Sanyo Launches World’s First Solar Bus

Public transport is definitely more eco-friendly than a private car or taxi because more people travel by it. But a bus which even partly solar powered is certainly more eco-friendly than anything else. Let’s not forget that using any mode of road travel transport reduces carbon dioxide emissions and pollution.

Sanyo, the Japanese giant, has announced the Solarve, which will hit the streets of Okayama on September 1, 2010. It is not exactly a solar powered bus, but it is eco-friendly all the same. It is a diesel-electric hybrid vehicle. The bus has solar cells on the roof and these will harness the sun’s energy to power the LED lights inside the bus.

The solar energy will be stored in batteries and will provide light for nine hours. So during the day, it will gather the power and in the evening the bus will be able to use the lights. Essentially this means that less of diesel-electricity will be used as otherwise the lights come on via the fuel uses by the engine.

Additionally, Eneloop air purifiers are used inside the bus to filter out viruses, bacteria and general filth from the inside air, making it cleaner. Every little bit helps to save the environment.

Category: Auto