PREVIEW I

Limerick City to host Bus Euro Test for the International Bus of the Year Award 2023

The International Bus & Coach of the Year Jury has selected its Irish representative, Fleet Bus & Coach magazine, to host the Bus Euro Test in May of this year to appraise the contenders for the International Bus of the Year for 2023. Although the full line up of buses has not yet been confirmed, up to five finalists from the main global manufacturers are expected to compete for the most prestigious award in the worldwide bus industry.

The Castletroy Park Hotel, one of Limerick’s finest 4-star hotels, will be the base for the pan-European jury, consisting of an expert panel of editors and experienced journalists from bus and coach tourism magazines.

While the Bus Euro Test will once again attract and feature all the leading and emerging manufacturers in the urban commuter vehicle segment, what’s unique about the 2022 event is that all of the passenger transport models on trial in the competition will be electric powered. Even though Ireland has been relatively slow in introducing electric buses to the commuter fleet in general, it is increasingly recognised that electric power is the solution for urban public transport. Residents and visitors to Limerick in early May will be able to see these electric, emission-free public transport vehicles being trialled and tested in a real-life environment for almost a week. Each shortlisted vehicle will be fully scrutinised from a number of factors such as economy, range distance, safety, comfort and ease of driving.

Launching the Bus Euro Test 2022 earlier this year, the Mayor of Limerick City and County Daniel Butler said: “On behalf of Limerick City & County, I am delighted to officially launch the Bus Euro Test event which will be held here next May. Electric Buses are now coming on line in a number of areas of the country, thanks to the National Transport Authority working with bus operators to become emission-free. The selection of electric vehicles on trial are particularly suitable for city routes, and as the amount of renewable energy on the grid increases, CO2 per km decreases further, through their operation. When these electric buses are charging at

night, this is when other electric demand is low, so there is a levelling effect, which

Pictured (l-r) Sean Murtagh, Fleet Bus & Coach magazine; Mayor Daniel Butler and Jarlath Sweeney, Fleet Bus & Coach magazine.

Hosted by

2023 www.fleetbusandcoach.ie

eURo test

is good for allowing more renewable energy onto the grid. In fact when you look at the Hydro Generation Station not far away, it is a good example of the potential for generating clean energy.”

Mayor Butler extended his best wishes to the organisers, Fleet Bus & Coach magazine and said he looked forward to extending a Céad Míle Fáilte to the 22 members of the International Bus Award jury, many of whose publications cover coach tours and tourism in general.

GOING ELECTRIC

With all the debate about the need to protect and decarbonise the environment, using electric buses and delivery trucks in the cities has come to the forefront of the passenger and goods transport agenda. While it will take some time until there are significant numbers of electric buses in the national fleet, the number of electric buses operating in the cities and airports around Europe is increasing. As the technology improves, particularly in the area of battery size and capacity, the cost is coming down. Some manufacturers claim that the TCO (total cost of ownership) of electric buses is now almost on a par with diesel equivalents. However, there is a considerable amount of work to be done to create and install the infrastructure needed to operate electric buses. ARDNACRUSHA HYDRO ELECTRIC STATION One of the selling points of why Limerick was chosen as the location for the Euro Bus Test is its close proximity to the Ardnacrusha Hydro Electric Station. One of the biggest projects ever undertaken by any Irish Government, the construction of a Hydro-Electric

Power Station at Ardnacrusha, along the river Shannon took place in the early 1920s. It took over four years to complete and opened in 1929. Although situated just north of Limerick city, the facility is in County Clare. At the time it cost €5 million to construct, which was one fifth of the country’s national budget. During the construction phase the project was Mayor of Limerick City and County Daniel Butler referred to as “The Shannon Scheme”. Up to the time of World War II it provided most of the electric power required for the country, but now provides less than Mayor of Limerick City and County Daniel Butler is pictured with students from Limerick Educate Together Secondary School together with Sean Murtagh and Jarlath Sweeney, Fleet Bus & Coach magazine. five percent. Fifty five people continued to be employed at a facility that was recently described as a “powerful symbol of bold thinking”, where water from the Shannon river, a natural resource, was “borrowed” and diverted through a series of canals to create clean electricity and returned to the city of Limerick. Clean and unharmed, the water then makes

Pictured (l-r) Sean Murtagh, Fleet Bus & Coach magazine; its way to the Atlantic Ocean. When

Kieran O’Donnell, T.D. Chairman of Joint Committee on you think about it, Ireland now needs Transport and Communications; Mayor Daniel Butler; Jarlath a similar bold step to decarbonise its Sweeney, Fleet Bus & Coach magazine and Elena Secas, Labour national transport fleet. Cllr with Limerick City and County Council. Text: Sean Murtagh – sean@fleet.ie