Ireland is tendering 600 double decker hybrid buses. Mild hybrids are excluded

Irish National Transport Authority issued a tender for up to 600 double decker hybrid buses. The whole batch of vehicles will be awarded to a single manufacturer, according to NTA plans. The purchase is part of the BusConnects programme. The vehicles must be able to run in zero emission mode, so that mild hybrids are excluded from the tender.

Hybrid buses in Ireland. The first deliveries by the end of 2020

As usual in this kind of procurement, the number of 600 vehicles is the potential maximum number under the framework agreement. The effective number of vehicles bought and put on the roads could result to be significantly lower.

NTA stated in a press release that this process is part of the transition to low emission buses, including electric buses, for the urban public bus fleet, as provided for in Project Ireland 2040 and the Climate Action Plan. The framework agreement will have a lifespan of about five years. The first delivery could take place before the end of 2020, says NTA.

NTA to be ‘Clean Vehicles Directive’ compliant

The NTA’s aim is to ensure compliance with the ‘Clean vehicles directive‘ that will enter into force in the next two years. As such, any bus proposed by a manufacturer for inclusion in this tender will be expected to meet the definition of a ‘clean vehicle’ provided for in the revised Directive. The hybrid buses for Ireland will be equipped with a minimum of 40 seats on the upper deck, a minimum of 17 seats (not including longitudinal tip-up seats) on the lower deck and an overall capacity (including standees) of 70 passengers or greater. Length should not exceed 11.50 metres;

An NTA spokesperson said: “The new hybrid buses are expected to be at least 30% more energy efficient than current diesel-only buses, and as a result will reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions. The NTA also intend that the new buses will be capable of zero-tailpipe-emissions operation. This capability, combined with the overall reduction in energy consumption, will contribute to an improvement in air quality in the Irish cities that will be served by these buses.”

The statement about zero emission operations is crucial and is meant to esclude any mild hybrid bus, being these vehicles with a small ‘electric machine’ that doesn’t allow any full electric operation, even at low speed (actually, we could call them Euro VI diesel with a major efficiency).