The Successful Evolution of the Hybrid Electric Vehicle
Over the course of the past fifteen years, there have been tremendous strides made in the area of the hybrid electric vehicle concept. Most recently, in the past five years, commercially available passenger hybrid electric vehicle models have been introduced into the market place by a number of major automobile manufacturers. In fact, by the end of 2005, most major automobile manufacturers will have at least one hybrid electric vehicle on the consumer market.
In addition to the growth of the hybrid electric vehicle designed for everyday consumer use, the concept of the hybrid electric vehicle has been put to some original and interesting uses in recent times.
One of the most compelling and interesting uses of the hybrid electric vehicle concept was initiated in Seattle, Washington, over a dozen years ago. As with many fuel and energy innovations in the auto and automobile-related industries, the first significant hybrid electric vehicle experiment and experience in Seattle involved public transportation. (Many public transportation systems have been on the forefront of energy ingenuity since the 1970s and the oil crisis of that decade.)
In Seattle, the King County Metro Transit Authority put into operation a grand total of 230 “dual-mode” buses. (These hybrid electric vehicle models were designed, developed and manufactured by Breda, a company that specializes in commuter transportation alternatives.)
The dual-mode bus operates as a conventional diesel bus on surface streets. Indeed, to the casual observer, there is no apparent difference between the dual-mode, hybrid electric vehicle and the standard, conventional bus that is commonplace in any major city in North America.
What is unique about the King County Metro Transit Authority dual-mode hybrid electric vehicle buses is the fact that the vehicles “convert” electric trolley buses while in a 1.3-mile tunnel that runs underneath the Seattle central business district. The Seattle experience was the precursor to the hybrid electric vehicle models seen today and being marketed in the form of cars, trucks and SUVs to consumers throughout North America and in other parts of the world.
The King County Metro Transit Authority concluded its use of the hybrid electric vehicle in its transportation system was a success. The Authority concluded:
“The results of the study demonstrate that diesel hybrid-electric vehicles offer reduced drive cycle emissions relative to conventional diesel buses. The lower emissions are a function of ultra-low-sulfur-diesel (ULSD) fuel, particulate trap technology and improved fuel economy. When compared to compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, diesel hybrid particulate (PM) emissions reached similar and often lower levels.”
Get the facts before you invest in a hybrid vehicle!