I’m lucky I’ve discovered this channel. Some great videos you have, as you’ve probably noticed by my comments, I’ve been enjoying these videos. This must be the cleanest CDC Melbourne bus I’ve seen in my life. As others have said the things on the roof are air purifiers and are only on the smartbus (900) optimus fleet and the hybrids. The carpeted roofing, flip-dot destination screens, seat patterns and alike are just a carry on from what Kefford’s used to order, and for some reason these specifications remain unchanged. I personally see the carpeted ducting as a nice touch, creating a comfy feeling, even if it is a little tacky in some cases. These hybrids are certainly a decent ride, but I doubt many more will be seen around Melbourne as not only Kinetic, but CDC now are both recieving fully electric buses.
Cheers, glad you've been enjoying it! Considering hybrid buses were kind of a 'skipped' stage in many clean energy transitions, it's good to check one out. It was probably one of the cleanest Buses I caught in Melbourne in general during my 5-6 days there. We do now have some excellent electric options coming onto the market, so it makes sense for fleets (particularly in urban areas) to go for full EV solutions. Excited to see what the future holds!
@@TalkingPlanning Not sure if you visited the Sydney Bus Show or not, but CDC Melbourne’s first new electric optimus was there. Basically a CDC Melbourne spec bus but an electric one. Will run 601 and 630 routes when it is pressed into service!
Interesting... never seen any other operator using them onboard a bus. Makes a lot of sense as opening windows and outside air ventilation are not a common sight on PT vehicles anymore.
it doesn't feel like a cdc bus. to me, the only thing cdc about it is the seat fabric. it feels like an odd hybrid between multiple different style, like the seats remind me of the seats national express used to use on their custom orders for hillsbus/westbus especially from the early 2000s
The Hybrid Optimus is really quite something new from the Electric optimuses that transdev in Victoria & nsw that have got. looks pretty much another good new latest option that suites this operator best.& I feel that it would work well when we see this in other states if they decide to want this aswell.but only this has become only available in Victoria at the moment. & that I do want to see this type of new hybrid bus model to be in nsw one day.
Given the full Zero emissions push, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are likely to have overtaken the role of hybrid buses for many use cases. Hopefully hybrid buses start to gain some extra popularity in regional operations where there is a need to bridge the gap between conventional diesel and full electric power.
Nice review! The B5LH is one of Volvo's less known products I guess you can say, and it really hasn't become popular in Australia. It seems to be more popular in the European market, such as London's Wright and MCV bodied B5LHs, which are quite known there. I never knew that CDC Melbourne actually had any hybrids at all, I always thought that they had an all diesel fleet, as I'm not too experienced with them. It seems that most operators in Australia tend to use electric buses if they want a cleaner option, however I think that hybrids should become a bit of thing in Australia now amongst operators, however it might be a bit too late now like you said at the start of the video, as electrics are become a theme with Australian operators. I personally prefer hybrids over electrics, they just seem like a better option and gives the diesel theme to bus, which I like, while still being environmentally friendly.
Cheers, glad you enjoyed. Definitely think the hybrid option is a great compromise for regional operations, where full EV Buses may struggle with some of the longer distances.
In you let’s talk about Melbourne video you said you are going to check some trains, i would definitely recommend the HCMT trains, they are the newest and are very comfortable however the old comeng trains are also getting some refurbishments which are pretty cool.
CDC Melb have just kept the design spec of the Kefford Group which had a preference for the original Volgren interior/air con layout from late 90s. Dark interiors with carpet roofs on straight edged small air con ducks seen in most Volgren buses in the late 90s early 00s. Looks awful today.
I’m lucky I’ve discovered this channel. Some great videos you have, as you’ve probably noticed by my comments, I’ve been enjoying these videos.
This must be the cleanest CDC Melbourne bus I’ve seen in my life. As others have said the things on the roof are air purifiers and are only on the smartbus (900) optimus fleet and the hybrids.
The carpeted roofing, flip-dot destination screens, seat patterns and alike are just a carry on from what Kefford’s used to order, and for some reason these specifications remain unchanged.
