FROM DIESEL DRIVE TO FUEL CELL: DEVELOPING BUSES INTO "ZERO EMISSION VEHICLES"

Numerous forecasts indicate that traffic volume will double by the year 2010, making questions of environmental protection and resource conservation vitally important. This requirement provides a special challenge to commercial vehicles (such as buses, eg.) which are expected not only to be as environmentally friendly as possible, but also economical and reliable. The principal two ways of approaching the energy and environmental problems are identified as: reduction of energy consumption through better energy conversion techniques, and, development of non-fossil fuel sources with the help of new energy production technology. The article discusses the following technologies: the diesel engine; the natural gas engine; buses with electric drive; the electrical wheel-hub drive; the hybrid drive; and the fuel cell - the drive of the future.