An electric-grid bus system is highly successful in Seattle. They reviewed the "trolleybus" system in 2011 and it continues to operate.<p><a href="http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/projects/trolleyevaluation.html" rel="nofollow">http://metro.kingcounty.gov/up/projects/trolleyevaluation.ht...</a>
You know I thought you where supposed to write about one thing at a time.<p>This article is about two separate and almost totally unconnected things.<p>1 using hybrid vehicles as load balancers for grid (highly inefficient BTW)
2 replacing diesel busses with electric vehicles.<p>BTW a grid connected bus is called a trolleybus.
This reminds me of he guy who hacked to prius to run on the Muni lines in SF --<p><a href="http://www.thebolditalic.com/articles/4717-hacked-prius-running-on-muni-power-lines" rel="nofollow">http://www.thebolditalic.com/articles/4717-hacked-prius-runn...</a>
Funny that a guy named Firestone is hyping it, considering what happened the last time grid-connected electric vehicles became popular: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_consp...</a>
Considering what school systems pay in fuel bills I am surprised there isn't more effort made at state if not national levels in the US to come up with an affordable if not subsidized by the Fed electric school bus.<p>It would eliminate the hazards of diesel/gasoline fumes for students; it has been measured that inside the parked bus actually can be worse than outside so many districts forbid parked buses from idling. Throw in the sheer amount of fuel used and they should recoup their costs. However I expect some to go the natural gas route as its known and cheaper.
Seems like hydraulic hybrids would be a good fit, too.<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_hybrid" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_hybrid</a><p>I think existing buses can be retrofitted for a modest price.
Another concept for V2G possibilities, perhaps with more predictability and utility than personal vehicle V2G.<p>No info on battery longevity, and the economic analysis assunes a 14-year vehicle lifespan.
Here in the UK, most cities have at least some form of much-marketed hybrid bus. I'm not sure how much they save, but obviously there's an incentive to at least try it out.