Dublin Bus
Wrightbus DB 250 Pulsar
Diesel Electric Hybrid Bus
Announcing the arrival of WH 1, the new Dublin Bus diesel hybrid electric bus, following an order to supply back in April 2007.
Delivered from Wrightbus to Summerhill Garage on the 20th October 2008 & following a period of driver type training pending introduction into service in late December 2008, primarily on route 16 between Kingston ( Ballinteer ) via the City Centre to Santry, WH 1 returns to the city streets in January 2009 for full service.
Given that the bus was a prototype featuring constantly changing technologies, the arrival of WH1 had been considerably delayed from an initial estimate of Summer 2008.
The Wright Pulsar Gemini HEV with a VDL DB250 glider chassis ( without engine ) features Siemens ELFA® traction components, Siemens series hybrid drivetrain with energy provided by a Ford Puma 2.4 litre diesel engine ( original engine ) with Lithium Ion batteries. Its branded a Pulsar given its built on the VDL chassis, whereas the Gemini is built on the competing Volvo chassis.
The engine is comprised of 3 parts, the 30 Lithium Ion batteries which can be individually separated & serviced, the Ford Puma 1.9 diesel engine & finally an electric motor driving compressor & hydraulic pump.
The bus uses the batteries for normal driving, charged by the diesel engine & like similar hybrid car technology also charges from regenerative braking. There is considerable noise reduction due to the smaller diesel engine.
The electric driveline has quiet acceleration, significantly reduced noise levels & smooth travelling experience for customers, 64 seated
( individual bucket seating ) plus 18 standees.
Technical details:
Ford Puma 2.4 turbo diesel light industrial engine ( upgraded to 2.9 engine ) ,
290 litre fuel capacity.
Siemens hybrid driveline with lithium batteries ( by Valence ) on 576 volts
Front kneel & ferry lift
Fitted with fire suppression system
Overall height : 4.39 meters, Overall width : 2.52 meters
Front overhang : 2.60 meters, wheelbase 5.25 meters, rear overhang : 2.44 mtrs
The bus graphics were designed & applied by Freeneys Dublin
Overall supervision of driver training & road testing was conducted under the supervision of the Dublin Bus Driving School.
WH 1 ( 08 D 69001 ) was launched to the media at Dublin Castle by the Minister for Transport on Monday 15th December 2008 & entered service from Summerhill on route 16 the following Monday.
Due to teething problems during the first week of operation, WH 1 was confined to Summerhill Garage pending some adjustments by the Wrights technical team & is expected to re-enter service at the garage in mid January 2009.
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Special thanks to Patrick Losty for above photos
Copyright Patrick Losty
Copyright Patrick Losty
Copyright Patrick Losty
Copyright Patrick Losty
Copyright Patrick Losty
Hybrid WH 1 seen operating on its first day in passenger service, Monday 22nd December 2008, alongside AV 194 on Dame Street.
Hybrid WH 1 seen at its route 16 terminus in Santry
Hybrid WH 1 with its subtle " green " graphics
Hybrid WH 1 after its press launch at Dublin Castle
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Press release :
Hybrid vehicles are a developing technology in the transport industry. They combine an electric motor with an internal combustion engine. The vehicle, which has been designed by The Wright Group to meet with agreed Dublin Bus specifications, has a range of advantages over traditional bus models including:
• Reduced fuel consumption (34% less than traditional buses)
• A reduction in pollutant emissions by the following levels Carbon Dioxide (31%). Hydrocarbons (76.5%), Carbon Monoxide (97.6%) and Nitrous Oxides (12%).
• Smaller engines which produce less noise (50% less than traditional bus engines)
• Regenerative braking, which uses the energy dissipated during braking to charge its battery.
In 2006 a request for hybrid vehicles was made to all manufacturers of double deck buses. The Wright Group was the first firm to offer such a vehicle and Dublin Bus agreed to lease a vehicle for a three year trial period. The vehicle will be used by Dublin Bus to evaluate the effectiveness of hybrid vehicles and will be monitored under the headings of: performance, driveability, availability, reliability, maintenance requirements, fuel consumption, emissions, and customer perception.
Apart from the hybrid trial, Dublin Bus has spent significant time and resources in reducing the level of pollutants in its fleet’s emissions. The company has consistently pursued policies that comply with European emission standards which limit the levels of various pollutants such as Carbon Monoxide, Hydrocarbons, Nitrous Oxides and Particulates. Over 95% of Dublin Bus vehicles comply with Euro 2 emission Directive standard or better and, of that 95%, 50% comply with Euro 3 or Euro 4 Directives. All vehicles introduced into the fleet since 2007 employ Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR).
As it stands, a bus produces less than half the CO2 emissions per passenger kilometre compared to a car. Through sustained research and development, Dublin Bus aims to make this difference even greater and ensure that the bus becomes the greenest, most effective transport method in the Greater Dublin Area.
UPDATE AUGUST 2009
Following on from the launch of the hybrid bus on route 16, as with any prototype, WH 1 experienced severe operating difficulties, resulting in Wrights deploying a specialist on site at Summerhill Garage to iron out the difficulties.
WH 1 continues to operate on route 16 ( Ballinteer-City Centre- Santry ), usually on board 12 & also sees some limited service on route 20B ( Beaumont - City Centre ) ( peak time duties only ).
WH 1 only operates in service Monday to Friday.
