London Takes Delivery Of Hybrid-Drive Double-Decker

London’s iconic double-decker buses may soon add a green heart to their familiar red exterior. Having already made an impact in North America, buses equipped with BAE Systems ’ diesel  -electric HybriDrive propulsion system are soon to be trailed on the other side of the Atlantic. The first of 17 evaluation units built by Britain’s Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and BAE Systems was delivered this week to bus operator Transport for London and Metrobus.

The hybrid system uses a generator, an electric motor  and lithium-ion battery storage along with a regenerative braking system. The diesel motor about half the size of those normally used to run buses runs the generator and a computerized propulsion control system manages power delivery to the electric drive – when accelerating quickly for example, power is pulled from both the batteries and the generator. Because the system uses no mechanical transmission there’s less maintenance and the bus delivered to the London uses an new, lighter energy storage system that increases battery life, reduces vehicle weight and therefore improves fuel economy  and cuts emissions.

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