Going Green — Driving Differences

With the addition of this new gasoline hybrid bus, the operations department launched a training campaign for supervisors initially followed by lead bus drivers and finally bus operators. LeeTran quickly determined that the person conducting the orientation and driver training for this new bus needed fully to understand the propulsion system and the re-genitive braking systems respectfully.

Supervisors were required to attend training sessions with ISE representatives and technicians to provide them with firsthand information relating to the safety and operational functions of the propulsion system. Technicians pointed out high voltage wiring (color coded orange), power disabling capabilities, internal engine compartment components, as well as starting and shut down procedures.

Road testing the hybrid bus with ISE staff proved to be pertinent as well, since this presented the opportunity for the technicians to explain what was happening while driving the vehicle, while it was happening. The regenerative braking system of the propulsion system is unique and utilizes the drive motors as well as other components to slow the bus down, adding to the efficiency of the fuel economy.

LeeTran staff quickly identified the importance of behind-the-wheel training for every operator, supervisor and maintenance worker so they could become acclimated to the acceleration and stopping characteristics of this new vehicle. Supervisors were required to drive the vehicle on the road to obtain a feel for the regenerative braking system and experience the propulsion from a stopped position. The propulsion system accelerates very well and takes some getting used to when operating in the transit environment.

Operator Training

Once the supervisory and maintenance staff personnel were trained on the hybrid, it was time to turn the attention to the bus operators. The operations department wanted to be certain that all safety information and the various systems were covered with all operators. Since this was the first BRT package bus as well as LeeTran’s first hybrid vehicle,orientation for both of these elements was combined into one training session.

Each bus operator was required to attend a training session that included a road test with the operator driving the hybrid bus on city streets in the transit environment. Each operator was also required to complete a comprehensive vehicle orientation that included a walk around and a lecture about the various electrical systems, the propulsion system and all safety features. Awareness was provided to operators about utilizing proper driving habits during inclement weather, stopping distances, acceleration differences between a conventional diesel bus, deceleration differences between conventional buses and finally overall safe operation of the vehicle.

Training Results

Overall, the training went very well and from an operational perspective, there were very few differences in learning to operate the new hybrid vs. a conventional diesel bus. The two most important elements to drive home to bus operators is the vehicle’s ability to accelerate very good from a dead stop and the regenerative braking system that feels much like a retarder but is substantially more efficient at stopping the vehicle.

During the initial testing of the vehicle performance, LeeTran realized that the overall efficiency of the fuel economy is directly related to the way the vehicle is driven and the environment that it is driven in. It became important to LeeTran to provide the operators with examples of how it wanted the vehicle to be driven during training so it could benefit fully from the regenerative braking and super capacitor technologies. The propulsion system that ISE utilizes in this bus capitalizes on stop and go movement as well as braking to maximize overall efficiency and fuel economy.

It is worth mentioning that LeeTran received very positive feedback from its bus operators regarding the operation of the hybrid bus. Additionally, the vehicle is holding up very well-operating long hours daily. ISE has demonstrated its dedication to this project by providing an ongoing partnership and collaborative effort with LeeTran personnel.

Paul Goyette is the operations manager for Lee County Transit.