I personally see the carpeted ducting as a nice touch, creating a comfy feeling, even if it is a little tacky in some cases.
These hybrids are certainly a decent ride, but I doubt many more will be seen around Melbourne as not only Kinetic, but CDC now are both recieving fully electric buses.
Cheers, glad you've been enjoying it!
Considering hybrid buses were kind of a 'skipped' stage in many clean energy transitions, it's good to check one out. It was probably one of the cleanest Buses I caught in Melbourne in general during my 5-6 days there.
We do now have some excellent electric options coming onto the market, so it makes sense for fleets (particularly in urban areas) to go for full EV solutions. Excited to see what the future holds!
@@TalkingPlanning Not sure if you visited the Sydney Bus Show or not, but CDC Melbourne’s first new electric optimus was there.
Basically a CDC Melbourne spec bus but an electric one. Will run 601 and 630 routes when it is pressed into service!
@@busesaroundmelbourne I saw some photos- looks good! Had a very full week at work so sadly, no Sydney trips for me...
The “domes” are air purifiers.
Interesting... never seen any other operator using them onboard a bus.
Makes a lot of sense as opening windows and outside air ventilation are not a common sight on PT vehicles anymore.
Those air purifiers are only just recent editions, they should have been put on a while back though
Talking planning when will you review the scania K320UB Hybrid Bustech buses In adelaide?
it doesn't feel like a cdc bus. to me, the only thing cdc about it is the seat fabric. it feels like an odd hybrid between multiple different style, like the seats remind me of the seats national express used to use on their custom orders for hillsbus/westbus especially from the early 2000s
It does have a modern, yet older feel to it inside, so that could be part of it.
The Hybrid Optimus is really quite something new from the Electric optimuses that transdev in Victoria & nsw that have got. looks pretty much another good new latest option that suites this operator best.& I feel that it would work well when we see this in other states if they decide to want this aswell.but only this has become only available in Victoria at the moment.
& that I do want to see this type of new hybrid bus model to be in nsw one day.
The hybrid Optimus actually predates the electrics by a few years. There are also hybrid Bustechs in Tasmania on the Cradle Mountain shuttle
Given the full Zero emissions push, battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are likely to have overtaken the role of hybrid buses for many use cases. Hopefully hybrid buses start to gain some extra popularity in regional operations where there is a need to bridge the gap between conventional diesel and full electric power.
Nice review! The B5LH is one of Volvo's less known products I guess you can say, and it really hasn't become popular in Australia. It seems to be more popular in the European market, such as London's Wright and MCV bodied B5LHs, which are quite known there. I never knew that CDC Melbourne actually had any hybrids at all, I always thought that they had an all diesel fleet, as I'm not too experienced with them. It seems that most operators in Australia tend to use electric buses if they want a cleaner option, however I think that hybrids should become a bit of thing in Australia now amongst operators, however it might be a bit too late now like you said at the start of the video, as electrics are become a theme with Australian operators. I personally prefer hybrids over electrics, they just seem like a better option and gives the diesel theme to bus, which I like, while still being environmentally friendly.
Cheers, glad you enjoyed. Definitely think the hybrid option is a great compromise for regional operations, where full EV Buses may struggle with some of the longer distances.
In you let’s talk about Melbourne video you said you are going to check some trains, i would definitely recommend the HCMT trains, they are the newest and are very comfortable however the old comeng trains are also getting some refurbishments which are pretty cool.
Watch this space is all I can say to this one!
CDC Melb have just kept the design spec of the Kefford Group which had a preference for the original Volgren interior/air con layout from late 90s. Dark interiors with carpet roofs on straight edged small air con ducks seen in most Volgren buses in the late 90s early 00s. Looks awful today.
Perhaps, dysons can buy some scania hybrids.
Perhaps, it would be a good point to raise directly wityh Dysons!
They started buying euro 6s for Melbourne, I know they're they're talking about a Hybrid/electric for Wodonga