(04 May 2021, 6:09 pm)ne14ne1 wrote It would’ve been yeah. Mind, they’d have had to find a lot more room for the increase in batteries needed to make it a full EV.

If you search YouTube for ‘Vantage Power London Bus’ you should find videos of Gemini1’s and a President which were fitted with Vantage Power diesel-electric hybrid systems.
Apart from the 3 or 4 vehicles trialled Im not aware of any others that were done however.
Maybe it was too expensive or they didn’t have any uptake. Certainly weird watching/hearing an old Gemini1 and President pulling away almost silently. I quite liked the sound of the diesel suddenly starting back up. It almost sounded like it took a couple of turns for it to fire back up. Odd but kinda cool.

All of the London buses that were converted by Vantage Power have been withdrawn and are not in service in London anymore.

(04 May 2021, 8:01 pm)IRHardy wrote All of the London buses that were converted by Vantage Power have been withdrawn and are not in service in London anymore.

Yeah I’d guessed so. Hadn’t seen any recent YouTube vids of them.

Couldnt think of a better place to put this but a coaster on the back of an alpha recovery going passed the angel southbound on the a167. Think they were indication to join the a1 south towards washington services.

Thinking aloud here again...... So are the Gemini1 Hybrids in London Euro5 then?
If so, does TfL not require all buses operating in Central London to be Euro 6, or if as long as they’re Hybrids are Euro5s permitted?
Anyway know?

Heading home: https://twitter.com/dan3942/status/13976...61509?s=21

(14 May 2021, 1:59 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Thinking aloud here again...... So are the Gemini1 Hybrids in London Euro5 then?
If so, does TfL not require all buses operating in Central London to be Euro 6, or if as long as they’re Hybrids are Euro5s permitted?
Anyway know?

Here is a link to the ULEZ website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-l...ssion-zone which explains the requirements for vehicles in the ULEZ.

However all buses that operate on any TfL route now have to be Euro 6 or have been converted to be Euro 6 compatible (see this page on the TfL website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/improving...tcmp=42923.)
so in answer to your question: "So are the Gemini1 Hybrids in London Euro5 then?"
No they are all now Euro 6 compatible.

(26 May 2021, 7:58 pm)IRHardy wrote Here is a link to the ULEZ website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-l...ssion-zone which explains the requirements for vehicles in the ULEZ.

However all buses that operate on any TfL route now have to be Euro 6 or have been converted to be Euro 6 compatible (see this page on the TfL website: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/buses/improving...tcmp=42923.)
so in answer to your question: "So are the Gemini1 Hybrids in London Euro5 then?"
No they are all now Euro 6 compatible.

Which would lead to the question, why didn’t GNE convert them to Euro 6 hybrid, rather than Euro 6 diesel. Was it to save on the cost of refurbishing/replacing possibly life-expired batteries?

(26 May 2021, 8:14 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Which would lead to the question, why didn’t GNE convert them to Euro 6 hybrid, rather than Euro 6 diesel. Was it to save on the cost of refurbishing/replacing possibly life-expired batteries?

I remember either Dan or MG saying that it was down to the cost of replacing the batteries, it was cheaper removing the hybrid system

So will the rest be done

6064 has been debrand. Wonder if its to show its the first conversion or we are getting a new branding or could be something complicated different

https://twitter.com/MartijnGNE/status/13...48513?s=19

I reckon a new coaster livery complete with the stripes

Hybrid removal.

(28 May 2021, 11:24 am)V514DFT wrote I reckon a new coaster livery complete with the stripes

I thought these from the coaster were going on the 16/16A, with either the black cats or diamond streetlites going on service 1 series


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(24 Jun 2021, 10:01 am)cbma06 wrote I thought these from the coaster were going on the 16/16A, with either the black cats or diamond streetlites going on service 1 series


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They are,i posted that comment last month

(24 Jun 2021, 10:05 am)V514DFT wrote They are,i posted that comment last month

Oops , thought there were a couple of recent new posts, didn’t check the date on the right [emoji106]


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(24 Jun 2021, 10:13 am)cbma06 wrote Oops , thought there were a couple of recent new posts, didn’t check the date on the right [emoji106]


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No worries,it happens

Looks like 6064 is back in Scarborough again

https://twitter.com/YorkieLou/status/140...23113?s=19

Equipmake debuts battery-electric repower on Volvo B5LH - https://www.route-one.net/news/equipmake...olvo-b5lh/

The repowers are based on the same driveline of their Jewel-E Bus with will soon be going under trial with Go-Ahead London - https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-...e-jewel-e/

Could be a solution for Go North East to explore with their B5LH's.

(29 Apr 2022, 3:42 pm)Malarkey wrote Equipmake debuts battery-electric repower on Volvo B5LH - https://www.route-one.net/news/equipmake...olvo-b5lh/

The repowers are based on the same driveline of their Jewel-E Bus with will soon be going under trial with Go-Ahead London - https://www.route-one.net/news/go-ahead-...e-jewel-e/

Could be a solution for Go North East to explore with their B5LH's.

