City looks at retrofitting buses to reduce emissions
Posted Jan 12, 2010 03:54:51 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
City council with vote Tuesday night on a hybrid retrofit for its buses in an effort to save fuel, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Metro Transit is recommending three retrofits for its buses at a cost of just under $54,000.
Fleet manager Paul Beauchamp says bus engines are currently cooled by a hydrolic system that runs constantly.
“What this retrofit does is get rid of that constant load, so the engine is only cooled when it’s required to be cool,” says Beauchamp.
He adds, the benefits are huge.
“There’s a savings in maintenance, a savings in fuel, and there’s also a quoted savings in noise,” says Beauchamp.
He says if the pilot project works well, they won’t stop at three.
“The potential is to go from three to 170 and save 10 per cent on fuel across the fleet,” says Beauchamp.
It’s a win across the board, says Beauchamp, and he’s confident it will get council’s approval.
