British Columbia Transit to forego hybrid buses in favour of diesels

July 13, 2007

B.C. Transit to forego hybrid buses in favour of diesels

Victoria, British Columbia - B.C. Transit (BCT), the provider of mass transit services in most of the province, has decided to forego purchasing hybrid buses in favour of diesels, according to a report from the Green Car Congress. BCT will continue to use diesels in the short-term.

The decision came after an in-service evaluation of six New Flyer hybrid buses in Victoria and Kelowna. BCT compared the hybrids to its existing 1992-2003 New Flyer diesels, and to the new Nova diesel bus. Although the hybrids offered up to 28 per cent better fuel economy than the older buses, the difference between the Nova bus was only around eight per cent. In the Kelowna service area, where average speeds are higher, the difference between the hybrid and the Nova was only about one per cent, and in some cases was worse.

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kpaxx - 7/13/2007 3:08:33 PM

-3 Boost

I guess hybrids don't work for buses either

Will_ - 7/13/2007 4:43:05 PM

+2 Boost

There aren't enough bus stops in Victoria or Kelowna apparently. The BCTs first priority should be making sure to deliver service to more people before they worry about using hybrid buses! ;)

kart1 - 7/13/2007 7:18:20 PM

+1 Boost

Hybrid buses are a problem. Elk Grove, CA is using Hybrid buses but they have been plagued with problems (like no a/c during the summer and breakdowns).

I was just in Vancouver and Victoria and I have to say that your highways are not good. The speed limit is too low. 90 km/h most of the places and the 50 km/h is some places. I went from Nanaimo to Victoria and the highest the speed limit was 90 km/h and this is for about 100 km trip, of course I wasn't going that slow. However the traffic speed is that slow too, it seems like not a lot of people want to speed. During non peak hours in my area the speed is around 75mph or above and most people are above the speed limit. Your roads aren't made for going fast though, two lanes and sharper corners make it harder to go fast. It is a nice view though. Oh on side note the ferry system is awful. I had to wait five hours just to board (got in line to buy a ticket at 3:30 and boarded around 8:45 and got to the mainland around 11:30), when coming back to Vancouver. Just as not to anyone that goes there for the first time, make reservations because you are going to be stuck if you decide to go to Vancouver island.

kart1 - 7/13/2007 7:24:07 PM

0 Boost

Just as a note to anyone that goes there for the first time, make reservations because you are going to be stuck if you decide to go to Vancouver island.

kart1 - 7/13/2007 7:24:26 PM

0 Boost

^^^^Correction

EnnNorak - 7/14/2007 2:22:46 PM

+1 Boost

Good financial decision B.C. -- give your receiver general and transport minister a raise!

xj13 - 7/15/2007 10:17:12 AM

+1 Boost

Hybrids are dead,it was a political stunt to save the plant and Toyota got sucked in, they'll lose big money out of their move into hybrids.
The future is bio fuels, wake up japan and learn from our euro friends.