Summary Reader Response

 Summary reader response

According to the article “Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels” by Kok (2021), two Man A22 Euro 6 diesel-powered buses owned by LTA fitted with solar panels would be going on trial in Singapore with approval from LTA and compliance to safety tests. With the support from LTA, the trial runs would begin on March 30 with the purpose to evaluate the effectiveness of the solar panels, as well as its performance under high temperature and daily cleaning routines. Instead of alternators, “these 1.6mm-thick, flexible and shatterproof panels” supply energy to the battery on the buses for its intended purposes, thus reducing fuel usage and carbon emissions. According to Kok, Go-ahead managing director Thompson says that the solar panels are expected to have a better performance in Singapore’s tropical climate and will be fitted onto more buses when the benefits are established. According to Kok, Go-ahead says that the weight of the solar panels on the roofs of the bus is not a concern as it is 3 times lighter than the standard solar panels and weekly inspections would be carried out followed by a final review to establish the “appropriate inspection schedule”. Importantly, the trial data proves the feasibility of implementing solar panels on buses on a long-term basis and how it benefits the environment.

While the article by Kok (2021) discusses the trial run and benefits of solar buses, however, there is no mention that the improvements made to photovoltaic modules have significantly benefitted the environment as well as bus operating companies. Solar panels can now be fitted onto the roof of buses to provide clean energy which reduces fuel consumption and hazardous emission.

 

As technology advances, there are major improvements made to photovoltaic modules.

Solar panels are not only thinner but also lighter than conventional ones. According to Kok (2021), solar panels are “at least three times thinner than conventional solar panels” and weigh no more than 20kg. With the reduction in weight and thickness of the solar panels, bus companies can fit them onto the rooftop of buses to generate clean energy from solar irradiance without any issues. Doing so, not only benefit the bus companies but the environment as well.

 

The first benefit of fitting solar panels onto buses is the reduction in fuel consumption, leading to a reduction in hazardous emissions. The solar panels can provide a substantial amount of clean energy to charge up bus battery instead of the total reliance on the alternator. According to Kok (2021), solar panels can generate 1,000 watts of energy in total to charge up bus battery. For that reason, the reliance on alternators has been greatly reduced and hence the reduction in “the load of the bus engine” Kok (2021). In addition to the lower fuel consumption from the reduction of engine load, it is without a doubt that the amount of air pollutants produced by buses will be decreased accordingly as air pollutants are a product of fuel combustion in the engine. Data from the trial run by a Singapore bus company in the United Kingdom for 18 solar buses, have successfully proven a reduction in fuel consumption with an approximation of “1,400 liters of diesel which is translated to 3.7 tonnes of carbon emissions per bus per year”. Kok (2021). The significant reduction in carbon emissions, it has made the air cleaner in the environment and hence a more pleasant living environment for people to live in.

 

The second benefit from the improvement of solar panels is the reduction in operating costs from fuel usage for buses. According to Quarles (2020) Solar panels have made it possible to convert traditional buses to fully electrically operated buses. Hence the ability to remove the cost of fuel which has been rising throughout the years and converting traditional buses into solar bus can save reduce an extensive amount of operating cost on a long-term basis. This is evident from Research by Quarles (2020) shown that based on a 12-year Lifecycle of an electric bus, it is estimated to save an amount of $139,561 “whenever the price of fuel goes up by $0.10 per gallon every year, with the initial cost at $2.50 per gallon”.

 

Despite the proven benefits of fuel and emission reduction from the usage of photovoltaic modules on the bus based on statistical data from trials, there is a downside of solar panels, which is the reliance on solar irradiance. According to the study by Oh et al (2020), there are several factors that can affect solar irradiances, such as the change in weather conditions and shades from trees or buildings. In order to combat the limitations, an intense amount of resources is being used on the research of geological irradiance study, angle of deflection for solar panels as well as route planning.

                             

In summary, the development of technology has made significant improvements to the photovoltaic modules which allow it to be mounted onto buses. This in turn benefitted the environment in terms of the reduction in air pollutants from the use of clean energy and the reduction in operating cost of fuel from the lower fuel consumption.

Reference:

Bai, Y., Zheng Y., & Liu, S. (2019) Study on Charging Performance of Solar Panels Auxiliary Batteries for Hainan Electric Bus. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, Volume 563, Issue 2 https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1757-899X/563/2/022031

Chen, R., Hu, B., Liu, Y., Xu, J.X., Yang, G.S., Xu, D.D., & Chen, C.Y. (2016) Beyond PM2.5: The role of ultrafine particles on adverse health effects of air pollution. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects Volume 1860, Issue 12, Pages 2844-2855 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbagen.2016.03.019

Ifaei, P., Khiabani, H., & Piran, M. J., Yoo, C. (2020) Techno-econo-environmental feasibility of retrofitting urban transportation system with optimal solar panels for climate change mitigation – A case study. Journal of cleaner production volume 251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119639

Kok, Y.F. (2021) Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out a 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels. The Straits Times, 30 March, 2021. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/first-public-buses-with-solar-panels-hit-the-road-in-six-month-trial-by-go-ahead

Oh, M., Kim, S.M., & Park, H.D.(2020) Estimation of photovoltaic potential of solar bus in an urban area. Case study in Gwanak, Seoul, Korea. Renewable Energy Volume 160 pg 1335-1348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.07.048

Quarles, N., Kockelman, K.M., & Mohamed, M. (2020) Costs and Benefits of Electrifying and Automating Bus Transit Fleets. https://www.caee.utexas.edu/prof/kockelman/public_html/TRB18AeBus.pdf

Wang, R.X., Chen, R., Wang, Y.F., Chen, L., Qiao, J.Y., Bai, R., Ge, G.L., & Qin, G.H. (2019) Complex to simple: In vitro exposure of particulate matter simulated at the air-liquid interface discloses the health impacts of major air pollutants. Chemosphere, Volume 223, Pages 263-274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.02.022