Electric hybrid vehicles

The big difference is, instead of a gas engine, this bus has a 5.9 L Cummings ISB common rail diesel engine. This diesel engine is coupled with a hi torque electric motor and power is blended to the wheels through an Alison CVT transmission.

The constant variable transmission is much like driving a snowmobile where you never feel the transmission up shift to the next gear. The transmission changes gear ratios on the fly to provide more speed at the optimum RPMs.

Electric hybrid diesels

Another thing that is different then on many hybrid vehicles is that the diesel engine never shuts off. In the best case scenario when the electric motor is driving the vehicle the diesel engine is still idling. The old transit buses received somewhere around eight to 10 miles per gallon.

The new hybrid electric transit vehicle will double the miles per gallon and should receive 16 to 20 miles per gallon. These specifications are for the ultimate of city driving. A transit bus is a stop and go vehicle and if it is lucky may reach 40 mph a few times during the day. Note that the batteries are on the roof of the electric hybrid vehicle and are recharged by engine braking.

Another interesting part about the diesel side of the vehicle is that this diesel engine manufactured by Cummings meets all of the latest alternative fuels emissions standards. You will not see belching black smoke from the fancy exhaust pipe shown in the picture below. The reason is that the 2009 standards include a particulate filter. This filter will pull most of the carbon from the exhaust being emitted from the tailpipe.

hybrid electric

These particulate filters are new to the market and do require service. I am scheduled for training on this alternative fuels hybrid electric vehicle. But I did poke around and see that the diesel engine and emissions system comes with a regeneration cycle to be performed by the mechanic. When you enter the regeneration cycle, you are basically cleaning the diesel particulate filter.

Hybrid electric maintenance

When I read the maintenance manual about this procedure, it stated that the exhaust gases during this regeneration cycle could reach 1000°F. They stress that you perform the regeneration cycle in a safe area because of this exhaust heat. After I go through some training classes about these electric hybrid vehicles I will add more details.

Another interesting feature to the alternative fuels bus, as you can see in the picture below is that the windshield is massive and in one piece. The front windshield has a slight domed shape that provides better aerodynamics than a standard flat windshield. Also the headlights are halogen high intensity but low power units.

electric vehicle image

This hybrid electric vehicle is packed with new technology including Multiplex systems throughout. This is were about ten different modules communicate with each other via cabling (soon to be fiber optics). Multiplex systems replace wiring harnesses and relays. This is said to have reduced the wieght of the transit bus by more then 200 pounds.

Bringing the total vehicle weight in at 29,000 pounds. This is very impressive for a bus that is 40 foot long and seats just under 50 people and 2 wheel chairs. Also this electric transit vehicle is pre-wired for cameras and traffic light changing satellite systems. Looking at the electronics is similar to looking at electrical systems on the space shuttle.

For more information about interesting vehicles that provide power from something other than straight up gasoline, Please visit my alternative fuels section.

Alternative fuels learn from history

With a history of more than a decade of alternative fuel vehicle use, what has been learned in these two states, and what works for government fleets. New York City’s Mark Simon of the department of transportation, assistant Commissioner Rocco D. Reiko of the Department of sanitation, and the New Jersey Department of treasury’s, recently shared insights from the relatively long experiences with alternative fuel vehicles. They cover the most popular and growing fuel choices, all of which provide a reduction in petroleum fuel use, better or as good emission levels, and minimal upset to existing fleet procedures and operations.

Both New York City and New Jersey were early adopters of hybrid light duty vehicles in 2001. Both have a mix of Toyota previous and Ford escape vehicles. Both report that everything is going on about as advertised with these hybrid units. For the prius fuel economy in New York City was reported about 40 miles per gallon, whereas the New Jersey fleet reported about 48 miles per gallon. The New Jersey miles per gallon is surprising because hybrids have better fuel economy rating in city traffic. But the mpg figure reflects both the actual driving cycle and the amount of air conditioning used in the vehicle. The New York’s city fleet is enormous and has more than 1700 generation one and generation 2 Toyota previous hybrids and Ford escape hybrids.

New Jersey’s hybrid fleet is more modest comprising of only 91 prius and 44 Ford escape hybrid vehicles. Buying the Toyota prius was an expensive endeavor, but the fuel savings have been significant. In addition, service problems have been minimal, and no premature battery failures were reported in New Jersey or New York City. Reported savings of about 600 gallons per vehicle per year compared to a conventional vehicle. These results were significant enough for both states to receive approvals from local governments and city councils to continue this program.

Mark is a master mechanic and a member of the society of automobile engineers (SAE). You can learn more about hybrid vehicles at his latest report on the status of the alternative fuels vehicle.

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