Bus Of The Future

Reported July, 2007

DETROIT (Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc.) -- Most of us gladly ride in cars, airplanes, even trains -- but buses? There's a bit of a stigma attached to them. Now, one engineer has a built a new type of city bus he hopes will make people want to ride.

Al Gore brought the issue of global warming to the big screen. One of the biggest offenders? Carbon dioxide. The latest international report says it's responsible for 60 percent of the greenhouse gases. So automotive engineer Bruce Emmons decided to do something about it. He created a 40 foot battery powered and electric city bus -- it's like a giant golf cart!

"Inside of the bus, we have what actually propels the bus," Emmons says. "This is what makes it go."

Batteries and motor controllers drive electric motors in the wheels. And instead of the bus being made from regular steel, "Everything is built of this incredible high-strength stainless steel," Emmons explains.

The steel is as lightweight as aluminum, making the bus half the weight of a normal bus. Steel tubes also support the front bumper and are designed to turn inside out in a crash to absorb energy and soften the blow.

With no transmission, drive shafts or other bulky mechanics taking up space, the floor can be low, making it easier to get in and out of. And he promises a quieter, smoother ride.

"You can have a very efficient bus, but if nobody likes to ride on it, then it doesn’t really help the fuel economy."

Emmons' bus boasts four-times the fuel economy of a standard one. His next goal -- to get it from the lab to buses all over the city streets. Right now the bus is just a prototype. It has the potential to be different types of a hybrid -- such as a fuel cell or hydrogen bus.

Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:

Autokinetics
Detroit, MI
(248) 852-4450 (main)
jbemmons@autokinetics.com

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