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Not really. Buses need to be charged whenever, not just overnight (it creates enormous logistical problems otherwise). A typical bus route running 5am to midnig

Not really. Buses need to be charged whenever, not just overnight (it creates enormous logistical problems otherwise). A typical bus route running 5am to midnight say is not going to last with one charge, depending on length. Also, if it is a cold night and everyone leaves electric heating/heat pumps on, what happens then? Noone can get to work the next day? Regardless most urban transformers are not going to have 15MW of overnight capacity spare even on a good day. The largest LV substations might be 30MVA in the UK at least - they won't just have half capacity suddenly free.

adgjlsfhk1 2y ago
Lots of busses are split shift. i.e. they drive from ~6:30am to ~9:30am and ~4pm to 7pm. This means that a significant portion of your bus fleet will be able to charge during the middle of the day when energy demand is relatively low and there's a ton of solar power. As an aside, we have so far really dropped the ball on level 1 electric vehicle chargers at offices. As solar power and EV numbers increase, it's pretty obvious that we want more cars charging during the day and fewer charging at night.
- linedgolyi 2y ago
  >we have so far really dropped the ball on level 1 electric vehicle chargers at offices Our govt. really did a disservice to transition to EVs by slapping on a big tax to anyone even brushing against a charger at work: 120€/year
- bmicraft 2y ago
  Where do you live that buses aren't running during most of the day? That just seems absurd to me. Buses in my city run at only slightly reduced (from the rush hour peak) intervals for the whole day
  - martinald 1y ago
    Agreed, I assume this is a very US centric viewpoint. Wherever I have been in Europe the schedule is basically the same throughout the day, with reduced frequency in the evenings. Potentially slightly higher at rush hours, but nothing dramatic. Not sure why you are being downvoted.
- bluGill 2y ago
  Split shift is a stupid idea that needs to die. It only works for people who always work '9 to 5'. Work a different shift and you drive. Need to go shopping - just drive. Have a day off - drive to whatever you do. Going to church one sundap - drive. Have a kid who might get sick at school - you better drive everyday.
  - ViewTrick1002 2y ago
    In cities with working public transport it aligns the schedules to accommodate the ridership. Which sucks a bit in the late evening when headways might become a bit long. The absolutely largest peak is in the morning and then a smaller one in the afternoon. So you might have a baseline like every 10 or 15 mins and then in rush hour it is every 3 or 5 mins.
    - bluGill 2y ago
      again. Stupid. Complete nonescense that comes from people who drive themselves and think of transit as for 'lesser people'. humans have places to be. They shouldn't wait for transit. and they mostly won't.
Retric 2y ago
The critical bit for infrastructure is generally peak load not simply is anyone using it for anything. A few solar panels and a few batteries on-sight can create a lot of freedom here. City busses don’t need that much energy because as they don’t move quickly, the cargo is light, and regenerative breaking offsets stop and go.

adgjlsfhk1 2y ago

Lots of busses are split shift. i.e. they drive from ~6:30am to ~9:30am and ~4pm to 7pm. This means that a significant portion of your bus fleet will be able to charge during the middle of the day when energy demand is relatively low and there's a ton of solar power. As an aside, we have so far really dropped the ball on level 1 electric vehicle chargers at offices. As solar power and EV numbers increase, it's pretty obvious that we want more cars charging during the day and fewer charging at night.

linedgolyi 2y ago
>we have so far really dropped the ball on level 1 electric vehicle chargers at offices Our govt. really did a disservice to transition to EVs by slapping on a big tax to anyone even brushing against a charger at work: 120€/year
bmicraft 2y ago
Where do you live that buses aren't running during most of the day? That just seems absurd to me. Buses in my city run at only slightly reduced (from the rush hour peak) intervals for the whole day
- martinald 1y ago
  Agreed, I assume this is a very US centric viewpoint. Wherever I have been in Europe the schedule is basically the same throughout the day, with reduced frequency in the evenings. Potentially slightly higher at rush hours, but nothing dramatic. Not sure why you are being downvoted.
bluGill 2y ago
Split shift is a stupid idea that needs to die. It only works for people who always work '9 to 5'. Work a different shift and you drive. Need to go shopping - just drive. Have a day off - drive to whatever you do. Going to church one sundap - drive. Have a kid who might get sick at school - you better drive everyday.
- ViewTrick1002 2y ago
  In cities with working public transport it aligns the schedules to accommodate the ridership. Which sucks a bit in the late evening when headways might become a bit long. The absolutely largest peak is in the morning and then a smaller one in the afternoon. So you might have a baseline like every 10 or 15 mins and then in rush hour it is every 3 or 5 mins.
  - bluGill 2y ago
    again. Stupid. Complete nonescense that comes from people who drive themselves and think of transit as for 'lesser people'. humans have places to be. They shouldn't wait for transit. and they mostly won't.

Retric 2y ago

The critical bit for infrastructure is generally peak load not simply is anyone using it for anything. A few solar panels and a few batteries on-sight can create a lot of freedom here. City busses don’t need that much energy because as they don’t move quickly, the cargo is light, and regenerative breaking offsets stop and go.