WH 1 at Ballinteer ( Route 16 southside terminus )
WH 1 at Santry ( Route 16 northside terminus )
WH 1 operates alongside conventional diesel buses
WH 1 glides sliently away from the busy Dame Street stop
WH 1 features non standard individual bucket seating
WH 1 is the only Wright Pulsar operating with Dublin Bus
The sights & sounds of the hybrid through Santry
UPDATE NOVEMBER 2009
Following a collision WH 1 was involved in on Dublin's Camden Street on the 22nd September 2009, WH 1 returned to service on route 16 on Thursday 12th November 2009, following some minor repairs to the front section of the bus.
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WH 1 turning off Ardlea Road into Maryfield Drive in Beaumont
WH 1 has been operating some evening peak duties on route 20B
WH 1 at route 20B terminus on Maryfield Drive, Beaumont
WH 1 on route 20B, 16th November 2009
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WH 1 made a very rare appearance on long haul route 33 from Dublin City Centre to Balbriggan via Skerries on Friday 20th November 2009, operating an evening peak service. This was the only appearance on the 33.
Its seen here on the return trip at Drumcondra.
This page is dedicated to John Quinn, formerly of Dublin Bus Driving School Phibsboro, who was instrumental in bringing WH 1 into service with Dublin Bus
On Tuesday 26th January 2010, London based hybrid LJ09KOH, fleet number HV 3 was demonstrated to Dublin Bus at 59 O'Connell Street, seen here at 2 pm. It also made a visit to the Dublin Bus Technical Department at Broadstone & also Summerhill alongside Dublin Bus Hybrid WH 1.
HV 3 was on its way back from Scotland to London, where it had been on trial in Edinburgh.
Unlike WH 1 with its Ford Puma engine, HV 3 features a 5 litre Volvo engine on a Volvo chassis, unlike WH 1 built on a DAF Pulsar chassis.
Photo Craig Berry
WH 1 seen operating cross city route 16 to Ballinteer 2nd April 2009
WH 1 seen operating along the old Swords Road just past Whitehall Church
An unusual allocation for WH 1 on Wednesday 5th May 2010, WH 1 was operating the 7th euro universal, which involves a morning inbound route 41X from Swords to Belfield as seen above, returning from Belfield to Dublin Airport as a 746, the bus then returns to the garage as this is a bogey duty.
WH 1 is seen at the Xpresso layover at Belfield.
During 2010, the hybrid was allocated moreso to route 20B. With the continuing reliability problems, route 20B was closer to Summerhill Garage where it could be monitored & receive attention.
WH 1 was still confined to Monday to Friday operation only.
Summerhill Wright DAF WH 1 meets Broadstone Wright Volvo VG 10 at Belfield on the same day. VG 9 & 10 are both wedding buses at Broadstone & used on euro xpresso duties Monday to Friday peaks.
WH 1 seen later in the morning having worked from Belfield & heading to Dublin Airport. The second part of this duty involves evening departures on the 20B.
( Photo Patrick Losty )
In June 2010, WH 1 received an engine upgrade, the Ford Puma engine was replaced with a larger Ford Transit engine, installed by two Wright engineers at Summerhill over a few days, then back out on the road again, mainly route 16 duties.
Following some issues with the windscreen, WH 1 returned to Ballymena for most of June/ July 2010.
WH 1 returned from Wrights in Ballymena on Thursday 29th July 2010 following completion of some technical changes.
It also received attention to the front section to correct a flaw which was causing too much stress on the front windscreen. The slightly smaller font " lower emissions " & hybrid technology " on the front along with the richer green livery hinting that something was different at the front, along with a new nearside mirror.
WH 1 is seen above on Georges Street on route 16 northbound on its first day back in service on the 5th August 2010 completing a shift on board 12-16
The sights & sounds of the hybrid on upper deck
WH 1 seen at the southern end of route 16 at Kingston in Ballinteer in August 2010, awaiting its 16.40 hrs departure back to Santry.
WH 1 remains the only diesel electric hybrid vehicle on trial in Ireland at this time.
The engine compartment of the hybrid differs from the traditional diesel engine, with numerous port holes, grills & of course an " electrical warning "
Following continuing problems surrounding the front windscreen, WH 1 finally returned from Wrights Ballymena & back into service in late October 2010.
WH 1 is seen operating a northbound 16 on the 5th November 2010.
WH 1 is currently rotating between duties on the 16 & some peak time Monday to Friday on route 20B to Beaumont. Its curtailed to Monday to Friday operation only.
UPDATE DECEMBER 2010
In November & December 2010, Dublin was covered in snow with continual snow coverings over a number of weeks, causing various route curtailments & diversions.
Despite the harsh conditions of both snow & ice, WH 1 managed to operate in service & quite continually over the treacherous conditions, usually operating all day boards on the 16.
WH 1 seen on O'Connell Street heading northbound to Santry on the
23rd December 2010
The London version of Dublin, WHD 1 of Go-Ahead, LX 58 CWJ built around the same time as Dublin WH 1, seen operating on flagship route 24 at Trafalgar Square.
For 2011, WH 1 was confined to Monday to Friday operation on route 16, usually allocated to board 5, operating from Ballinteer from 7.00 am until 8 pm, late night shifts were curtailed so as not to strain night maintenance.
Periodic shifts on the 20B continued on some evening peak 20B services when the hybrid was not allocated to the 16, however this practice was discontinued when the 20B was amalgamated with the 14 to become cross city to Dundrum.
On the 12th December 2011 however, WH 1 found itself on the 14 for a late evening run at 21.50 hrs from Ardlea Road to Dundrum & this paved the way for a number of allocations to the 14 in January 2012.
Lower deck of the Dublin Bus hybrid with some slight non spec features, including the bucket type seating, although upholstered with the standard " ball & seal " blue trim.
