UK Replaces Polluting Diesel Buses With Electric Models Charged By Diesel-powered Generators

East Yorkshire Buses replaces polluting diesel buses with electric models charged by diesel-powered generators. 

Says delays in installing charging infrastructure force it to take the decision so diesel buses could be removed from its fleet.

Notes that the use of generators was a short-term measure, adding that power supply will be commissioned very soon. 

A fleet of 27 green electric buses, launched by East Yorkshire Buses in March to replace older diesel models, is being charged using diesel-powered generators due to delays in installing the permanent charging infrastructure. 

According to the company, an “unexpected and significant” delays to the electric supply force it to take the decision to use five (5) diesel-powered generators so older diesel buses could be removed from its fleet.

“Due to unexpected and significant delays in commissioning the electrical supply we took the decision to power the charging points in the short term with generators allowing us to remove older diesel buses from our fleet,” a spokesperson from East Yorkshire Buses told BBC. 

The firm said the use of diesel-powered generators was a “short-term measure”, adding that its £16.5m investment in the vehicles and their charging infrastructure was part of its commitment to cleaner, greener transport.

“The use of the generators is only ever a short-term measure and we expect the power supply to be commissioned in the coming few weeks.”

Below are a few of the comments read by Autojosh on BBC East Yorkshire’s Facebook page.

One user wrote : “Diesel generators are 50% efficient, electric buses 90% efficient, diesel buses are 20% efficient, so even the temporary use of diesel generators are better.”

Another user noted that : “Graeme Sewell Stagecoach have had exactly the same problem and they chose to keep the buses off the road until the issue was resolved.”

“Put the chargers in before you buy the buses numpties,” said a third user.

Another user said : “Non story! It’s a temporary measure until a contractor fits the required charging infrastructure because the original contractor went bust! If you plugged a bus in via 3 pin plug – it’d take about 3 days to charge! Why is this so difficult to understand?”

“Still reduced emissions in busy city centres which benefits people health and no different to people buying electric vehicle and using the grid to charge. Yes it does use solar but not completely as there isn’t enough,” a fifth user noted.

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