The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has finished a study that compared different technologies used in regular revenue service in New York City and concluded that buses using hybrid gas-electric engines had superior performance. http://www.hybridscoop.com/2006/03/01/hybr...er-reliability/
When burned, Gasoline releases more energy than Natural Gas. Similarly, Diesel releases more energy than Gasoline (hence the better mileage). However, Diesel pollutes more. When I was young, downtown Los Angeles used to have many busses that ran off of electricity. They aren't there anymore, probably because the electric lines that were strung up didnt look 'modern'. So, what would the difference be between a Gas/Electric Hybrid Bus and a full Electric Bus running off of electricity generated by burning Natural Gas (at a powerplant rather than in an ICE)?
Glad to hear it!! I work at ISE Corporation, which makes hybrid engine systems for busses. We make for ICE/Electric, HICE/Electric, Diesel/Electric and Fuel Cell busses.
