The survey of 31 members of the Hybrid User Forum found the following: - Most respondents were public transport operators or local/regional authorities. - The majority of hybrid fleets were in cities with populations between 100,000-1 million people. - Respondents reported an average 16% reduction in fuel consumption for hybrids compared to diesel buses. Fuel savings varied depending on route and season. - Maintenance costs for hybrids were reported to be similar to or slightly higher than diesel buses on average. - Respondents expected hybrid purchases costs to be up to 26% higher than diesel but fuel savings, emissions reductions, and political support could motivate higher costs. Driver training was

1. Results of survey among
members of the Hybrid User Forum
-1-
carried out
as online survey by the Hybrid User
Forum secretariat in April 2011

2. -1-
User expectations
and vehicle size

3. Copenhagen
Derby / Arriva
Birmingham
London
LCVP (UK)
Bremen
Aachen
Nürnberg
Munich
Zuid-Holland
Amsterdam
Rotterdam (+PT)
Gent
Wallonia /TEC
Prague
Veolia (Paris)
UITP
Turin
Milan
Cagliari
ASSTRA (Italy)
San Sebastian
Barcelona
AVERE (Portugal)
Belgrade
Sibiu
URPT (Romania)
Sofia

4. Operators / authorities
other; 5
local / regional
authority; 7 public transport
operator; 19
N: 31

5. Size of city / operational area
25
22
20
15
10
5
5 4
0
0
fewer than 100,000 100,000-500,000 500,000-1 million more than 1 million

6. Size of fleet
9
8
8
7
6 6
6
5
4
3
2 2
2
1
0
< 100 100 - 300 301 - 1000 1001 - 3000 > 3000
N: 25

7. Size of buses in operation
40000
35464
35000
30000
25000
20000
15000 12705
10000
5629
5000 3159 3654
953 696 135
0
mini (<8m) midi (8- solo (2axle) solo (3axle) articulated double- double- others / not
10.5m) articulated decker specified
N: 62335

8. Size of buses in operation
14000
12705
12000
10000
8000
6000 5629
4000 3654
3159
2000
953 696
135
0
mini (<8m) midi (8-10.5m) solo (2axle) solo (3axle) articulated double- double-decker
articulated
N: 26931

9. special conditions ?
• hilly conditions (7) e.g.
• narrow streets (10), e.g. historic centres
• Emission requirements (5 - special?)
• Traffic conditions (slow moving / many traffic
lights) (4)
• Varying conditions esp. for larger operators

10. other alternative fuels / technologies
16
14
14
12
12 11
10 9
8
6
6 5
4
4
2
2 1 1
0
y
ds
el l
l
ne
CE
er
s
G
s
o
r
ga
se
tte
LP
an
n
oth
lc
no
nI
bu
bl e
bio
eth
ue
a
ni
c/b
y
G/
nf
el
ll e
ge
ies
tri
CN
ge
tro
dro
l ec
d
dro
ls/
hy
ll e
f ue
hy
a
sm
bio
other: water emulsion
…only two members had not tested/considered other alternatives… N: 31

11. previous experience (hybrids)
yes no
N:31 (19/12)

12. Experienced fuel consumption
In your experience with hybrids, how is/was the fuel consumption in daily operation
(in comparison to conventional ICE buses under similar operational conditions)?
5
Mean: reduction 16%
4
3
2
1
0
>10% 5-10% <5% similar <5% 5-10% 10-15% 15-20% 20-25% 25-30 % > 30%
higher higher higher lower lower lower lower lower lower lower
• Variations on different routes / bus types
• Variations summer / winter N: 31

13. measuring consumption
18
How was the measurement of fuel consumption
16
reduction conducted and reported?
14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
in-house (by operator or outsourced to an independent We haven't done any I am not sure.
organising authority or a testing organisation measurement yet.
combined team)
Outsourced includes: By the bus manufacturer through their ECU, also done for the diesel buses. N: 19

14. measuring consumption
12
What criteria were used
10
in the measuring/testing process?
8
6
4
2
0
payload basis payload basis payload basis city cycle city cycle other criteria used
(simulated) (half-load) (in-service (SORT cycle) (real city cycle)
passengers)
N: 19

15. …other criteria…
What criteria were used
in the measuring/testing process?
• 24 hybrid buses have been
operating for 1 year in everyday operation in 3 cities.
• real line operations
• Monitoring the hybrid bus in each route and driving in parallel
with an ICE vehicle of same characteristics doing the same
route twice, changing the drivers.
• London Buses Millbrook Route 159 Cycle.
• Comparation between ICE bus and hybrid bus simulating a
bus route.

