THE DIRECTOR OF KMB DISCUSSES DIRTY VEHICLE LEGISLATION AND THE PROSPECT OF ELECTRIC BUSES
“THIS NEW LEGISLATION WON’T AFFECT KMB AT ALL, AS WE USE EURO V ENGINES ON 100 PER CENT OF OUR BUSES. WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN RIGHT ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF TECHNOLOGY. I CAN’T SPEAK FOR THE OTHER TRANSPORT COMPANIES, BUT WE ARE USING THE BEST VEHICLES IN THE WORLD AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THINGS. IF THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO CLEAN UP THE AIR, THEY SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT THEMSELVES; ALL THE OLD SURVEYING AND RUBBISHCOLLECTION VEHICLES THAT BELONG TO THE GOVERNMENT ARE THE ONES PRODUCING THE MOST EMISSIONS.
“WE DEVELOPED A BUS WITH [ELECTRIC VEHICLE COMPANY] BYD, WHICH DIDN’T WORK. WE HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT FOR A YEAR AND WE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH ITS PERFORMANCE. THERE ARE NO DOUBLE-DECKER ELECTRIC BUSES IN THE WHOLE WORLD, AND WE CANNOT USE ANYTHING LESS THAN DOUBLE-DECKERS BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TOO MANY VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. BATTERIES CANNOT SUPPORT SUCH HEAVY VEHICLES. THE TECHNOLOGY DOESN’T EXIST. I THINK A FULLY ROBOTIC BUS WILL COME MUCH EARLIER THAN A FULLY ELECTRIC BUS.”