A comprehensive public transport system, including underground, tramway and trolley-buses will need a large fleet of buses and cars to conveniently accomplish all services required. Fully electric (battery) vehicles, at the present state of the art, do not seem to be acceptable as a clean alternative, mainly because of their poor range and slow battery recharge. Hybrid vehicles have comparable ranges with conventional vehicles, much lower exhaust emissions, improved noise and fuel economy. Series hybrid buses and cars have been developed in Genoa in the last five years, that are described in this paper. Three cars and two buses are presented. They might be the basis for a novel transport system, novel transport system, that confines private cars out of cities, while people are still allowed to ride multi-user, automatically hired cars. (A)
Abstract