On 21/12/2011 09:56, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In ,
Bill wrote:
Because you can put energy back into them when braking,
And how much energy will that provide? The energy wasted when braking is
very small. Most fuel is used combating rolling resistance and wind
resistance. London is not the sort of place where buses drop down long
hills on their brakes.

It's well worth doing on a city bus. Older ones used a flywheel to part
brake the vehicle, then used that energy to help start it off. A hybrid is
simply a more modern interpration of the same idea. Tube trains feed power
back to the generator when braking too. So the same idea.

If the driver anticipates properly very little energy is wasted in
braking for traffic conditions. Better to start a bonus scheme where the
driver's pay is linked to his fuel consumption. That's the scheme all
the self-employed are on, and believe me it works.

The main purpose of the average London bus driver is to up end any elderly
passengers making their way to the exit. That's where they get points from.

Take a look at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5TTA4f7Q3E

You may as well listen all the way through, but the most relevant part
is from around 4:09

SteveW