Electric buses were supposed to be a great leap forward for Auckland's public transport. However, Kieran Nash reports the plug has been pulled on battery power.
Imagine the Auckland bus of the future: instead of a roaring, diesel-spitting beast, it would be quiet, spacious and environmentally- friendly. Well, this future has come and gone.
In 2003, a new service was announced with much fanfare. The City Circuit would be free with buses arriving at stops around the inner-city every 10 minutes. The main thing that made it different was the bus - a hybrid-electric bus, super-quiet and easier on the environment.
Now, most of these buses are off the road because of a problem with reliability.
The solution? Replacing clean, quiet hybrid engines with regular diesels.
The service is run by NZBus for a partnership of Auckland Regional Transport Authority, Auckland City Council and Heart of the City business association.
Ratepayers meet the bulk of the cost with the transport authority paying $786,000 a year and the council $40,000.
Trumpeted as a ride into the future, the three buses cost $560,000 each, twice the cost of conventional diesels.
Bus passenger Lucy Hawcroft thinks replacing the hybrids with diesels is a step backwards. "It's incredibly sad that we're moving back from electric to diesel. That sounds really typical of the way we do things in Auckland. I find it hard to believe they can't fund an electric bus in Auckland."
Lucy's partner had a rare form of cancer two years ago and chemotherapy damaged his lungs. He coughs every time a bus belches a brown cloud of diesel smoke in his face.
"He really notices air pollution," she says, wincing.
"People's health would improve immensely if they did clean up the buses."
Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney says the association is reviewing the service.
"We have a reliability issue with some of these buses," he says. "We've discovered, along the way, it doesn't seem to be as durable as tried and true diesel."
He says it's disappointing and he feels for the scheme's supporters. "They wanted to use this particular model of bus because it is both environmentally-friendly and there is less noise. We're extremely keen to keep that element alive but it's proving to be extraordinarily expensive."
Transport authority spokeswoman Sharon Hunter says two buses are off the road - and fossil-fuelled vehicles that comply with Euro 3 emission levels are being used instead. She responded to our inquiries with this statement:
"There are two buses out of action (these have turbine faults) and are waiting on parts from the USA. It does take time to obtain the parts. However, in the interim, Euro 3-compliant buses are being used on the City Circuit. Whenever a City Circuit bus is out of action we expect NZBus to put an alternative vehicle on the road.
"ARTA recognises the reliability problem with the City Circuit service. It's been identified as an issue with the Capstone Micro Turbine, which generates electricity for the buses.
"The solution is to remove the 'hybrid' element from the buses concerned so they will be retro-fitted with brand new Euro 5 engines therefore they will not be branded as hybrids anymore.
"We're working with Heart of the City and NZBus to progress this. Prior to agreement with Heart of the City, NZBus has to replace the hybrid turbine parts of the vehicles."
John Turton, who heads research and developments for the bus-builders, Designline of Rolleston near Christchurch, knows about the problems.
"Obviously the turbine can be fixed and replaced. If that was done these vehicles would be back up running again."
He would not be keen on diesel replacing the hybrid engines: "It would be disappointing if they did that."
The buses are an early model which had a battery life of about nine months when new. But, as batteries are replaced, their lives are extended to about eight years, he says.
NZBus says: "The contract does stipulate that the buses used to run the services are hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). You can be sure that, if not for the HEVs' current maintenance requirements, we would be fulfilling the contract in full. The HEVs will be back on the road as soon as possible."
Trumpet to trombone
April 2003. Auckland Regional Council passenger transport committee chair Catherine Harland: "Hybrid electric buses have proven extremely successful in cities around the world and it's great to be able to offer this in Auckland.''
June 2010. Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney: "We've discovered, along the way, it doesn't seem to be as durable as tried and true diesel.''
Bus stop
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