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Transit Vehicle(Trolley) TechnologyReview
Recommendation:1. That the trolley system be phased out
in 2009 and 2010.2. That the purchase of 47 new hybrid
buses to be received in 2010 beapproved with funding identified in the2009 - 2011 Capital budget process.
3. That the decommissioning of theremaining trolley infrastructure in2010 be approved.
Report Summary
In 2004 City Council directed thatEdmonton Transit continue tooperate its fleet of trolley buses.Council also authorized theAdministration to test new hybrid busand trolley bus technology and toreport back in 2008. This reportsummarizes the results of our testsand includes recommendationsdealing with the existing trolley busfleet.
Previous Council/Committee Action
On July 27, 2004, City Council passedthe following motions:• That Edmonton Transit continue to
operate trolleys until 2008.• That Administration arrange to have
a demonstration of low-floor trolleyand hybrid buses to be utilized withinthe system for information gathering.
• That expansion of the trolley fleet toNorthgate be considered in the 2006budget.
• That a report be provided to Councilin 2008 regarding continuation oftrolleys based on:
1. service levels2. environmental concerns in
light of the demonstrationof low-floor trolley andhybrid buses, and otheroptions.
• That Administration continue to lookat ways to maximize the costbenefit of trolleys.
Report
Current SituationAs per City Council directionAdministration has purchased a total ofsix hybrid buses from two differentmanufacturers, involving three differenttypes of technology. These vehicleswere received in 2006 and 2007 andhave been in service since their arrival.A new trolley bus was leased fromCoast Mountain Bus Company inVancouver (Trans-Link) and has been inservice in Edmonton since the summerof 2007.
Vehicle Technology ReviewedIn undertaking this assessmentAdministration focused upon three typesof transit vehicle technology; trolley,clean diesel and hybrid.
Trolley buses use an electric propulsionsystem with the electric power beingcarried to the vehicles through theoverhead trolley line infrastructure. InAlberta most of the power that is utilizedis generated at one of the coal firedgenerating plants located throughout theprovince. Including Edmonton, thereare seven transit systems in NorthAmerica that currently operate trolleybus systems. Vancouver has received228 new trolley buses since 2006, and
ROUTING - Transportation and Public Works Committee/City Council I DELEGATION - R. BoutilierWRITTEN BY - C. Stolte / J. Sirovyak I May 7, 2008 - Transportation Department 2008TD1482Page 1 of 5
Transit Vehicle Technology Review
plan to order 34 additional trolley busesin 2008.
Clean diesel is the most recent versionof diesel engine technology. It is thestandard type of technology that is usedin the Edmonton Transit fleet, as well astransit fleets across North America.These engines comply with 2007Transport Canada and the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Act standardsfor diesel emissions. Contributing tolower emissions is the use of ultra-lowsulphur fuel, and post-combustionconverter technology to capture some ofthe emissions before they leave thetailpipe.
Hybrid buses combine electric anddiesel technology. The vehicle carriesits own set of batteries which providepower to an electric motor for some ofthe propulsion needs, while the dieselresponds to the rest. While thistechnology is relatively new for thepublic industry, a large number ofsystems across North America areordering these types of vehicles as partof their own environmental initiatives.According to the American PublicTransit Association, over 4,000 of thesebuses have been delivered or are onorder for 2008. Translink (Vancouver)have an order in for 141 hybrids andToronto Transit Commission hasordered 400 hybrids.
Project ProcessConsultant specialists were hired toundertake the assessment of thetechnologies.
The issue was assessed from a microvehicle level as well as a macro systemperspective. Dr. David Checkel, of theUniversity of Alberta, who is a
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recognized authority in the field ofvehicle fuel and emission technologies,was hired to conduct the micro vehicletechnical evaluation of the options,assess the results of the emissions teststhat were carried out independently byEnvironment Canada and undertakenoise testing.
The macro fleet wide analysis wasconducted by Booz Allen HamiltonConsultants. Their approach to theanalysis was to review data from othertransit systems and various publishedtechnical references.
Booz Allen Hamilton is one of theworld's largest technology andmanagement consulting firms. They arespecialists in urban mass transportationwith expertise in bus technology.
The macro analysis included an updateof the original report from 2004 to reflectthe current Edmonton Transit fleet.
Environment Canada was hired to testthe three types of vehicles to determinethe differences in emission generated inthe Edmonton environment.
