Hop aboard a bus that’s squeaky clean
Print Edition
A new energy-saving bus model has just passed testing and trial operation and is expected to hit the streets of Minhang soon.
Details of when and where the buses will operate have not been announced.
The bus uses the “aerodynamic energy-saving system” developed by Shanghai Shenzhou Energy-Saving Vehicle Co, which is based at Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
The Minhang government is committed to reducing harmful emissions, including carbon and nitrogen dioxides, by 10 percent by the end of 2015, compared with 2010 levels. Among the initiatives already implemented toward achieving that goal are 100 green buses using electricity or clean gas.
The new Shenzhou buses which have been in trial operation the past 11 months on the Jiangchuan No.1 Bus route between the Pujiang Ferry Station and Dongchuan Road. They recycle kinetic energy from a vehicle’s braking and idling and use that energy on starting.
A group of experts from the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Ministry of Transport analyzed data from trial operations. They found that the new green bus will discharge 1.5 tons less carbon dioxide than conventional buses during every year of operation. Due to lower gas consumption and wear on braking pads, the maintenance cost of the buses will drop by 46,000 yuan (US$7364).
“I believe that the bus is very worthy of promoting,” said Guo Konghui, an expert from the CAE. “If the country were to deploy 10,000 such buses, annual carbon dioxide emissions would be reduced by 40 percent.”
Drivers find they really like the new buses, saying they are much easier to operate than standard vehicles.
“I don’t need to engage a gear when starting the bus, and I don’t have to shift gears or depress the clutch as frequently,” said one bus driver, surnamed Zhang, who participated in the trials.
Zhang, who declined to give his full name, said he takes pride in driving a “clean” bus.
“The bus I drove before was a diesel, which emitted thick black smoke every time I started it up,” he said. “You can imagine the pollution!”
Zhang Jie, general manager of Shenzhou, said the company spent 10 years developing the bus.
“There were many times when we encountered frustration and just wanted to give the whole project up, but we persevered and eventually succeeded,” said Zhang who is also a professor at Jiao Tong. “Now that the bus has passed testing, it provides a new opportunity for the company.”
Zhang said he believes aerodynamic energy-saving vehicles point the way to the future for public transport.
“We, of course, will continue our research into energy-saving vehicles so we can improve their functioning,” he added.
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