More and more hybrid vehicles are traversing our roadways worldwide these days. Perhaps interest in the technology may have been slow to develop, but with the current price of gasoline and concerns about pollution emissions from vehicles, consumers seem to be embracing the concept. The demand is now so great that even used hybrid vehicles are experiencing a price increase because the supply appears to be less than the demand.
Until now, though, there has not been a viable, commercial hybrid bus. But that is changing thanks to Volvo. Look for the Volvo 7700 Hybrid bus.
The bus is powered by an electric motor until it reaches 15-20 kph, then the diesel engine kicks in automatically. Volvo says that the bus has up to 30 percent lower fuel consumption than conventional buses. How low? Greenhouse gas emissions are said to be reduced by up to 30 percent when compared to a conventional bus. Same with the
discharge of particles and nitrous oxide.
Moreover, bus operators who include it in their fleet can get a payback on the extra cost of the bus in only five to seven years.
Additional information can be found at MarketWatch. If you are interested in seeing what the bus looks like, visit here.
Our take? The Volvo 7700 Hybrid bus may soon be stuck in traffic beside you. And if it is, at least you can be assured that the emissions are cleaner.