Hybrid Bus To Offer Israel A Cleaner, Quieter Public Transport Option

Volvo's 7700 Hybrid BusA pilot program will bring a greener hybrid bus to Israel’s Sharon region.

Here’s some good green news for 2011 in Israel: In addition to the thousands of electric cars that Better Place hopes to bring to Israel next year, a hybrid bus will also be tested that offers a 50% reduction in emissions and fuel savings of up to 35%. The Metropoline bus company plans to test a Volvo 7700 Hybrid bus on the company’s routes in the Sharon region, TheMarker reported (in Hebrew) today.

Volvo claims that its hybrid bus is “is the leading environmental solution for buses in urban areas, and the only commercially viable hybrid on the market.” The company’s I-SAM hybrid concept comprises a combined start motor, electric motor, generator and an electronic control unit, and works together with a diesel engine that kicks in only when the vehicle reaches a speed of 15-20 kilometers per hour. (This means that the bus is quiet and non-polluting when starting and stopping.)

The 7700’s lithium-ion battery is charged during braking via the electric motor/generator and then provides energy to the electric motor for drive power.

Image via allaboutbuses.wordpress.com
:: TheMarker
(Hebrew)

See more on hybrid vehicles:

New Israel Vehicle Green Tax Stiffs Hybrids
Lebanon To Waive Taxes on Hybrid Cars

Facebook Comments
Ira Moskowitz
Author: Ira Moskowitz

When his kids were small, Ira would point to litter on the ground and tell them: “That makes me angry!” He still gets angry about pollution, waste and abusive treatment of our world, but is encouraged by the growing awareness of environmental issues and has been following the latest developments in cleantech with great interest. Ira grew up in the green hills of western Massachusetts and moved to Israel in the early 1980s after completing an MA in Middle Eastern Studies. He has worked as a software developer and journalist, and translates works of Hebrew fiction and non-fiction to English. Ira is trying to age gracefully, but refuses to surrender his youthful belief in the potential for change, including a collaborative future for the peoples of the Middle East. To contact Ira, email ira (at) greenprophet (dot) com.

Comments

comments

Get featured on Green Prophet Send us tips and news:[email protected]