Bus cab air con

[mb88]

Given this recent spell of hot weather, it got me wondering which, if any, operators outside of London specify cab air conditioning in their buses? Seems like not many in my experience.

Temperatures of 30 degrees and over are becoming a common feature of British summers nowadays and bus drivers like all workers should have protection from their employers against the effects of such heat.

As a side note, what is the actual impact on fuel economy of having cab air con? Is it really that massive that operators can’t afford to absorb it?

 

[Bikeman78]

Given this recent spell of hot weather, it got me wondering which, if any, operators outside of London specify cab air conditioning in their buses? Seems like not many in my experience.

Temperatures of 30 degrees and over are becoming a common feature of British summers nowadays and bus drivers like all workers should have protection from their employers against the effects of such heat.

As a side note, what is the actual impact on fuel economy of having cab air con? Is it really that massive that operators can’t afford to absorb it?

The Yutong electric buses have air con throughout. Works pretty well in my experience.

 

[MCR247]

Nottingham City Transport have specced cab aircon on all their single deck buses since their 07 reg Optare Solo SRs.

 

[mb88]

Nottingham City Transport have specced cab aircon on all their single deck buses since their 07 reg Optare Solo SRs.

Interesting it’s only the single decks, what’s the reason for that?

 

[SSmith2009]

The Yutong electric buses have air con throughout. Works pretty well in my experience.

the air con on them is great until someone decides to open a window and they have to be told by the driver to shut it.

 

[pjnathanail]

At Central Connect we specify cab air conditioning on all new single and double deck buses we order. Our Cityline fleet comes with both saloon and driver air conditioning as standard; the saloon air con is fitted as part of the conversion and the driver air con is in the dashboard of the Sprinter van chassis.

 

[YX73OUB]

Nottingham City Transport have specced cab aircon on all their single deck buses since their 07 reg Optare Solo SRs.

The SRs were 61 plates

I'm sure a lot of their deckers had air Co in the cabs too but happy to be corrected

No air con in any cabs of trentbarton vehicles other than the B7RLEs which is broken most of the time

Oh and the coaches of course

But the air con in the cab of the departed citaros was absolutely amazing!

 

[Bornin1980s]

The Yutong electric buses have air con throughout. Works pretty well in my experience.

How is air-con easier and more common on electrics? I would have thought it would seriously impact on the range.

 

[mayneway]

TFGM have specified cab air con in all the new BZL electrics. If the cab window is closed it’s like a fridge for the driver.

 

[callum3490]

The SRs were 61 plates

I'm sure a lot of their deckers had air Co in the cabs too but happy to be corrected

No air con in any cabs of trentbarton vehicles other than the B7RLEs which is broken most of the time

Oh and the coaches of course

But the air con in the cab of the departed citaros was absolutely amazing!

Can’t imagine cab aircon on TBs buses would be very effective considering they’re pretty open - In comparison to NCTs whose assault screens pretty much segregate the cab

 

[mb88]

At Central Connect we specify cab air conditioning on all new single and double deck buses we order. Our Cityline fleet comes with both saloon and driver air conditioning as standard; the saloon air con is fitted as part of the conversion and the driver air con is in the dashboard of the Sprinter van chassis.

Sounds like a company that looks after its drivers. Great to hear.

 

[MCR247]

Interesting it’s only the single decks, what’s the reason for that?

The SRs were 61 plates

I'm sure a lot of their deckers had air Co in the cabs too but happy to be corrected

No air con in any cabs of trentbarton vehicles other than the B7RLEs which is broken most of the time

Oh and the coaches of course

But the air con in the cab of the departed citaros was absolutely amazing!

They may have it in the double deckers to be fair, I only know about the single deckers as you could see the little module above the cab from the outside. I think the omnidekkas have a little fan

 

[py_megapixel]

TFGM have specified cab air con in all the new BZL electrics. If the cab window is closed it’s like a fridge for the driver.

The TfGM BZLs are fully air conditioned including the passenger saloon as well. The passenger air con isn't super effective especially with windows left open, but it does still manage to noticeably lower temperatures which is very welcome.

