Theo wrote:
Graeme Wall wrote:
Battery buses here in Guildford seem to cope with the hills with no
problems. They've just been introduced on the park and ride services
which all involve climbing hills many times a day.

Electric buses are better for hills than diesel ones - they can regenerate
on the way down, instead of using friction braking. Saves energy and
reduces particulate emissions from brake pads.

Yes, that's a very good point.


I've used the BYD P&R buses in Nottingham which are electric - seem nippier
than diesel too. Nice that the Guildford ones are built by Alexander Dennis
in Guildford.

The London ones are too. I think Dennis is BYD's local partner.


Depending on the street layout, it might be feasible to fit trolley wires to
key thoroughfares (think Oxford Street) and have the buses run on battery on
non-wired parts of the route. That would reduce the size of battery they
have to drag around, and so the weight and cost.

Yes, good idea.