LowCVP’s second regional workshop hears operators’ feedback from running green buses, amid plans to implement a CAZ in Leeds by 2020
For the last decade, low-carbon technologies have been trialled in real-world conditions by bus operators across the UK.
The industry is now at the point where it's introducing green vehicles as integral parts of its fleet upgrades, and not simply as pilot schemes.
That was one of the messages from the latest Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) workshop in Leeds last week (11 July), aimed at small-medium operators.
Most helpfully, the Leeds event in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) saw a number of candid case studies from operators on the practical use of various green technologies, and a chance for attendees to ask manufacturers and dealers about the operational issues.
Introductions for the event came from WYCA Councillor Keith Wakefield, and Mike Weston, Chair of the LowCVP Bus Working Group.
The speakers included Gloria Esposito and Daniel Hayes from LowCVP, Dave Pearson from WYCA, and Gwyn Owen from Leeds City Council, before operators gave candid overviews of their experience of operating various green technologies.
The electric bus
Alex Hornby, CEO of Transdev Blazefield, updated delegates on the operator's plans for Harrogate to be the UK's first all-electric town bus network.
By February the town will have eight Volvo 7900e single-deck electric vehicles, in a partnership between Transdev, Volvo, infrastructure supplier ABB, and British Gas, which is working to ensure there's enough electricity in Harrogate to power the buses.
“There's a real partnership effort, and that's a big part of making this work,” says Mr Hornby.
He also spoke about the conversion of a Transdev open-top City Sightseeing bus in York to electric operation, in a repower by Magtec. Tourists particularly appreciated how quiet they are, he said.
However, his message from Transdev's experience of making vehicles greener is that that alone isn't something that can attract new passengers. “We've always done something else to the vehicle to lift the passenger experience as well,” he says, citing interior refurbishment, free wi-fi and USB charging points. “You have to keep lifting the level of quality.”
The hybrid bus
Arriva Yorkshire has invested in 160 Euro 5 buses in the last few years, a relatively new fleet, but it all needs upgrading to Euro 6 to meet Leeds' Clean Air Zone (CAZ) by 2020.
Jon Croxford, Area Managing Director, talked about the challenges and about the 12 hybrid buses the company has operated for the last four years from its Castleford depot.
Their purchase price was 20% more than diesel, but with an MPG 20% better than diesel.
Mr Croxford echoed what Mr Hornby said about attracting new passengers. “We did get some passenger growth as a result of investment in these vehicles – but it didn't exceed the growth we'd get for buying equivalent diesel buses, despite the fact that we did our best in our marketing to emphasise the hybrid element,” he says.
The hybrids have performed well operationally, with good reliability and no technical issues. “Drivers love them,” says Mr Croxford.
The main challenges of operating the hybrids is that their whole life cost is still unknown, and the cost of replacing their batteries at mid-life could be upwards of £30,000 per bus.
This year Arriva Yorkshire has bought 37 conventional Euro 6 diesel buses. “We need to continue investing, but we need some degree of certainty,” says Mr Croxford.
The retrofitted bus
Simon Carlisle, Engineering Director of First West Yorkshire, spoke about the company's experience with hybrid and retrofitted SCRT buses.
The company found its Volvo Wrightbus hybrids 25% more fuel efficient than comparable diesels, with similar challenges to Arriva's experience.
With Clean Bus Technology funding, First WY retrofitted 111 buses with after-treatment exhaust technology, at a cost of £12-15,000 per bus.
It's the most cost-effective option, Mr Carlisle said, but it does have its challenges. AdBlue is 4% of diesel consumption, and maintenance needs are high, with increased complexity and the likelihood of more reliability issues. He also cited a slight penalty in fuel efficiency.
He emphasised the need to carry out a pre-install checklist, agree method statements with the supplier, ensure staff are fully trained, and ensure the system is maintained properly.
Neale Wallace from West Yorkshire Combined Authority also spoke about the authority's retrofit of 165 Euro 3 and Euro 4 yellow school buses with SCRT, using over £1m from the Clean Bus Technology Fund. All routes have achieved 80-90% reductions in NOx emissions.
The greatest challenge was fitting SCRT installation around the six-weekly inspections and MoTs, and ensuring that 150 buses were still available for operation.
He also stressed the importance of drivers' impact on air quality, saying that telematics and re-educating drivers is vital for efficiency.
The gas bus
Readers of routeone have read of the successful ongoing conversion of the Reading Buses fleet to gas, but it doesn't work for everybody.
Sam Nolan from Go-Ahead spoke about Go East Anglia’s pioneering experience running 13 MAN biomethane buses with Caetano bodies from its Eccles base, and the teething problems involved. “No one knew what to expect,” he said.
The infrastructure needs were high, with electricity, groundwork and fencing all causing problems. Water in the pipes caused wet gas.
However, maintenance was relatively easy and the vehicles were proven to be reliable and successful. The buses are now operating in Plymouth.
Comment
The event brought into contrast the differences between air quality needs in London and in the rest of the UK. But even though provincial Clean Air Zones may require lower emission standards or later deadlines, Euro 6 by 2020 for Leeds still isn't an easy target.
It also highlighted the challenges for smaller operators trying to comply. Jon Croxford mentioned the benefit of being able to tap into Arriva's experience at a national level – a benefit that smaller operators don't have. These LowCVP workshops go some way towards levelling that particular playing field.
