Summary Draft 1

In the article "Go-Ahead Singapore carries out 6-month trial of public buses with solar panels," Kok(2021) describes a revolutionary method for incorporating solar energy into public transportation. One of the key goals was to determine whether this strategy might lower the strain on the diesel engine and the amount of carbon generated.

Two of their diesel-powered buses were modified with ultra-thin solar panels that are 1.6mm-thick, ductile, and durable, and were given a six-month trial on the road to test on their efficiency. In comparison to commercial solar panels, the experimental solar panels, which weigh less than 20kg and have a depth of 1.6mm, produce thousands of watts of power. The panels have the capability to charge the vehicle’s battery which provides ignition and power to the bus when the engine is turned off. According to the company’s ongoing experiment conducted in the UK since 2019, this method reduces “3.7 tonnes of carbon emissions per bus”, and saves "1,400 gallons of diesel" per year. During the first two months of the trial, these buses will be subjected to stringent safety inspections and will be examined weekly.

In summary, given Singapore's geographical location, solar panel installations on buses might be quite successful, allowing diesel buses to be more environmentally-friendly and efficient over time.