No abstract

No abstract

Simulation studies are performed to evaluate the potential fuel savings and reduction in emissions from using hybrid powered buses on Long Beach City bus routes. Conventional diesels, diesel-hybrid, and gas turbine-hybrids are considered. The results of these studies are compared with experimental data and are in generally good agreement. Fuel economy is shown to be dependent on the bus configuration, component sizing as well as the bus route, with a potential fuel economy improvement of as much as 80%. Emissions are also substantially lowered if hybrid buses equipped with diesels or gas turbines are deployed. Depending on the mission, driving patterns, and road conditions, different control strategies demonstrate the best results. The long-term objective of the project is to investigate the feasibility of utilizing a fleet of small and medium size hybrid passenger vans in metropolitan/urban areas to improve over the overall fuel efficiency, reduce emission, and increase throughput without increasing cost life of the system-thus allowing additional routes to areas where such services are most needed. This is done by allowing fleets consisting of a mix of vehicles such as hybrids and internal combustion engines to operate. The fuel savings and lower emission over the vehicle life will compensate the higher initial capital costs. The results of this study can be extended to address the transportation problems over large metropolitan areas and facilitate implementation of Air Resource Board (ARB), Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), and Caltrans mandates in promoting higher use of high-occupancy vehicles (HOV) and sustainable market demand for ultra low and zero emission vehicles.

No abstract

No abstract