Hybrid buses operating on regular services

© Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr 2012

As part of the support project Hybrids for an eco-friendly transport by the Federal Environment Ministry (BMU), 50 hybrid busses for twelve transportation companies in Germany were procured and operated on regular service.

PE INTERNATIONAL spearheads research work for this regular service project that was intensively analyzed with regard to practicability, acceptance and fuel consumption as well as to emission savings. The result shows that market maturity has already been reached referring to the technical availability. When analyzing fuel consumption, however, it became obvious that further optimizing processes are required for this young drive concept. Hybrid technology is considered positively by both drivers and passengers.

>> Check out the Study - Model Region Electromobility

Hybrid buses - Research for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mobility

© SSB

As part of the “Model Region Electromobility” initiative, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development, PE INTERNATIONAL has spearheaded research work for the platform "Innovative Drive Bus" which deals with the marketability of hybrid buses and their contribution to environmentally friendly and energy-efficient mobility.

Aside from the detailed operational data acquisition and analysis of 59 hybrid buses operating in seven model regions using SoFi software, life cycle analyses and acceptance surveys among drivers, passengers and pedestrians were performed.

The platform "Innovative Drive Bus" reflects the cooperation of 40 partners, including 21 transport companies, 6 bus manufacturers, 4 component manufacturers, 4 research institutes and 5 consultancies.

This final report provides insights on practicality, operational readiness, fuel consumption, climate change effects and the acceptance of hybrid buses.

Download the full report with the results from 2011 here (German language)