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The Hybrid Enviro500 MMC Hybrid (commonly known as the E50H), a diesel and electric hybrid-driven three-axle, double-deck low-floor hybrid bus produced by Alexander Denis in the United Kingdom, is one of the manufacturer's Enviro series of models, modified by the Enviro 500, a hybrid version of the Enviro 500, introduced in 2014. The Enviro500 was modified as a hybrid version of the Enviro500 MMC, which was introduced in 2014.
In 2011, the Government fully subsidized three franchised bus companies to procure six Enviro500 MMC Hybrid double-deck hybrid buses for trial runs, which were also the first six double-deck buses complying with the Euro VI emission standards. After two years of testing, the performance of the hybrid buses was found to be more or less the same as that of conventional diesel buses, with no significant advantage.
Hybrid buses[]
Introduction to hybrid buses The operation of a hybrid bus is different from that of a conventional diesel bus. In addition to a diesel engine, hybrid buses utilize an electric motor to provide energy via a battery pack, and their diesel engines are generally smaller than those of conventional buses. The battery pack is charged while the bus is in motion, and can be additionally charged by regenerative braking power (i.e. charging the battery with power generated during braking). As a result, hybrid buses outperform conventional diesel buses in terms of fuel saving and emission performance.
According to the estimation of a hybrid bus manufacturer, hybrid buses can reduce the emission of the following air pollutants when compared with conventional diesel buses:
- 20% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
- 40% of particulates; and
- 30% of carbon dioxide (with a corresponding reduction in fuel consumption)
Background[]
The 2010-11 Policy Address announced that the ultimate policy objective of the Government is to have zero-emission buses running across the territory, and that since 2002, clauses have been included in bus franchises requiring bus companies to use zero-emission or the most environmentally-friendly buses when replacing ageing retired diesel buses. At the same time, the Government proposed to fully subsidize the franchised bus companies to procure six hybrid buses to test the operational efficiency.
In April 2011, the Environmental Protection Department sought funding approval from the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for $33 million to subsidize KMB, Citybus and NWFB to procure six hybrid double-deck air-conditioned buses for operation in Hong Kong for a two-year trial. According to different route types, KMB was allocated three, Citybus two and NWFB one hybrid bus.
The three franchised bus companies procured the hybrid buses through open tender. The selected model is Enviro500 MMC Hybrid 12-meter (E50H), which is a three-axle double-deck bus manufactured by Alexander Dennis (Asia Pacific) Limited, and the price of each hybrid bus is $5.5 million, which is about 60% to 80% more expensive than a conventional diesel bus. To cope with the environment in Hong Kong, each hybrid bus is equipped with an electrically powered air-conditioning system with sufficient cooling capacity.