A comprehensive process wasimplemented to obtain input from anumber of public perspectives. Thiswork is summarized in the section on'Public Consultation'.
Assessment Results - TransitService LevelsIn terms of transit service there wouldbe no impact on what is provided tocustomers. The service provided by alarge bus is not impacted by the type ofpropulsion technology that is utilized bythe vehicle.
Transit Vehicle Technology Review
However, with trolley buses eliminated,the use of hybrids or clean diesels willprovide more opportunity to introduceservice efficiencies through changes toroute designs since the restriction of theoverhead infrastructure will be gone.
bus is approximately double those of theother two technologies.
Assessment Results - Capital CostsThe estimated capital cost to purchaseeach vehicle type in 2010 is:
In purchasing 47 buses, hybrid buspurchases would be $14.1 million lessthan trolley.
As well hybrids would likely be assignedto those routes for which they are bestsuited (i.e. congested routes with a lot ofstop and go traffic).
Assessment Results Operating Costs
Clean DieselHybridTrolley Bus
$425,000$650,000$950,000
The assessment of the new hybridbuses indicated that their vehiclemaintenance costs are similar to thoseof the clean diesels that EdmontonTransit is operating. The current vehiclemaintenance costs of the trolley fleet arenot useful for any comparison as thesevehicles are almost 30 years old and atthe end of their life cycle. Vehiclemaintenance costs on the new trolleybus were marginally higher over theshort period in service in Edmonton. Itis assumed that maintenance costs aresimilar for all three types of buses.
Energy costs of the trolley bus areapproximately 50% less than the dieselbus. The hybrid used 15% to 20% lessfuel than the diesel bus.
Annual overhead system maintenanceis $2.2 million to provide for routineinspections and repairs.
While the energy costs for a trolley busitself are substantially below those ofeither the clean diesel or the hybrid,when you add the costs of annuallymaintaining the overhead system andsubstations, the cost of running a trolley
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The estimated capital cost to upgradethe overhead system and substationsfor the life of an 18 year trolley bus is$66.3 million.
Replacing trolley buses with hybridbuses would avoid costs of$99.7 million.
(Attachments 1 and 2 Lifecycle CostComparison Details).
Assessment Results - Emissions
The analysis of emissions wasundertaken from two differentperspectives:
• Micro - each of the three vehicleswere tested locally. Estimateswere added to thosemeasurements to representemissions generated by theextraction of the base fuel andthe manufacture of the fuel.
• Macro - fleet wide estimateswere generated through 2027utilizing industry numbers for thedifferent vehicles underconsideration. Emission
Transit Vehicle Technology Review
estimates for electric powergeneration were provided byEPCOR.
• Booz Allan Hamilton used theGreenhouse Gases RegulatedEmissions and Energy use inTransportation (GREET) model tocalculate well to wheel emissions.
The findings from the field testing doneby Environment Canada and used byDr. Checkel are comparable to theresults presented by Booz AllanHamilton.
The trolley bus itself does not have anyemissions. From a route perspectivethese vehicles are emission free.However, from a regional perspectivethe fuel (coal burning) ultimately resultsin emission levels that, with theexception of PM1 0, are higher thanhybrids or clean diesels. And if theemissions (well to wheel) associatedwith getting the feedstock out of theground and to the refinery or generatingplant are included, total emissionsassociated with use of trolley buses ishigher in all categories.
The hybrid bus offers the best overallemission reduction opportunity(Attachment 3).
Assessment Results - Noise
All the buses tested fall within the safelimits for exposure. The 2006 dieselbuses were at the highest levels. Thetrolley bus had the lowest noise levelsalthough only marginally less than thehybrid bus.
Policy Environmental
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Edmonton Transit System is governedby the City's Environmental Policy(C512). Edmonton Transit is workingtowards being ENVISO ISO 14001certified by year end. The aspect ofthese include prevention of pollution,continual improvement in emissionsreductions, and meeting or exceedingregulatory and voluntary emissionsregulations.
The City is a member of the Federationof Canadian Municipalities (FCM)Partners for Climate Protection (PCP)program. PCP methodology requiresthat greenhouse gases produced in thegeneration of electrical power for Cityuse be included in the City'sgreenhouse gas emissions inventory.
