In message , MikeS writes
On 18/01/2019 16:21, Optimist wrote:
On Fri, 14 Dec 2018 12:22:33 +0000 (UTC),
wrote:

On Fri, 14 Dec 2018 12:06:37 -0000
"tim..." wrote:
"John Williamson" wrote in message
...
If I had an urgent appointment in Central London, I'd either use public
transport or a pushbike, as they are the fastest ways to get round the
City. By about 2030, all buses will be electric, as will most cabs.

the problem is that this, and similar bans in other cities, aren't being
proposed for 2030

they are being proposed for 2020

I'd love to see an electric bus that can make it up highgate or hampstead or
muswell hill more than 2 or 3 times before requiring a recharge being
available by 2020. Its one thing running electric buses in nice flat areas
such as southwark as is currently done, its quite another running them up
1:10 hills.
As a kid I used the 654 trolley bus route which ran between Croydon
and Crystal Palace. They
handled the climb up Anerley Hill with ease. Then they were replaced
by motor buses, which on the
first day could not get up the hill.

Yes but trolley buses needed overhead wires. I remember the excitement
in my schoolboy days when the bus came off the wires. I think it could
move on its battery - about 10 yards on the flat.

Indeed. I think the battery was just intended to prevent the bus finding
itself stranded in situations when the arms could not reach (or did not
have access to) any wires. I've only once seen a trolley bus on battery
power, and I think it was when it had to leave its normal path for a
short distance because of some roadworks. [For some reason, I keep
thinking of the problems that the original Daleks had when they needed
to go up and down up stairs - a totally foreseeable design flaw!]



--
Ian