The article "Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels" by Kok(2021) discusses the use of solar panels on the roof of public buses will help companies to save money on fuel, as well as save the environment. Singapore bus company Go-Ahead has rolled out this experiment where ultra-thin solar panels are installed on two buses. The aim of this experiment is to generate solar energy to power the buses’ battery instead of using fuel to charge it up. “The 20kg, 1.6mm thick, flexible and shatterproof solar panels” are designed to endure harsh environments such as “high temperatures and daily washing of buses”. "Typically, solar panels are big and very heavy. So if you install them on top of the bus, (there will be concerns). The ones that we use are ultra-thin and very lightweight. So, we have no issues in this aspect." According to a similar experiment conducted in Southampton in the United Kingdom, each bus will be able to save up to 1400 liters of diesel, however, due to Singapore’s sunny and tropical climate, the experimental results are expected to do even better. Moreover, it can help save costs by reducing the number of times needed to change its parts such as batteries and alternators. With more awareness of the effect of climate change, we tend to lean toward having greener and renewable sources of energy to replace the old fossil fuel.
I strongly believe that solar panels' benefits outweigh their negative impact. Solar panels on buses will help to alleviate climate change by turning sunlight into electricity which charges the bus’s battery without the need to burn fuel.
As such, the first benefit of using green energy such as solar panels on buses includes reducing diesel consumption and carbon emission. According to Deakin (2020), " Couple that to Trailer's smart charge controller and utilization of the alternator can be reduced. That remove load from the engine and improve fuel consumption." tells us that there are many benefits of installing solar panels on buses like reducing the load of the alternator as well as saving money for bus companies by using lesser fuel. Solar power is a form of green energy where sunlight radiance will be absorbed and converted to electrical energy, which is then used to charge batteries or power appliances. Meanwhile, alternators produce electricity to charge the battery from the burning of fuel which releases more than just CO2 into the air. By having solar panels on buses, it can directly charge up the bus battery without the need for an alternator that draws power from the engine by burning fuel. “Solar panels expect to reduce annual fuel use by 1500 liters “
The second benefit of solar panels on buses is that they will improve the lifespan of the battery on board buses and lesser road service and maintenance. Citing to a blog states that “smart battery-charging technology and an optimal state-of-charge on the battery” can prolong the battery lifespan as a low depth of discharge is better than a high depth of discharge. With reference from the blog on factors that influence battery degradation, it states that “a low DOD is better than a higher one”. With the solar panels constantly providing power to the batteries, in turn, this can cause the charging cycle height to be maintained at a low level which results in a longer better life span. As a result of this constant charging of the battery, it reduces the strain on the alternator as much of the power comes from the solar panels, it also prolongs the alternator’s lifespan with results in the reduction of the number of maintenances and services.
Last but not least, the third benefit of solar panels on buses is the reduction of fuel consumption. About "1400litres of fuel can be saved from each bus per year" after the installation of solar panels on buses as it reduces the need for the engine to burn fuel to run the alternator to charge the battery. Power generated by the solar panels is directly used to charge the battery, if not it will have to rely on the vehicle’s alternator. ”This will reduce the load on the bus engine” Concerning an experiment conducted in Southampton in the United Kingdom where 18 buses are fitted with these solar panels where roughly “3 to 4 percent of fuel” can be saved yearly, Kok(2021) stated that buses in Singapore are expected to have better results of the experiment due to the tropical climate throughout the year. ”The panels are expected to help Go-Ahead Singapore save 1400 liters of diesel per bus per year”. Since the battery will be directly charged by power generated by the solar panels, “this will, in turn, reduce the load on the bus engine.”
However, there are downsides to this idea of installing solar panels on buses and it is that it takes a couple of years to recoup the installation and conversion fees as well as higher maintenance costs. Solar panels are expensive, furthermore, converting buses to allow solar power to charge up the battery would cost even more. According to a forum discussion, installing solar panels on a minibus would cost more than $4000, excluding the conversion fee. With a massive fleet of buses, companies would think twice before executing the change. Maintaining the solar panels on buses will be an expensive expense for the bus companies. Also, solar panels on buses are not the most efficient way. Many countries are building more tunnels and underground road networks which defeat the purpose of installing solar panels on buses. Moreover, several countries do not receive sunlight for a certain period throughout the year. According to Amber (2014), places such as Alaska and the North-eastern part of the United States might even spend several weeks in total darkness, therefore installing solar panels on buses in these places will not be the best solution to save fuel consumption and reduce carbon emission.
Given this reader response and research, this summary has shown facts about solar panels' benefits outweigh their negative impact with environmental and money being the top of the benefit. Therefore, installing solar panels on buses will not only bring benefits to the company but also, in the long run, to everyone on this planet.
References:
Amber. (2014, January 2) The Pros and Cons of Tindo the Solar-Powered Bus. HubPages
https://discover.hubpages.com/technology/The-Pros-and-Cons-of-Tindo-the-Solar-Powered-Bus
Deakin. T (2020, December 11) Solar panels for coach and bus: what are the benefits? Route One. https://www.route-one.net/environment/solar-panels-for-coach-and-bus-what-are-the-benefits/
Kok Yufeng (2021, March 30) Go-Ahead Singapore rolls out 6 months trial of public buses with solar panels. The Straits Times
Vella. S (2021, August 9) Solar Panels To Be Installed On Top Of Malta Public Transport Buses. Lovin Malta
https://lovinmalta.com/news/solar-panels-to-be-installed-on-top-of-malta-public-transport-buses/
Viriciti. (2019, December 11) Top 4 Factors That Influence Battery Degradation In Electric Buses and How to Avoid Them.
Thanks for this, Victor.
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