3 ms·

Besides the negative acceleration/deceleration issues, are there any features of the BYD buses that you really enjoy? I imagine they are very quiet and don't s

Besides the negative acceleration/deceleration issues, are there any features of the BYD buses that you really enjoy? I imagine they are very quiet and don't smell like exhaust. Just wondering if those nice qualities improve the bus riding experience at all.

CaliforniaKarl 8y ago
Hmmmmmmm, an interesting question! I think the biggest plus point is, if you are seated, and facing in the direction of travel, then the acceleration/deceleration issue doesn't apply. You then have an experience where you get to where you need to go much faster, because the bus is better able to keep up with traffic. Also, regarding two of your points: > I imagine they are very quiet… Actually, the answer may surprise you! My experience has been that the electric buses can be louder than their diesel equivalents. I expect this is because that, for diesel buses, the noisiest components are all in one place (normally the very back of the bus) with soundproofing material in place between the engine compartment and you). Electric busses (at least the ones I've experienced) have motors spread all around you, with less sound-dampening material in the way. > …and don't smell like exhaust. Exhaust smell is not something I've particularly noticed from the remaining diesel busses. I expect that is due to three reasons: (1) The emissions standards placed on California-registered diesel vehicles; (2) the maintenance regime in place; (3) the fact that, when I leave the bus, I end up going towards the front (and away from the exhaust pipe). Although, in places that I've experienced which don't have (1) and (2), you are right!
- kingosticks 8y ago
  From having lived right next to a bus stop on a 24hour route I can safely say the new London electric buses are dramatically quieter. And when commuting on a bicycle, not having to stand in traffic behind a diesel bus is a welcome relief. Possibly life changing to some degree. The fumes from old buses are absolutely disgusting.
  - Pxtl 8y ago
    Oh God, this. There's nothing more obnoxious as a cyclist than a full face-blast of gritty bus exhaust when it takes off in front of you.
    - paublyrne 8y ago
      Not to mention noxious.
    - ygra 8y ago
      I found two-stroke motor scooters worse. If only because of the fact that those can drive on some cycleways here.
  - yostrovs 8y ago
    In the summer, stopping next to a diesel bus when on a bike you often get hit by the heat of the blowing engine cooling fan. Which strangely often feels both refreshing and heat stroke inducing at the same time. Have you noticed anything about this issue with electrics?
- inferiorhuman 8y ago
  > Actually, the answer may surprise you! My experience has been that the electric buses can be louder than their diesel equivalents. Like a lot of things this will depend on the make and model. In San Francisco, Muni bought a bunch of Skoda electric trolleys in the early 2000s. They were extremely loud compared to their predecessors and their replacements. Muni also bought some Cummins powered diesel buses around the same time. Those too were extremely loud (roughly 90 dB at not-so-far-away distances), but 90 dB was loud enough to gain some traction with Cummins and Neoplan. Still, these buses were far less grating to me than the old two-stroke diesels (it's a beautiful whine from a mechanical standpoint, but not something I want to hear a few times an hour driving past my house). > Exhaust smell is not something I've particularly noticed from the remaining diesel busses. California is well off in this regard, I can't remember seeing more than one or two trucks belching smoke. Even in Europe I don't remember the interior of the buses smelling much of diesel exhaust -- and they shouldn't, you really don't want to expose your passengers to exhaust fumes. Cuba was an interesting contrast as they burn some of the lowest grade diesel fuel around (and most things are diesel these days). The smell of high sulfur diesel is unlike anything I've smelled before.
moltar 8y ago
I enjoy the quietness of the bus from the outside on the street. They don’t noise pollute, especially when taking off.

CaliforniaKarl 8y ago

Hmmmmmmm, an interesting question! I think the biggest plus point is, if you are seated, and facing in the direction of travel, then the acceleration/deceleration issue doesn't apply. You then have an experience where you get to where you need to go much faster, because the bus is better able to keep up with traffic. Also, regarding two of your points: > I imagine they are very quiet… Actually, the answer may surprise you! My experience has been that the electric buses can be louder than their diesel equivalents. I expect this is because that, for diesel buses, the noisiest components are all in one place (normally the very back of the bus) with soundproofing material in place between the engine compartment and you). Electric busses (at least the ones I've experienced) have motors spread all around you, with less sound-dampening material in the way. > …and don't smell like exhaust. Exhaust smell is not something I've particularly noticed from the remaining diesel busses. I expect that is due to three reasons: (1) The emissions standards placed on California-registered diesel vehicles; (2) the maintenance regime in place; (3) the fact that, when I leave the bus, I end up going towards the front (and away from the exhaust pipe). Although, in places that I've experienced which don't have (1) and (2), you are right!

kingosticks 8y ago
From having lived right next to a bus stop on a 24hour route I can safely say the new London electric buses are dramatically quieter. And when commuting on a bicycle, not having to stand in traffic behind a diesel bus is a welcome relief. Possibly life changing to some degree. The fumes from old buses are absolutely disgusting.
- Pxtl 8y ago
  Oh God, this. There's nothing more obnoxious as a cyclist than a full face-blast of gritty bus exhaust when it takes off in front of you.
  - paublyrne 8y ago
    Not to mention noxious.
  - ygra 8y ago
    I found two-stroke motor scooters worse. If only because of the fact that those can drive on some cycleways here.
- yostrovs 8y ago
  In the summer, stopping next to a diesel bus when on a bike you often get hit by the heat of the blowing engine cooling fan. Which strangely often feels both refreshing and heat stroke inducing at the same time. Have you noticed anything about this issue with electrics?
inferiorhuman 8y ago
> Actually, the answer may surprise you! My experience has been that the electric buses can be louder than their diesel equivalents. Like a lot of things this will depend on the make and model. In San Francisco, Muni bought a bunch of Skoda electric trolleys in the early 2000s. They were extremely loud compared to their predecessors and their replacements. Muni also bought some Cummins powered diesel buses around the same time. Those too were extremely loud (roughly 90 dB at not-so-far-away distances), but 90 dB was loud enough to gain some traction with Cummins and Neoplan. Still, these buses were far less grating to me than the old two-stroke diesels (it's a beautiful whine from a mechanical standpoint, but not something I want to hear a few times an hour driving past my house). > Exhaust smell is not something I've particularly noticed from the remaining diesel busses. California is well off in this regard, I can't remember seeing more than one or two trucks belching smoke. Even in Europe I don't remember the interior of the buses smelling much of diesel exhaust -- and they shouldn't, you really don't want to expose your passengers to exhaust fumes. Cuba was an interesting contrast as they burn some of the lowest grade diesel fuel around (and most things are diesel these days). The smell of high sulfur diesel is unlike anything I've smelled before.

moltar 8y ago

I enjoy the quietness of the bus from the outside on the street. They don’t noise pollute, especially when taking off.