Focus Area
The report recommendations meet CityCouncil's 2007 Strategic Direction in thefocus areas of:
• Healthy Ecosystem and,• Balanced Infrastructure
Public Consultation
A multi-faceted consultation programwas developed to obtain input from thegeneral public, transit riders, specificstakeholder groups, Edmonton TransitSystem Advisory Board, and transitoperating staff. Input was obtainedfrom:• general public via City-wide
telephone survey• transit riders through surveys at
transit centres• internal survey of transit
maintenance staff and operators• one day stakeholder workshop
In addition, all technical reports wereshared with stakeholder groups and theEdmonton Transit System Advisory
Transit Vehicle Technology Review
Board. In addition, a workshop wasscheduled with representatives of thesegroups and the consultants whoprepared the reports to facilitate adiscussion of assumptions, backgroundinformation, methodologies andconclusions.
The results indicated 62% of the generalpublic and users suggest purchasinghybrid buses. ETS operators (66%)prefer diesel buses with hybrid secondat 28% and the trolley at 2%.
Key stakeholder groups were generallycautious about eliminating trolleys, butforesaw hybrids as an option for thefuture.
BudgetlFinanciallmplications
Capital2010 and 2011 One Time Requirements• $30.6 million in 2010 to purchase
47 hybrid buses.• $11.0 million in 2010 - 2011 to
take down remaining trolleyinfrastructure.
• The funding source of the$41.6 million will be identified inthe 2009 - 2011 Capitalbudgeting process.
2012 and Beyond Savings Opportunity• Elimination of difference of
$44.5 million (unfunded) fortrolley infrastructurerehabilitation.
Operating2010• Savings of $1.0 million in
overhead maintenance.
2011 and Beyond (annual)
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• Savings of $2.2 million inoverhead maintenance.
• Savings of $0.4 million in vehiclemaintenance.
Justification of Recommendation1. The current trolley system is
outdated and expensive tomaintain and operate.
2. Hybrid buses best meet all of theCity's criteria; functionally,operationally, financially andenvironmentally to replace theexisting trolley system. Repl1acingtrolley buses with hybrid busesavoids costs of $99.7 million.
3. The trolley infrastructure must beremoved in order to realizeidentified savings and maintainsafety.
Attachments1. Lifecycle Cost Comparison Details
(chart).2. Lifecycle Cost Comparison Details
(graph).3. GHG Emissions (graph).
Others Approving This Report
• J. Tustian, Deputy City Manager• H. Crone - Acting General Manager,
Corporate Services
Attachment 1
Lifecycle Cost Comparison
TROLLEY Costs 2009 2010 2011 2012-2027 Total CostVehicle Capital 44.7 0.0 0.0 44.7O/H-System Inspection 2.2 2.2 2.2 35.2 41.8O/H-Upgrades 8.7 5.9 4.0 47.7 66.3Fuel 0.44 0.44 7.0 7.9Vehicle Maintenance 1.2 1.2 1.2 19.2 22.8·Traffic Poles 10.8
172.7
Costs 2009 2010 2011 2012-2027 Total CostVehicle Capital 30.6 0.0 0.0 30.6O/H-System Inspection 2.2 1.2 1.0 0.0 4.4··O/H-Decommission 0.6 5.0 6.0 11.6Fuel 0.6 0.6 9.6 10.8Vehicle Maintenance 1.2 0.8 0.8 12.8 15.6
H brid Total 73.0DIESEL Costs 2009 2010 2011 2012-2027 Total Cost
Vehicle Capital 20.0 0.0 0.0 20.0O/H-System Inspection 2.2 1.2 1.0 0.0 4.4··O/H-Decommission 0.6 5.0 6.0 11.6Fuel 0.7 0.7 11.2 12.6Vehicle Maintenance 1.2 0.8 0.8 12.8 15.6
Diesel Total 64.2
Attachment 2
Lifecycle Cost Comparison(Based on 47 Vehicles)
200 -t "7~ "7- I , '-. ,
::::E 180~ 160:::- 140U) 1200
73o 100 64.2.! 80CJ 60>- '7CJ 40J! 20:J
0~
Trolley Hybrid Diesel
Vehicle Type
Attachment 3
GHG Emissions
C02 (kg/km)
2.5
2.01.97 1.93
1.731.58
1.5
1.0
0.5
0.0Cln Diesel Hybrid 1 Hybrid 2 New Trolley
