Are trams more efficient than buses?

Are trams more efficient than buses?

Trams are simply so civilised. They run smoothly and predictably along steel rails, with three times the energy-efficiency of buses and without the lurching, swerving and vibration of vehicles that require a series of controlled explosions for movement.

Are trams cheaper to run than buses?

As per above the cost per passenger mile of a tram is around half that of a bus. The comparison is valid because Buchanan used contemporaneous bus and tram costs, and these have both inflated at more or less the same rates.

Are trams energy efficient?

Once installed trams are one of the lowest energy and most sustainable mass transit systems a city can operate. Much lighter than trains, without the need for often cost prohibitive and energy-intensive underground tunnels that a metro system requires.

Do trams reduce traffic?

Trams reduce congestion in city centres by providing people with a quick, reliable, high-quality alternative to the car. They can reduce road traffic by up to 14\%. Trams make cities nicer places to be. They improve local air quality because they run on electricity so don’t produce any pollution at the point of use.

Do trams run on electricity?

Today, most trams use electrical power, usually fed by a pantograph sliding on an overhead line; older systems may use a trolley pole or a bow collector. Some trams, known as tram-trains, may have segments that run on mainline railway tracks, similar to interurban systems.

What is the difference between a bus and a tram?

Trams weigh significantly more than buses. Per passenger, they need more energy to get moving from a standstill.

How efficient is an electric bus?

On average for, the life of a battery the charge and discharge cycles are estimated to be approximately 80\% efficient. That means using a battery adds in losses of 20\% to our equation. 80\% x 90\% gives a drive efficiency of 72\% for an electric bus. A tram is effectively plugged into the mains and avoids these storage losses.

How many people can a tram carry?

In reality, a three-car tram can carry as many as 140 passengers, standing and seating, compared with the new electric London buses, which propose to have a capacity of 90. The main characteristics affecting energy consumption are rolling resistance, drive efficiency, drag coefficient and frontal area and weight.

Are trams the most sustainable form of mass transit?

Once installed trams are one of the lowest energy and most sustainable mass transit systems a city can operate. Much lighter than trains, without the need for often cost prohibitive and energy-intensive underground tunnels that a metro system requires.