Designline Electric Bus

With Wellington's trolley bus fleet needing replacement early next century, one of the leading contendors must be the Olymbus built by Ashburton company Designline. Currently being evaluted for use in Sydney, the buses seemed to have proved a success both in terms of performance and with drivers and the public. While not exactly trolley buses it has been suggested that these vehicles could be adapted to run as trolleys on routes where overhead wires existed. Apart from the novelty aspect, it could be hard to argue in favour of retaining the trolley buses if an acceptable battery powered electric bus was available.

The following is from the company's web site:

The New South Wales Department of Transport have leapt to the fore-front of environmentally friendly transport in trialing buses with zero emission capability. They have commissioned designline and the UK company Wavedriver Ltd to design and build the battery powered urban transport Olymbus. The Olymbus is a vehicle able to carry more than 60 passengers including spaces for wheelchairs, pushchairs or prams. The buses will contain the latest lead acid battery technology and the latest easy access super low floor innovations in German made M.A.N. chassis’s. The Olymbus is an electrically powered vehicle with recharging facilities located at the main depot and at bus stops if desired. The auxiliary power unit on board give further recharging options for the batteries if needed.

Even with the optional auxiliary turbogenerator, present calculations still put emissions at less than the strict Euro-2 emission standards. The utilisation of state of the art electric technology means that the Olymbus will set a new standard for low emission vehicles.

Maximum speed fully laden is (on these vehicles) 80kmh and the maximum grade that can be climbed fully laden is 20%. Power is supplied from 84 lead/acid batteries which can be charged via regenerative breaking. The buses have two traction motors of a very compact design set well back in the chasis. Weight distribution is assisted by having the batteries in a number of groups spread around the bus.

(The Omnibus Bulletin)

Stonem@ihug.co.nz

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