Great idea, especially how they wanted to upgrade the X5/X15 to electric buses three questions (not for you but generally) , will they manage up the hills on the 16/16A, will they have enough milage & is it worth upgrading them considering they are 10 years old?

(29 Apr 2022, 3:50 pm)Unber43 wrote Great idea, especially how they wanted to upgrade the X5/X15 to electric buses three questions (not for you but generally) , will they manage up the hills on the 16/16A, will they have enough milage & is it worth upgrading them considering they are 10 years old?

To be honest i’ve never seen the X(1)5 full so would it not be worth downgrading them to some of the 17 plate streetlites, seeming they’re pretty much the same spec and swap the Electric B5’s back for city work? Would provide a cost efficient solution for the CAZ. i was thinking the same with the 16, maybe not worth upgrading those or perhaps a swap.

(29 Apr 2022, 4:13 pm)ALavery wrote To be honest i’ve never seen the X(1)5 full so would it not be worth downgrading them to some of the 17 plate streetlites, seeming they’re pretty much the same spec and swap the Electric B5’s back for city work? Would provide a cost efficient solution for the CAZ. i was thinking the same with the 16, maybe not worth upgrading those or perhaps a swap.

The 16 & X5/15 do get really busy - mostly between Durham & Stanley - the X5/X15 do get a decent load, about 20-30 people, which isn't massive. They do get rammed around time when Durham Sixth form, New Durham College & other schools close in that area. I couldn't see them getting downgraded.

On. a night your lucky to get 5-10 people on the X5. If the X5/X15 were to get "older buses" I'd imagine the entire interior would have to be redone, imo the current buses on the 65 would be perfect or 15'/63' Plate Streetlites as they're only Euro 5

Seems a waste of money spending any money like that on them. They're 9 years old (soon to be 10), don't see the point personally. Might aswell just get some second hand stock from London for no doubt much cheaper.

(29 Apr 2022, 4:49 pm)Storx wrote Seems a waste of money spending any money like that on them. They're 9 years old (soon to be 10), don't see the point personally. Might aswell just get some second hand stock from London for no doubt much cheaper.

Is there any relatively young london stock which is being replaced?

Anyone know where this is, i don't think its been in service since January.

(21 May 2022, 10:10 am)Unber43 wrote Anyone know where this is, i don't think its been in service since January.

As far as I know it is still at the Volvo place at Crowther next to the A1(M).

Given the extra space in the hybrids engine compartment, an opportunity would exist to trial hydrogen, or hydrogen-electric ?

(01 Jun 2022, 6:34 am)54APhotography wrote Given the extra space in the hybrids engine compartment, an opportunity would exist to trial hydrogen, or hydrogen-electric ?

Can't see the point as there's no way investment for the Hydrogen or an easy way to get it either for the GNE depots as it is. They seem to be going for battery for the time being

There's a massive scheme down in Teesside with the combined authority which is why Stagecoach and Arriva have been trialing loads of hydrogen buses, it's just a matter of time before they're in service down there. I know there was a bit committed for the 23/24 year but the Zebra failure might have delayed it abit.

The bus which probably prompted this will be this - https://www.focustransport.org/2021/08/r...rofit.html

I doubt anything will happen to the B5LHs given their age. The 4x on the X5/X15 will likely end up being replaced with 4x B9TLs (unless GNE actually have plans for all 6x B9TLs) if the 47 either receives StreetDecks or B5TLs.

(01 Jun 2022, 10:19 am)Storx wrote Can't see the point as there's no way investment for the Hydrogen or an easy way to get it either for the GNE depots as it is. They seem to be going for battery for the time being

There's a massive scheme down in Teesside with the combined authority which is why Stagecoach and Arriva have been trialing loads of hydrogen buses, it's just a matter of time before they're in service down there. I know there was a bit committed for the 23/24 year but the Zebra failure might have delayed it abit.

The bus which probably prompted this will be this - https://www.focustransport.org/2021/08/r...rofit.html

Indeed Teesside is the focus, a E400 has arrived at Wheatsheaf for wrapping and word is that's where it is going, mind it has little interior. 
Hydrogen has to be seen a better alternative to EV, the batteries are a Nightmare and cost more to dispose of than make. GNE has ample space at it's newer depots to cope with an alternative propulsion..

(01 Jun 2022, 8:50 pm)54APhotography wrote Indeed Teesside is the focus, a E400 has arrived at Wheatsheaf for wrapping and word is that's where it is going, mind it has little interior. 
Hydrogen has to be seen a better alternative to EV, the batteries are a Nightmare and cost more to dispose of than make. GNE has ample space at it's newer depots to cope with an alternative propulsion..

I wonder if GNE could trial pantograph charging at the terminus like transdev do with the 7900Es at Harrogate