Air conditioning on buses including no 63

[drewd]

What's the story with buses and air conditioning? It sounds like there is something trying to happen but the windows are open and it's so hot. 

I took the 63 yesterday thinking that because its buses had been upgraded with charging points and nice seats that it would be air conditioned.  How wrong could I be?!  An hour of misery. 

Was I unlucky or is the 63 the same big disappointment as the other buses in summer?

[Earl Aelfheah]

I think they have an 'air cooling' system - which isn't very good. 

[Insuflo]

I get the 63 regularly and so far have found the new EV buses really comfortable even in the hottest weather.

I’m fairly sure they don’t have conventional air conditioning, as this would require a separate petrol or diesel motor to power it or a considerable drain on the battery, so reducing the range of the vehicle. Instead they use a heat pump, which draws in heat from the atmosphere as required in colder weather. This should be run in reverse in hot weather to extract warm air. There is also forced air circulation.

it might be that either or these were not working. I’ve noticed that about 50% of the time on the 63, the countdown display screen on the top deck is not working. I don’t know if this is symptomatic of technical issues with these buses.

Whatever cooling system is used on a bus, it won’t have much impact when passengers obsessively open the windows, drawing warm air in. We just don’t seem to get the concept of air conditioning in this country yet. Hence air conditioned premises will often have their doors jammed open at this time of year. Pubs are the worst for this misappliance of science.

Edited June 13, 2023 by Insuflo

[bob]

Used 176 from ED to forest Hill yesterday same problem boiling hot

[Castleton]

I used a beautifully cooled 63 the other day, in fact my favourite moment was a passenger plugging in her hand held fan, to further aid comfort!