%2C_route_24%2C_13_October_2013.jpg/1024px-Metroline_bus_LT40_(LTZ_1040)%2C_route_24%2C_13_October_2013.jpg) |
| Routes 11 and 24 is reported to have the Lowest fuel consumption. |
By Au Morandarte from Chiswick/Romford, London, England (So close, yet so far...Uploaded by Ultra7) [CC-BY-SA-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
TFL released a press statement on the 2nd October 2014 regarding
Route 453 and it's conversion to the New Routemaster bus. What I find
interesting is the fuel consumption figures that TFL have released.
Figures also released today show that
the average fuel consumption of the New Routemasters in service is almost 50
per cent better than the buses that operated on the routes before them.
Fuel economy on the following routes
has been measured and results have shown a significant increase in their
average miles per gallon (MPG)
compared with the vehicles previously used:
compared with the vehicles previously used:
·Route 11 - from 4.7
MPG to 7.4 MPG (57 per cent increase);
·Routes 24 and 390
(combined1) - from 5.4 MPG to 7.4 MPG (37 per cent increase);
·Route 9 - from 3.9
MPG to 6.2 MPG (59 per cent increase);
·Route 148 - from 5
MPG to 6.9 MPG (38 per cent increase);
·Route 10 - from 4.4
MPG to 6.5 MPG (48 per cent increase).
The
introduction of New Routemaster buses is part of a comprehensive programme to
reduce emissions from London's bus fleet which includes 1,700 hybrids on the
street by 2016, accelerating the introduction of ultra low emission Euro VI
buses and retrofitting older buses to reduce their NOx emissions by up to 88
per cent.
TFL haven’t released fuel consumption figures for Routes 38 (full
conversion) and 8 because the route only converted to the New Routemaster buses
a few months ago. During mid 2013, a Freedom of Information request showed that
the prototype New Routemasters on route 38 achieved a fleet average fuel
consumption of 6.74mpg.
The development of the New Routemaster which was tested at the 'Millbrook
proving ground' achieved a fuel consumption rate of 11.6mpg. This however,
is only a guide because where the New Routemaster is currently in service they
have to manoeuvre around the streets of London and stop and alight at bus
stops. The testing carried out at Millbrook is simple because the bus type is
tested on private land without any traffic. You can see the video showing the
development of the New Routemaster in action in this link.
Meanwhile, the hybrids on route 73 which use Volvo B5LH are achieving fuel
consumption rates of 6.1mpg. This shows
that the competing hybrid bus models are showing good results regarding their
fuel consumption. Now going back to my previous article, Volvo stated in their B5LH
brochure “operators are able to save up to 30% on fuel costs” which
shows that the new bus types are becoming lighter in weight and are
increasingly more economical with the new Euro VI engine.
I'm waiting to see if a two door New Routemaster will be unveiled, then we
would see a difference in the fuel consumption because the bus would be lighter
without the rear door and staircase. There is a disadvantage though with the
hybrid buses and that is the need to replace the batteries which would cost
thousands of pounds to do.
If you think the fuel consumption is right for the New Routemaster or that
there should be conventional hybrid buses instead then let us know in the
comment section below. Also, don't forget that you can follow me on Twitter
at: @CLondoner92
Thanks for reading.
References:
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