They don't make 'em like they use to

[luvrbus]

LOL it makes no difference what it cost to buy or maintain it all comes out of the tax payers pocket.I would wager the initial cost of 750K is a drop in the bucket compared to the charger stations to run the the thing

[Dave5Cs]

And the coal to burn to make the clean electricity to run it.

[Jim Eh.]

It won't be long before some wizard will come up with the new idea to string electric cables above the streets so electric buses can operate on electric and range will not be an issue as long as the bus remains under the wire.

LOL. The trolleys are now hybrid(?) as well with small battery packs that allow them to travel on pure battery power easily for 1-2 kms to go around stalls, accidents and short detours.

One of the downsides of electric transit is the traffic hazard. They are so quite they can pose a threat to people with diminished hearing when manoeuvring near stops.

But I'll tell you I have not driven too many other buses that will spin the drives.

[expressbus]

Just another of those "Progressive" thingies we working taxpayers are going to have to subsidize. Fare box revenue returns less than 25% of operating costs. I'm not sure if that figure includes initial capital costs and depreciation or not. Maybe there is enough roof surface the "Progressives" can come up with an end user for the solar panels produced by Solyndra - oh that's right Solyndra was only a shame company to reach deep into our pockets in the name of economic recovery. What BS our politicians feed us. Let's vote them all out on Tuesday!

[muldoonman]

It won't be long before some wizard will come up with the new idea to string electric cables above the streets so electric buses can operate on electric and range will not be an issue as long as the bus remains under the wire.




never mind..........I guess that has already been done.

Yeah Jon but what if you have to make a quick right turn, maybe a long flexible extension cord?

[expressbus]

Those old timey electric buses running on overhead electric wires (2) were called "Trackless Trolleys." They were a transition between the steel wheel on steel rail "Streetcars" to the early generation diesel buses. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a city and ride all three as well as three fine Class 1 railroads.

Ah the good old days ...

[Jeremy]

There are trolley bus systems still in widespread use all around the world.












And according to Google there are systems in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Dayton too.


Jeremy

[Jim Eh.]

.
Probably drove this one (for about 3 minutes) ...



This is in Vancouver (B.C.)

[CrabbyMilton]

Milwaukee had such buses but the last one ran in 1965 one year after I was born I was born. My late Grandpa used to tell me stories that often times the drivers would forget they were driving one instead of a diesel or gasoline engined but(Milwaukee had all of them at once at one point) and cause the bus to become disconnected from the overhead wire. Passengers were often asked to get out and push the bus back in line. Try that now and see how much help the driver would get.
Perhaps one day we will have electric vehicles that are as reliable and have as much power and range as gasoline and diesel engines do now. But until that day, I will remain a scoffer since cordless vacuum cleaners run out of juice after just a few minutes.

[Oonrahnjay]

Milwaukee had such buses but the last one ran in 1965 one year after I was born I was born. My late Grandpa used to tell me stories that often times the drivers would forget they were driving one instead of a diesel or gasoline engined but(Milwaukee had all of them at once at one point) and cause the bus to become disconnected from the overhead wire. Passengers were often asked to get out and push the bus back in line. Try that now and see how much help the driver would get.
Perhaps one day we will have electric vehicles that are as reliable and have as much power and range as gasoline and diesel engines do now. But until that day, I will remain a scoffer since cordless vacuum cleaners run out of juice after just a few minutes.

     Hey, Milton, you know what they call the driver of an electric car?    A Pedestrian!

[CrabbyMilton]

How true. I can only imagine how many dead electric vehicles will be found along the interstate given up by owners only to be pulled out into the field by some nearby farmer and spend the rest of it's life with trees growing thru it and a nice comfortable home for wasps and birds.

[sparkplug188]

Does anybody know anything about that electric air compressor? Name or model number? 

[luvrbus]

Oasis and I/R both make those in the 15 cfm Jim has a Oasis 15 cfm in his Eagle for backup they are pricey 

[sparkplug188]

Pricey?  I wonder how much...  <-- My reaction when I saw the price.

[luvrbus]

LOL I never bought one when he told me the price they work he drove all over the mountains in Idaho on a trip we took when his main compressor failed that was the only air supply he had and it worked good