Funchal city bus company, Horários do Funchal, presented a pilot solar panelled bus pilot project last week, which if successful, will save fuel and extend the vehicles battery life.
The investment for each bus is around €25,000, which the company believe will pay for itself within three to four years. The solar panels have a 25-year life expectancy and can easily be transferred between buses as the fleet is renewed. The pilot project will last six months and providing it generates the expected savings; the pilot scheme will be rolled out to the existing fleet, while new buses will have the new energy-saving equipment already installed.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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