Ecobus tests for Florence
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• The Ecobus, claimed to I the first Green PSV of its type, has gone into experimental service in Florenc Italy.
Built by Breda in collabora tion with the Italian state authority for alternative energy ENEA, the petroleum group AGIP and bodybuilder Aeroconsul of Rome, the Ecobus constructed of light alloy panels, bolted together to avoid expensive welding.
The vehicle is 10.74 mem long and 2.5 metres wide. It features minimum ground clearance of 150mrn and is flu ted with automatic transmiss and self-correcting pneumatic suspension.
According to its makers, Ecobus "combines the advan tages of the trolley-bus and ; battery-operated vehicle". T most innovative feature is it system of propulsion, based a Fiat Ptifo generator powere by a small diesel engine boosted by 45 batteries. TN generator, set to provide a constant flow of power base( on the average consumption the vehicle during normal no ning, feeds a three-phase elt tric motor. The bank of 45 b teries is brought into play fa steep inclines and rapid acceleration.
The makers claim the Ecc bus has greatly reduced exhaust emission and noise lev and has proved extremely e( nomical in its use of energy.