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> the company says the buses are "fitted with a new generation of batteries... with high energy density and optimal safety" spread around the roof and rear of t

by tromp 5y ago

> the company says the buses are "fitted with a new generation of batteries... with high energy density and optimal safety" spread around the roof and rear of the vehicle. Placing batteries in the floor makes perfect sense for lowering the centre of gravity; why would you want to spread them to the roof (which is where the video shows the fire erupting) ?

wcoenen 5y ago
The floor of the bus needs to be as low as possible to make it easier for elderly or otherwise disabled people to get on and off.
- ChuckNorris89 5y ago
  That's why kneeling busses exist. Are EV busses not equipped with that feature?
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - iggldiggl 5y ago
    Kneeling solves the problem that even a low-floor bus still has a floor height of around 30 cm. Due to a need to maintain sufficient ground clearance and the ability to sweep over regular height kerbstones (up to 20 cm), you can't get much lower than that, whereas conversely you also can't really raise the kerb at regular bus stops that high (i.e. to 30 cm or higher). Kneeling gets you down to a floor height of about 22 - 24 cm, where level boarding with a 22 cm high kerbstone is just about possible, though still subject to not insignifcant requirements where and how the bus stop exactly can be placed in terms of road geometry. So the basic gist is that kneeling doesn't absolve you from the requirement of getting the floor of the bus as low as reasonably practicable in the first place, and you need both if you want to achieve anything resembling level boarding at all.
  - wcoenen 5y ago
    The active suspension for kneeling is actually also used in EV buses to compensate for the high center of gravity. See this video about the Mercedes eCitaro[1] for some visuals and technical information. [1] https://youtu.be/Om3uVW4lskE?t=327 https://youtu.be/Om3uVW4lskE?t=327
NickNameNick 5y ago
Having a fire bursting up though the roof of the bus in unfortunate. Having a fire bursting up though the floor is a problem...
Markoff 5y ago
everyone wants low floor buses, can't imagine any city buying nowadays bus with extra 20-30cm step, such bus is DOA for mass public transport within city
Danieru 5y ago
Low center of gravity is wonderful for following racing lines, drifting, and general handling. All things busses are not evaluated on. While accessibility and easy access is a prime selling feature. Thus the world has chosen fewer drifting busses.
breakfastduck 5y ago

by tromp 5y ago

wcoenen 5y ago

The floor of the bus needs to be as low as possible to make it easier for elderly or otherwise disabled people to get on and off.

ChuckNorris89 5y ago
That's why kneeling busses exist. Are EV busses not equipped with that feature?
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- iggldiggl 5y ago
  Kneeling solves the problem that even a low-floor bus still has a floor height of around 30 cm. Due to a need to maintain sufficient ground clearance and the ability to sweep over regular height kerbstones (up to 20 cm), you can't get much lower than that, whereas conversely you also can't really raise the kerb at regular bus stops that high (i.e. to 30 cm or higher). Kneeling gets you down to a floor height of about 22 - 24 cm, where level boarding with a 22 cm high kerbstone is just about possible, though still subject to not insignifcant requirements where and how the bus stop exactly can be placed in terms of road geometry. So the basic gist is that kneeling doesn't absolve you from the requirement of getting the floor of the bus as low as reasonably practicable in the first place, and you need both if you want to achieve anything resembling level boarding at all.
- wcoenen 5y ago
  The active suspension for kneeling is actually also used in EV buses to compensate for the high center of gravity. See this video about the Mercedes eCitaro[1] for some visuals and technical information. [1] https://youtu.be/Om3uVW4lskE?t=327 https://youtu.be/Om3uVW4lskE?t=327

NickNameNick 5y ago

Having a fire bursting up though the roof of the bus in unfortunate. Having a fire bursting up though the floor is a problem...

Markoff 5y ago

everyone wants low floor buses, can't imagine any city buying nowadays bus with extra 20-30cm step, such bus is DOA for mass public transport within city

Danieru 5y ago

Low center of gravity is wonderful for following racing lines, drifting, and general handling. All things busses are not evaluated on. While accessibility and easy access is a prime selling feature. Thus the world has chosen fewer drifting busses.

breakfastduck 5y ago