OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE WITH BATTERY ELECTRIC BUSES.

The following 8 ideal requirements of any bus operator are discussed first, and related to the situation of the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE): self-contained vehicle; all-route capability (overall height limited to less than 14 ft 6 in (4. 42 m); range ability; maximum carrying capacity; reliability; simple maintenance; easy to board and leave; one-man operation. Operational experience with several designs of battery powered buses is next reported and compared with a diesel bus. Putting together an operator's requirements and the PTE's operational experience to date in the context of the South Yorkshire County Council's attitude to energy, its use and conservation encourages the PTE to develop full size buses using sodium sulfur batteries. The Chloride Group and the Electricity Council are at present developing these new batteries as a joint venture.