On Mon, 19 Dec 2011 12:57:20 -0000
"Recliner" wrote:
This is a range-extender hybrid, unlike most existing hybrid cars. In
other words, it's more like the Volt, not the Prius (ie, not all hybrid
cars are the same). So the only drive to the axle is from the 174bhp
motor, powered by the battery, with the generator just acting as a
part-time charger, which runs at optimum revs when it runs at all. If
the engine isn't charging the battery as fast as it's discharging, the
bus will have to stop or slow down for long enough for the charge to
accumulate again.

No reason it should have to stop - the power could be directed straight from
generator to motor bypassing the battery. In fact thats what any sane drive
system should do since there's no point directing power into the battery if
its just going to be used up again immediately. Also unless a radical new
battery technology has been invented the motor would almost certainly be able
to drain the battery faster than the generator can charge it so I suspect the
generator will be running most of the time anyway regardless of traffic
conditions. The plus side as you said is it can run at an optimal rpm and
regenerative braking can regain some of the energy lost.

If they haven't designed the system so it can run on generator alone with a
flat battery then shame on them.

B2003

On Dec 19, 1:29*pm, wrote:

I shouldn't make any difference. Once the battery is flat it runs off the
engine just like every hybrid car ever built.

Though with only 182bhp for a vehicle that size, probably quite
slowly.

Most hybrid cars, by contrast, have an engine that is more than
adequate to power the car on its own.

Neil

In message , at 11:40:48 on Mon, 19 Dec
2011, d remarked:
The circumstances (and some of the comments) are consistent with the
drive system becoming overloaded or overheated as a result of sustained
high speed.

I guess you mean the bit where it says "They claim the bus is not designed to
drive as far as Luton and therefore it needed a break". To me that sounds like
a bit of spin to disguise a problem.

It sounds to me like an honest non-spin version of what may have
happened.

I can't believe the hybrid system can't cope with doing 20 miles on a
motorway without overheating. That would just be **** poor engineering.

I was listening to R4 earlier today, where they mentioned that a new
scheme for dentist remuneration was having "teething problems". But I
digress. So can buses.

Also it would've taken a week to drive it from the factory in nothern
ireland.

How was it delivered? Could have been by boat to somewhere like Dartford
(I think some trains/trams have arrived via that route).
--
Roland Perry

In message , at 14:04:52 on Mon, 19 Dec
2011, d remarked:
If they haven't designed the system so it can run on generator alone with a
flat battery then shame on them.

If the brief was "in stop-start traffic in London", then engineering it
for an extended flat-out run on a motorway might not be appropriate.
--
Roland Perry

on Mon, 19 Dec 2011, Neil Williams remarked:
I shouldn't make any difference. Once the battery is flat it runs off the
engine just like every hybrid car ever built.

Though with only 182bhp for a vehicle that size, probably quite
slowly.

Most hybrid cars, by contrast, have an engine that is more than
adequate to power the car on its own.

I recall the Parry People Mover coming up as possibly another vehicle
whose "top-up" internal combustion engine might not be enough to propel
it on its own.
--
Roland Perry

On Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:38:28 -0800 (PST)
Neil Williams wrote:
On Dec 19, 1:29=A0pm, wrote:

I shouldn't make any difference. Once the battery is flat it runs off the
engine just like every hybrid car ever built.

Though with only 182bhp for a vehicle that size, probably quite
slowly.

All double deckers in london are underpowered anyway. Anyone who has been
stuck in a car behind one crawling its way up highgate hill or around southgate
will testify to that.

B2003

On Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:28:03 +0000, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 09:50:09 on Mon, 19 Dec
2011, d remarked:
Oh dear. Not off to a good start then.

http://www.lbc.co.uk/new-routemaster...dy-photo-48777

Sounds like the battery went flat.

According to TfL it also ran out of fuel:
https://twitter.com/#!/TfLofficial/s...78421156200448

In message , at 15:50:32 on
Mon, 19 Dec 2011, David Walters remarked:
Oh dear. Not off to a good start then.

http://www.lbc.co.uk/new-routemaster...dy-photo-48777

Sounds like the battery went flat.

According to TfL it also ran out of fuel:
https://twitter.com/#!/TfLofficial/s...78421156200448

A double whammy.
--
Roland Perry

On Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:24:10 +0000
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 15:50:32 on
Mon, 19 Dec 2011, David Walters remarked:
Oh dear. Not off to a good start then.

http://www.lbc.co.uk/new-routemaster...dy-photo-48777

Sounds like the battery went flat.

According to TfL it also ran out of fuel:
https://twitter.com/#!/TfLofficial/s...78421156200448

A double whammy.

Its probably why the battery went flat. I bet the driver was thinking "ooh
this is nice and quiet on the motorway" shortly before he coasted to a stop.

B2003

In message , at 16:27:49 on Mon, 19 Dec
2011, d remarked:
Oh dear. Not off to a good start then.

http://www.lbc.co.uk/new-routemaster...dy-photo-48777

Sounds like the battery went flat.

According to TfL it also ran out of fuel:
https://twitter.com/#!/TfLofficial/s...78421156200448

A double whammy.

Its probably why the battery went flat. I bet the driver was thinking "ooh
this is nice and quiet on the motorway" shortly before he coasted to a stop.

Very possible. So it's an instrumentation failing (both for the
underlying fuel shortage, and the fact that the battery was not being
charged at all). The more complicated you make vehicles, the more
failure modes they have.
--
Roland Perry