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Features

Going Green: Why Ireland is the Place to Do It

Thursday, 21 April 2011

Increasing fuel prices are causing more and more people to consider hybrid cars, yet what may be surprising is that hybrid technology can also be used in buses.

The BBC has reported that the UK's largest bus and rail company, First Group, has placed an order for hybrid electric-fuel buses.

Included in a huge order to purchase 955 new vehicles are 40 buses which use the latest hybrid engine technology. This shows that it's not just cars like the new Jazz Hybrid from Honda that can go green.

The move to hybrid vehicles is exciting considering the benefits they can bring both to the driver and to the environment.

Bus travel is already a relatively environmentally-friendly mode of transport as one bus takes many more cars off of the road. The use of hybrid engines in buses will make them an even greener option.

First Group's order, worth a whopping £160 million, is sure to benefit the environment as well as the UK's economy. Northern Ireland and Scotland will be the main beneficiaries as this is where the two bus manufacturers chosen to fill the order are based.

Wrightbus is based in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, whereas Alexander Dennis is based in Falkirk, Scotland. This large order will secure and create jobs, not only in these areas but across the UK.

This is because bus travel is growing in popularity. This, in turn, creates demand for more bus drivers, as well as the raft of behind the scenes staff needed to ensure the smooth running of bus transportation.

The growth, confirmed by First Group, could be directly linked to the ever-increasing fuel prices in the UK.

The bus company recently conducted a survey in which one in seven respondents said that they are already using public transport instead of their cars.

The survey also found that 27 per cent of respondents have decided to ditch their cars if petrol prices reach £1.50 a litre. With current prices at around the £1.30 mark, that no longer seems like an impossible prospect.

Bus travel can be a cheaper alternative for many, with the added benefit to the environment. However, it's not always possible or convenient.

Those who need to travel by car can still have the peace of mind of using a more environmentally-friendly option by switching to a hybrid vehicle.

Hybrid cars, which use electric motor engines, are far greener than regular vehicles due to lower fuel consumption. This, of course, also benefits drivers at the pumps.

The new Jazz Hybrid from Honda is capable of doing 62.8 miles to the gallon, which means that visits to the pumps are fewer and further between. Less time spent at the pumps means more pounds in your pocket.

Despite being an eco and purse-friendly option, the Honda Jazz Hybrid refuses to compromise when it comes to style, safety or performance.

Honda has managed to cram a wealth of innovative features into the compact Jazz, including 'magic seats' for increased practicality.

Folding 'magic seats' mean that the boot space can be opened up to accommodate large items. This is the perfect feature for those times when you need to transport more than just the usual weekly food shop.