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Regenerative braking cuts bus fuel needs

Journal Article · · Automot. Eng.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6216407

Regenerative braking systems for diesel-engined city buses that could reduce fuel consumption by up to 25% have been independently developed by Daimler-Benz A.G. (D-B) and Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nuernberg A.G. (M.A.N.) in a conservation project financed by the West German Federal Ministry for Research and Technology. Both hydraulic (''hydrobus'') and flywheel (''gyrobus'') energy-storage concepts have been built and are now being evaluated. These systems recover the kinetic energy normally dissipated as heat when a vehicle weighing up to 16 tons is braked, and release the stored energy after each stop to accelerate the bus to cruise speed, the operating mode in which power and fuel demands are greatest. Other benefits include exhaust-emission reductions in proportion to reduced fuel consumption, reduced engine noise fumes at curbside and traffic stops, and markedly lower brake-lining wear. Estimates indicate that if the entire 2500-unit Berlin bus fleet were converted to regenerative braking with 25% fuel saving, the total daily diesel fuel consumption would be reduced by 1000 bbl. The M.A.N. hydro- and gyrobus and the D-B gyrobus prototypes are described in detail.

OSTI ID:
6216407
Journal Information:
Automot. Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Automot. Eng.; (United States) Vol. 87:10; ISSN AUEGB
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English