon enough be, not a normal bus. A happy bus driver makes for a better bus trip.
I believe in a few months, all our state's new buses must be electric.
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We have a few electric buses here but more would be better! School buses too!
ReplyDeleteBob, you may well be ahead of us with electric buses.
DeleteA quiet, non-smelly bus sounds good to me. So long as it runs on time and goes where people want to go.
ReplyDeleteJayCee, both of your wishes are probably more important for passengers.
DeleteThe bus looks very nice ! I don’t remember when I took a bus last time at least 10 years ago and I have no idea if it was electric or not. Anyway they are always late or on strike !
ReplyDeleteGattina, I don't know about your local public transport but generally in Europe it is quite good.
DeleteIt's so good, that there are strikes in all countries even in the UK there are troubles and it was always an example for me. In Germany it's a catastrophe and don't talk about France ! We had a general strike on Friday because the public transport doesn't work and the nurses' salary is far too low.
DeleteGetting rid of diesel will,be the best thing ever.
ReplyDeleteFor sure.
DeleteI thought it is best to avoid direct sun exposure for the battery. Yet, it is sitting on top of the bus roof.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about battery treatment Roentare but wouldn't the orange be a cover over the battery or batteries?
DeleteWe have some electric buses here, 60 in total, but it hasn't gone well. The buses are less than five years old and most of them are not working due to mechanical issues, battery problems, and not being able to find parts. Apparently the company they bought the buses from went bankrupt. I guess any new product will have a lot of problems that need to be sorted out.
ReplyDeletePixie, your area jumped in early for electric buses. Tech has changed so much in five years. It sounds like the avarice of private operators ended being not a good outcome for people.
DeleteRegenerative braking is a feature of our 2017 electric hybrid Chevrolet Volt. That car is awesome, as is our 2014 diesel Chevrolet Cruze for longer trips. Both these sedans are no longer in production so I try to drive with great care. :) Be well!
ReplyDeleteDarla, yes. If you are so happy with what you have, that is good. New car production is a horror for the environment.
DeleteThe only electric buses I know of are the school buses being introduced in our state. We have so little public transportation that I don't think anyone's investing in public electric buses. It would certainly clean the air.
ReplyDeleteDarla, if your buses don't have high patronage, the cost for depot power charging systems may be prohibitive.
DeleteIt's good that a transportophile like yourself is happy to give the new electric buses a big thumbs up. Travelling to Burnley must have taken ages as it is in East Lancashire in England. It is surprising that the bus battery lasted so long.
ReplyDeleteAustralia builds good batteries, tough batteries, that can propel our buses through Asia and Europe and reach the poxy little town of Burnley, UK. I've never heard of it.
DeleteThey sound great. We have electric buses starting in Brisbane. There has been a lot of moaning about how much they cost.
ReplyDeleteI've been watching Diane. You'll have new bus lines with electric buses that are weirdly dressed up like they are trams.
DeleteGood to know you approve of the electric buses, no smell and so on, must be better. There are two here in Launceston, but I've only seen one on the road - maybe I should get out more!
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I was discussing with my brother this evening about how nice it is to be home. I get why people like to just stay home when they are older.
DeleteIt may be the wave of the future.
ReplyDeleteKirk, I am sure it will be, very sure.
DeleteI thought that orange bit might be the airconditioning unit, like on our regular buses here.
ReplyDeleteRiver, here buses usually have their air con units at the front, but in the case of the electric buses, the air con system is moved to the back.
DeleteI am with you, but do you believe in a few months, all our state's new buses should be or will be electric?? Based on your preferences or on some political commitments?
ReplyDeleteHels, as I understand it, literally from government regulation via Public Transport Victoria, all new buses must be electric.
DeleteHow privileged to be the only passenger.
ReplyDeleteJB, being a sole passenger is great, but I'd like to see more people on the bus. In parts of its route, it will be busier. The part of the route I travelled on is through the most expensive property real estate in our city. Noses would be turned up a bus travellers.
DeleteElectric and probably hydrogen are the power of the future. As Tesla sinks into the mire.
ReplyDeleteTP, I wish 'he' would sink into the mire, the one he is making.
DeleteThanks for the tour Andrew. I like public transit buses trolleys and all of that as well. I enjoy when you share your fascination with us. Have a beautiful weekend my friend. Aloha
ReplyDeleteWe have some electric buses here and many still diesel. Our rail project continues...
DeleteThanks Cloudia. I expect the rail project will be very successful once completed.
DeleteWe have a lot of hybrid buses but the city is working on getting more electric buses. I'm not sure about the efficiency of the batteries in really cold weather. Car batteries lose a lot of range in winter.
ReplyDeletePat, that is a good point about the cold weather, but technology is moving so fast, it may not be an issue.
DeleteDoes that mean they are replacing all buses in Melbourne? For the past few years I have caught the 828 bus about 3 times a week. My journey takes 30 minutes and it is nerve racking every time. The buses are ancient, noisy and the high turn over of drivers are mostly risk takers.
ReplyDeleteJ, there is compulsory age for bus retirement but I think some can be kept for train replacement and similar. If yours are so old, they must be up for replacement very soon. I don't know if there are any special circumstances where they can be kept, other than above. I just checked, the 828 is a very long bus route, nearly three hours end to end.
DeleteYou are a VIP for sure, getting an all electric bus completely to yourself. Who are you, really?
ReplyDeleteThe driver's boss, Strayer, but don't tell her.
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