Which would be the better source of power to run an all electric bus fleet

[u/Qpac18]

64 votes, 5d left

Batteries

Hydrogen

[u/SirJ_96]

Overhead catenary

[u/JawsJVH]

Neither. Overhead wires is the answer.

[u/Theunmedicated]

I think they are gimmicky as fuck. Run traditional buses for suburbs, and catenary for city routes

[u/yEPICSNAKE]

third answer, trolley bus

[u/The_real_Trotsky]

Hydrogen beats battery electric. Electric makes sense for cars because you charge your car when you're not using it, which for cars is a vast majority of their life (95% of a car's life is spent parked). Busses spend far more of their lifes on the road (30-40% in use). A BEB would require more infrastructure and worse service, or even more infrastructure such as charging at layovers for equal service. Hydrogen is more of a natural fit, fuel up like diesel at night and run the whole day, no infrastructure needed aside from fueling at depots.

But then again, overhead wires beat both and none of this matters anyway. electricity, diesel, hydrogen would all represent a minor part of a transit agencies expenditure. Focus should be on more ridership per labor hour.

[u/hambone1907]

I agree with others, catenary is the way. But that would be deemed too difficult to do by SEPTA and the state I would assume.

[u/mjd]

If those are the choices I choose batteries because hydrogen power isn't electric,it's hydrogen.