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February 29, 2008
Inferior Zero-Emission Buses Cost 32 Times as Much to Operate as Diesel
This should give you an idea of the scale of waste entailed in the global warming farce. In an $18 million state-mandated pilot project, the (Silicon) Valley Transportation Authority tested zero-emission buses and found the following:
Zero-emission buses — or ZEBs — cost $51.66 to fuel, maintain and operate per mile compared with just $1.61 for a 40-foot conventional diesel coach. They break down much more frequently, and replacement parts are next to impossible to order[…] Although the cost of a new hydrogen-fuel-cell bus has fallen from about $3.5 million to $2.5 million, a diesel coach costs about $400,000. And ZEBs have on average traveled 1,100 miles before needing repairs in the VTA trial, while a typical diesel bus covers about 6,000 miles.
You would think, in a democracy, this would inspire the bureaucrats to back off from the preposterous ZEB boondoggle, before they get run out of town on a rail.
But the California Air Resources Board is poised next year to launch a $36 million second phase of the hydrogen program, adding 12 more buses in the Bay Area and expanding it to include Golden Gate Transit.
Analifa Bevan with CARB said her agency "is not considering any changes," pointing out that the VTA experiment involves early prototypes and that the next generation of buses will be more reliable and "cheaper to operate than diesel."
Sure they will. Apparently Analifa assumes that if the peasants will believe incandescent light bulbs cause global warming, they'll swallow absolutely anything.
Hat tip: Interested-Participant, on a tip from Burning Hot.
Posted by Van Helsing at February 29, 2008 7:04 AM
Comments
In other news, freeloading anti-money moonbat who planned to walk around the world living off freebies provided by people who actually contribute to society by taking part in the economy has to give up in Calais because the French locals saw him for what he was.
Posted by: Ian from the EUSSR at February 29, 2008 7:15 AM
Huh, first Sarkozy flexing his national muscles and now ordinary frogs telling this geek to get stuffed.
I may have to start drinking French wine again.
Posted by: Kar at February 29, 2008 7:28 AM
Diesel is actually a terrific alternative to gasoline in most applications.
Posted by: V the K at February 29, 2008 7:40 AM
The fact that emission free buses cost more to operate and will have no impact at all on the Earths climate mean nothing to Moonbats - its all about symbolism over substance - especially when tax payers are footing the bill.
Posted by: Anonymous at February 29, 2008 7:50 AM
So, yet another taxpayer-funded boondoggle (somewhat the default position in crazy California, but coming soon to a state near you).
Results: irrelevant. Best of intentions: all that counts. Life in Moonbat-run America these days . . .
Posted by: jc14 at February 29, 2008 7:57 AM
Could it be that the Bus Driver is the issue in the overall cost?
Let's see, overpaid civil servant with at least one or more unions, EEO teflon if he/she is actually worthless as a driver, and all of those benefits.
Nah...I was trying to be funny, but I have nothing against good bus drivers, just the ones who are worthless.
Posted by: Oiao at March 3, 2008 6:54 PM