 

[mayneway]

The TfGM BZLs are fully air conditioned including the passenger saloon as well. The passenger air con isn't super effective especially with windows left open, but it does still manage to noticeably lower temperatures which is very welcome.

I hadn’t noticed the saloon tbh.

 

[Dwarfer1979]

How is air-con easier and more common on electrics? I would have thought it would seriously impact on the range.

More common due to the issues around heating. Without an engine you don't have the normal method of providing heating (excess heat being fed from the engine) at which point the climate control that an aircon unit provides is about as effective and fuel efficient as any other method. Historically operators have been a little sceptical around general aircon due to the loss of effectiveness caused by the frequent opening of the doors (let alone passengers automatically opening windows on boarding). Cab aircon is a slightly different calculation due to the smaller area covered and that the person benefitting is in greater control.

 

[N1]

How is air-con easier and more common on electrics? I would have thought it would seriously impact on the range.

In addition to responses above, electric buses typical need a battery thermal management system, which is usually a glycol-water loop heat pump system. This provides the cooling for battery and heating for the saloon. Can then be oversized to provide cooling to saloon as well. Capacity when cooling the saloon usually isn't enough to keep it at say 21C, but still reduces temperature a fair bit.

 

[mayneway]

More common due to the issues around heating. Without an engine you don't have the normal method of providing heating (excess heat being fed from the engine) at which point the climate control that an aircon unit provides is about as effective and fuel efficient as any other method. Historically operators have been a little sceptical around general aircon due to the loss of effectiveness caused by the frequent opening of the doors (let alone passengers automatically opening windows on boarding). Cab aircon is a slightly different calculation due to the smaller area covered and that the person benefitting is in greater control.

We had cab air con on some of the B7’s and E200’s at Go North west before they lost queens road and it always worked a treat, only difference being it worked from a pod on the roof through a vent into the drivers cab and was controlled by a rocker switch - modern electrics have the Air con built into the heating system so it comes through the normal vents.

 

[py_megapixel]

I hadn’t noticed the saloon tbh.

To be fair you might well not if you spend most of your time driving them. It's not all that powerful in the saloon and can't get the temperature down very far below ambient. But there is a marked difference between stepping into a BZL and, for example, one of the old E400s, which are greenhouses on wheels (with the addition of a giant diesel engine kicking out heat at the back).

 

[GusB]

Unite has issued drivers with a letter that drivers can show management when conditions get too hot.

Drivers should stop work during hot weather, says union - Bus & Coach Buyer

Trade union Unite has issued bus driver members with a letter to show management when conditions become too hot in drivers’ cabs. The letter informs managers that the driver is stopping work due to safety reasons. The union says it has taken this action ‘as the UK has already experienced three...

www.busandcoachbuyer.com

Trade union Unite has issued bus driver members with a letter to show management when conditions become too hot in drivers’ cabs.

The letter informs managers that the driver is stopping work due to safety reasons.

The union says it has taken this action ‘as the UK has already experienced three heatwaves this year’. The letter informs management that the driver has ceased work or will not work under section 44 of the Employment Rights Act 1996. The section allows workers to stop work to remove themselves from a position of ‘serious and imminent danger’. Unite says drivers have regularly warned employers that the boiling conditions mean that drivers become, fatigued, drowsy and more likely to make driving errors putting them, their passengers and other road users at risk.

According to Unite, overheating bus cabs have become an increasing problem for bus drivers as the UK’s weather becomes more extreme. The union says many cabs are not air conditioned or have cooling systems that do not work. It says drivers have reported temperatures exceeding 40 degrees centigrade in some cabs.

Bus companies have been reluctant to take action on driver’s complaints of being too hot, according to Unite.

Unite general secretary, Sharon Graham, said: “Bus companies must stop passing the buck and take immediate action to ensure the safety of their drivers and passengers in extreme heat.

“For too long employers have played fast and loose with driver safety, putting profits before people.”

Temperatures over 40°C would be utterly unbearable and I'd support any driver who refused to continue their shift.