Upgraded KMB buses cool off

TEMPERATURES inside double-decker buses will be cooler by up to 10 degrees Celsius as Kowloon Motor Bus (KMB, 九巴) upgrades the cooling systems and installs more solar panels on the roofs of its vehicles.
Developed by KMB’s engineering team, the new solar panel system will cool down buses 50 percent faster than the first-generation cooling system, giving passengers a cooler ride as temperatures are reduced by eight to 10 degrees.
The new system will also enable KMB buses to trim fuel usage by 3 percent. A senior engineer said the new cooling system will be effective even under a scorching sun.
The number of solar panels on each bus has been increased from 20 to 28, boosting efficiency by 10 percent, and marking a 54 percent rise in the amount of captured solar energy, compared to first-generation buses equipped with solar panels.
There are also tailor-made aluminium frames to attach the panels onto the roofs. The frames enable a thin layer of air to be generated as heat insulation to reduce temperatures inside the bus.
Another major enhancement was in the air ventilation system and subsidiary solar power supply. When the engine is turned off, the solar energy will enable the ventilation system to extract hot air.
The new buses are expected to be launched in the second half of 2019 to run side-by-side with firstgeneration solar-powered buses.

(This article is published on Junior Standard on 11 October 2018)

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