RE:We have to pay very very close attention to this...The growth in the electric bus sales in China as contained in your link looks like complete garbage, unfortunately.
Here's your link again (for a cleaner cut and paste) as well as a paragraph related to the reported increase in electric bus sales in the link, that deserves mention:
https://cleantechnica.com/2016/09/23/plug-electric-bus-sales-china-explode-2010-2015/
"As noted above, though, it’s not clear exactly how accurate these numbers are. In the linked coverage, Jose Pontes notes that: “If anyone wishes to confirm or debate these arguments, please do so, as it would help a lot to have a better picture of what’s going on here.”
Its China and that means unbridled capitalism, greed and few regulations and much less monitoring of them and teeth (sounds a lot like Don and Scott's new American vision doesn't it?). For every legit co. in China that want to operate the 'right way', it seems there are many more that are there to make malinvestments and F-it-all:
https://gas2.org/2016/06/09/chinese-electric-car-industry-is-chaotic-fraud/
Going electic in N.A. would cost more than the more polluting vehicles such as deisel. I believe that the compressed natural gas models BUS is now producting will be better than its diesel models, and in both cases, these options are less polluting than the OLD polluting buses they are replacing and the use of cars. (importantly BUS also scores better than its compeitiion in terms of Altoona pollution scores)
As you may suspect and would EXPECT, BUS management fully understands that keeping totally ontop of technology and demand today and in the future is critically important to the success of the company. I've certainly asked about this topic enough times and i'm now satsified enough that I don't ask every time I call, lol! The fact of the matter is that relatively very few electric buses have actually been sold N.A. to date.
BUS' business model incorporates understanding the LIMITATIONS of electric buses and also delivering what the CUSTOMERS WANT. Regulations, standards and societal expectations are very important to the continued adoption and advancement of electric vehicles as it costs more in the immedaitel term; and I fear that we've had a big set back. If and when the time comes, we will change the bus' power plant.
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