Écolobus – comparative evaluation of ecologically friendly buses

Objective
To compare the in-service performance of several ecologically friendly buses.

Description
Écolobus is an evaluation of alternatively fuelled buses taking place in Quebec City under the auspices of a dozen partners, including the municipality of Quebec City, the Société de transport en commun de la Communauté urbaine de Québec, and the Quebec ministries of the environment and of transport.

The two-year project will compare several types of environmentally friendly buses, including electric vehicles, under normal service conditions. A regular diesel bus will serve as a comparative baseline. The study team will monitor dynamic performance, energy savings, emission reductions, costs, and customer satisfaction.

The objective in joining the project is to participate in the selection of the buses to be evaluated, to obtain the results of the in-service evaluation, and to seek partnership opportunities to help in the development of an energy-efficient, mid-sized electric bus in Canada. TDC and Transport Canada will provide the resources to conduct the dynamic performance testing and the energy and emissions testing of the selected environment friendly buses.

Results
The Quebec City bus route/duty cycle was measured for reproduction on a dynamometer and the fuel consumption and emissions of a Nova LFS bus measured to create a comparative baseline. A 30 ft. Thomas TL960 CNG (compressed natural gas) bus underwent dynamic performance tests and was evaluated in-service for one month on the Quebec City bus route.

However, in light of difficulties obtaining energy efficient buses to test, the project was halted. An internal report recommended that Quebec City transit authorities seek funding to buy and operate a demonstration fleet of electric or hybrid buses.

One of the buses in the Écolobus evaluation