Russ Steele
In the quest for sustainable energy sources that spare the air, some environmentalist let their enthusiasm got ahead of some rational analysis. One area the environmentalist's over look is suitability of a system for the intended task and the life cycle costs of the system. What are the operating cost from purchase to disposal. One local example was the compressed gas vehicles the Gold County Stage bought, and then they discovered the buses had power problem in the hilly terrain, and became a maintenance nightmare. Costs soon out ran the benefits.
Now the folks in the Valley and Bay Area are having similar problems with their zero emissions hydrogen powered buses. This grand experiment to power buses with hydrogen fuel cells sounded great at the start, but now reality has set in. Details are in a Mercury News article by Gary Richards
VTA finds hydrogen buses cost much more to run than diesel vehicles
Green, yes. But a new report from the VTA says the $18 million state-mandated pilot project costs too much green - and raises troubling questions about whether the program should continue.
The most glaring figure: Zero-emission buses - or ZEBs - cost $51.66 to fuel, maintain and operate per mile compared with just $1.61 for a 40-foot conventional diesel coach. They break down much more frequently, and replacement parts are next to impossible to order, according to the report.
How the brilliant minds at the Air Resources Board want to add 12 more of these looser buses to the fleet. Guess who is foot the bill for these looser buses. Yes, we the tax payers. In in addition the high operating costs, life cycle costs are even higher when the repair records are considered. The zero emission hydrogen powered buses average traveled 1,100 miles before needing repairs, while a typical diesel bus covers about 6,000 miles.
As Nevada County address its transportation issues for citizens and
seniors, we need to pay attention the life cycle costs, while seeking better solution to our transportation needs. I am really
concerned about all the empty seats I see driving around area, especially with rising fuel costs. Four dollar diesel is just aroudn the corner. Are big empty buses
really the right solution, or should we be considering other
alternatives, like radio dispatched jitney vehicle that do not run on fixed routes.
One Southern California county found our that on some bus routes they could use limos cheaper then buses. It is time to stop doing the same thing over and over hoping for another solution, where hundreds of folk stop using their cars and start riding those empty buses. That is not going to happen no mater how much we spend on out reach. Buses do not go where most people want to go, when they want to go there. Where as radio dispatched jitney vehicles are more flexible and meet more citizens transportation needs. Is it time to take a look at these more flexible solutions, rather than keep buying more empty buses? What do you think?
