STRATHCLYDE PASSENGER TRANSPORT INVESTS IN HYBRID BUSES
Strathclyde Passenger Transport have agreed to invest an estimated £106,864 in converting two Optare Solos to hybrid buses. The move is part of the authority's strive to reduce CO2 emissions, fuel consumption and noise levels.
Sheffield based Magnetic Systems Technology will be carrying out the
conversions. Magtech is specialised in developing hybrid drive systems for military vehicles and buses, based on the permanent magnet motor concept. One of their products is a series electric hybrid drive for buses. The SPT initiative – believed to be the first of its kind in Scotland – will see two low-floor vehicles converted from purely diesel power to the Magtech diesel-electric hybrid drive technology. After the conversion the hybrid-drive buses are powered by a battery pack connected to a small car-sized diesel engine or the existing bus diesel engine running at a greatly reduced speed. The buses also use regenerative braking as an energy-saving feature, which recharges the batteries via the braking system.