Goldfish62
Established Member
- Joined
- 14 Feb 2010
- Messages
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No. Battery replacement has not been a surprise. It's always been factored in from the start and is reflected in contract prices, apart from early routes where TfL paid for battery replacement.In which case I expect tender costs to rise for the contracts using NBfL when they are next out to tender. Maybe having to pay x pounds more (if operators tender a lower cost to run conventional hybrids) will focus minds such they they end up scrapped.
Also, TfL specifies which routes are to use NRMs so the option to bid with alternative vehicles is not available.
The bus is right on the weight limit for a twin axle double deck. For it to support the weight of batteries it would either have to gain a third axle or reduce passenger capacity to an unacceptable degree.I personally thought that all-electric buses would be concentrated in Central London, so if NBfL was retained for the central routes that would not be possible. However, is it possible to replace the diesel gubbins with more batteries, and convert the NBfL to all electric? That would solve both issues.
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