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Brandon, Manitoba Adds Hybrids, Downsized Buses
25 July 2005
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Brandon Sun. The City of Brandon, Manitoba, Canada has added two Honda Civic hybrids and smaller and more fuel-efficient buses as replacements to its fleet of vehicles.
The city operates about 45 cars and trucks, 16 buses and more than 200 total vehicles of all types. The new Civic hybrids replaced two of the city’s older pickup trucks and will be used mainly to transport city employees, especially over long distances.
The city bought the Civics rather than another model of hybrid because it got the best price on them in a tendering process.
More hybrids may be added to the fleet as the city looks to replace other vehicles, especially if the cost of gasoline remains high.
On the bus side, instead of buying refurbished buses at a lower initial cost, the city recently decided to buy five brand new, 25-foot buses to add to its existing fleet of 30- and 40-foot buses.
The city has begun a biodiesel program as well, will one of its bus fleet running on biodiesel generated from waste restaurant grease.
It takes about a month’s worth of vegetable grease from an average restaurant to run the bus for one day. With five restaurants contributing grease, the city only has enough fuel to operate the bus for about one week a month.
July 25, 2005 in Canada, Fleets, Hybrids | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack (0)
Comments
Posted by: stomv | July 25, 2005 at 07:42 AM
That’s apparently what they’re working on...
Posted by: Mike | July 25, 2005 at 08:32 AM
Maybe the town ain't that big.
Posted by: tom | July 25, 2005 at 10:41 AM
Even if all the restaurants got involved, they still couldn't run more than a few vehicles on it, if it takes 20 restaurants to run one bus. Recycled cooking oil is no solution to our energy problems! It's only going to have a tiny, tiny effect at best.
Plus, if and when the infrastructure gets in place to allow this fuel to be used efficiently, demand will drive the price up and you won't be able to get it for free any more. It'll cost the same as the equivalent amount of diesel (or whatever other fuel it substitutes for).
Posted by: Hal | July 25, 2005 at 03:26 PM
Biodiesel and electric-gasoline hybrid vehicles are not final solutions. They are major steps in the right direction, but they’re not the final solution to our energy problems. The reason that they’re such a good option for right now is that they are compatible with our current infrastructure. Biodiesel vehicles can fill up on B20 where it is available, but stay running on regular diesel anywhere in the country. Gas-electric hybrids can fill up at any current gas station, but use half the fuel to go the same distance as other cars.
Obviously, we will have to make further advances to solve our problems. The short-term steps involve increasing fuel efficiency, getting more people to switch to hybrids, and increasing production of biodiesel and vehicles that can use it. In the mid-term, we need to think about creating new technology. Some companies are already investigating the use of diesel-electric hybrids, which are more efficient than gas-electric hybrids. The next step would be a biodiesel-electric hybrid vehicle, which could run on B100 (100% biodiesel) and use absolutely no fossil fuels (directly). In the long term, we have options like electric and hydrogen vehicles. Personally, I think that electric is the better of the two options, since it doesn’t require us building an entirely new infrastructure and converting all gas stations to hydrogen stations.
In the meantime, we all need to work on other options, like biking or walking on trips of short distances. Improving mass transit systems is also essential.
Posted by: taestell | July 25, 2005 at 08:36 PM
It is true that cooking grease isn't a solution for anymore than a handful of vehicles. But, it works as a splendid stopgap solution while markets for assorted biodiesel mixtures are being developed. Furthermore, there's something about running a vehicle on french fry grease that sparks the imaginations of citizens. It's good PR, and every bit helps.
And by the way -- Brandon has 40,000 residents; I'm sure it has far more than 5 restaurants.
Posted by: stomv | July 26, 2005 at 08:06 AM
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So... why not get more restaurants involved in the program?