16. experienced maintenance costs
For your hybrid vehicles, in comparison to ICE buses,
maintenance costs are/were...?
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
...significantly lower. ...slightly lower. ...more or less the same. ...slightly higher. ...significantly higher.
N: 18

17. Driver training
9
8 What difference in fuel consumption
have you experienced
7 through training drivers for hybrid buses?
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
>20% fuel 15-20% fuel 10-15% fuel 5-10% fuel 0-5% fuel Consumption Our fuel use We have not
saving saving saving saving saving remained increased. done any
approximately driver training
the same. for hybrids.
N: 19

18. Other experience
q13
Please describe any other experience your organisation has
with hybrid buses (e.g. driver satisfaction, noise level,
passenger satisfaction, public awareness, political support)?
• Political interest / support (8)
• Noise reduction (6)
• Technical problems (3) – incl. interior noise level
• Driver (very) satisfied (3)
• Passenger satisfaction – range from no notice, not
satisfied to (very) satisfied…
N: 18

19. Discussion

20. Questionnaire results
-2-
User expectations
purchase and operation costs

21. considering purchasing hybrids
yes no
N: 31

22. Driving forces
Please prioritise the driving forces that could
lead you to introduce hybrid buses into your fleet.
very high priority
high priority
medium priority
low priority
not a priority at all
carbon reduction in improved general political reduction in
reduction operational public image interest in pressure maintenance
objectives costs alternative costs
fuels and
propulsion N: 31

23. Acceptable purchase costs
How much would you be willing to spend for the purchase of hybrid buses (compared to
the purchase cost of an ICE bus)? This question relates to the initial purchase costs.
8
Mean: max 26%
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
no extra max max max max max max max max max max >
invest. +10% +20% +30% +40% +50% +60% +70% +80% +90% +100% +100%
N: 31

24. expected maintenance costs
As compared to conventional ICE buses,
do you expect maintenance costs of hybrid buses to be...
10 Mean: (-0.6)
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
...significantly lower. ...slightly lower. ...more or less the same. ...slightly higher. ...significantly higher.
N: 31

25. experienced maintenance costs
For your hybrid vehicles, in comparison to ICE buses,
maintenance costs are/were...?
8 Mean: (+1.0)
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
...significantly lower. ...slightly lower. ...more or less the same. ...slightly higher. ...significantly higher.
N: 18

26. Comparison: maintenance costs
8
7
Mean: (+1.0)
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
...significantly lower. ...slightly lower. ...more or less the same. ...slightly higher. ...significantly higher.
N: 18
10
Mean: (-0.6)
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
...significantly lower. ...slightly lower. ...more or less the same. ...slightly higher. ...significantly higher.
N: 31

27. expected fuel consumption
As compared to your current buses under similar conditions, what would be your
expectation of fuel consumption of hybrid buses in regular operation?
12 Mean: reduction 23%
10
8
6
4
2
0
>10% 5-10% <5% similar <5% 5-10% 10-15% 15-20% 20-25% 25-30 % > 30%
higher higher higher lower lower lower lower lower lower lower
N: 31

28. Comparison: fuel consumption
5
experienced Mean: reduction 16%
4
3
2
1
0
>10%
higher
5-10%
higher
<5%
higher
similar <5%
lower
5-10%
lower
10-15%
lower
15-20%
lower
20-25%
lower
25-30 %
lower
> 30%
lower N: 18
expected Mean: reduction 23%
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
>10% 5-10% <5% similar <5% 5-10% 10-15% 15-20% 20-25% 25-30 % > 30%
higher higher higher lower lower lower lower lower lower lower
N: 31

29. savings
source: vdv

30. Driver training
What role do you expect driver training to play
in maximising the potential fuel saving benefits of hybrid vehicles?
It won't play any role It will play a minor It will play a It's the most I don't know.
at all. role. significant role. important thing.
N: 31

31. Influencing factors
What (if any) change in conditions might convince you to accept higher costs for
hybrid vehicles than what you pay for your current vehicles?
• External funding (18)
• Political pressure (14)
• Increasing fuel prices (13)
• CO2-reduction (10)
• Emission reduction (10)
• LCC / reduction in fuel consumption etc. (4)
N: 31 /multiple

32. Influencing factors
What (if any) change in conditions might convince you to accept higher costs for
hybrid vehicles than what you pay for your current vehicles?
fuel emission CO2- fuel price political funding
consumption regulations reduction pressure
/ LCC
N: 31

33. Demand for hybrid buses
1000
882
900
800
700
600
518
500
400 364 369
300
200
200
111
100
3
0
mini (<8m) midi (8-10.5m) solo (2axle) solo (3axle) articulated double- double-decker
articulated
N: 30

34. Discussion