Beware around London Routemaster Buses

[maxcherry]

Apparently when the batteries fails (Which is happening more and more) the driver may loose control of the bus and it is possible
for it to role back if on a incline.

See link

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/07 ... _hp_ref=uk

[Psamathe]

At £350,000 each this is being chalked-up as another Boris disaster.

But, whilst the batteries do fail on occasions (on rather a lot of the buses), they are actually spending far more of their time running on diesel due to the "issues" with them.

And TfL have stated that these problems represent no risk to the passengers (so I assume they are unconcerned about the safety of other road users).

Ian

[661-Pete]

I've said it before and I'll say it again - bring back the trolleybus. No battery problems. No diesel fumes. No rails for cyclists to come a cropper in.

Incidentally, the name 'Routemaster' was first used in London way back in the 1950s/60s. It was then a spanking-new diesel-powered double-decker, with open rear platform, brought in to replace the old 'RT' bullnose model. Was that what Boris had in mind?

[Redvee]

Strap a few 9v Ever Ready square batteries together and you'll have the perfect replacement for one of these



200 batteries being replaced under warranty

[squeaker]

It's a series diesel-electric hybrid. Diesel engine drives electricity generator and/or battery provides electricity for traction motor. If no battery then diesel generator needs to provide sufficient current to hold the bus on a gradient (once brakes are off) - interesting transient control problem (hence comments about need to have accelerator pedal depressed whilst stationary)
Seems that TfL's experience is a good argument for using a mechanical flybrid system

[Flinders]

It's a series diesel-electric hybrid. Diesel engine drives electricity generator and/or battery provides electricity for traction motor. If no battery then diesel generator needs to provide sufficient current to hold the bus on a gradient (once brakes are off) - interesting transient control problem (hence comments about need to have accelerator pedal depressed whilst stationary)
Seems that TfL's experience is a good argument for using a mechanical flybrid system

Sounds like it is basically a system which doesn't fail safe, which is a bit of a poor do for a public transport vehicle.

[foxyrider]

The vehicle isn't a Routemaster at all - that's the old open platform thing. These nasty things are known by the name Borismaster and was designed by a child - pointless effort as off the peg, better designed vehicles were and are available.