Hybrid buses take to roads, using diesel

SEATTLE - General Motors Corp.’s advanced hybrid technology will be used on transit buses in the Seattle area beginning next week, eventually creating the nation’s largest fleet of diesel-electric hybrid buses.

Local officials took delivery Thursday of the first of 235 buses. The 60-foot vehicles, which are more expensive than standard diesel buses, deliver up to 60 percent greater fuel economy and can reduce emissions by as much as 90 percent, GM said.

The new buses will account for about 15 percent of King County Metro Transit’s 1,300-vehicle fleet. Sound Transit Regional Express also will use the new vehicles.

Higher up-front costs, but less fuel
County transit officials say they expect the hybrid buses to save roughly 750,000 gallons of fuel a year.

“These buses save energy and are cleaner and quieter than conventional buses for the millions of people who ride our transit system,” said King County Executive Ron Sims.

Interactive Honda hybrid The first gas/electric car sold in the U.S.

Hybrids draw power from two energy sources, typically a gas or diesel engine combined with an electric motor. One of the ways the buses conserve fuel is by storing electricity generated when they brake, then using that electricity as a power source when the bus leaves a stop.

King County secured $5 million in federal funding to help pay for the new buses, which the county has said cost $645,000 each — $200,000 more than a standard bus.

“Federal funding of hybrid technology is money well spent, and I’ll continue to encourage other states, counties and cities across the country to get on board with similar hybrid programs,” said U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Cleaner diesel campaign
Transit systems tend to favor diesels because the engines can haul larger loads and last longer than gasoline engines.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency welcomed the purchase as part of a cleaner diesel campaign.

Available & upcoming hybrids DaimlerChrysler Diesel-electric Dodge Ram: Pickup gets 15 percent mileage boost. 2008: Dodge Durango SUV with 25 percent mileage improvement. Ford Escape Hybrid: SUV rated at 36 in city driving with two-wheel-drive model, nearly double that of the gas-only Escape. Highway driving rated at 31 mpg. Mercury Mariner SUV: 33 mpg in the city, 29 on the highway. 2007: Mazda Tribute SUV, no mileage data yet. 2008: Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans, no mileage data yet. General Motors GMC Sierra/Chevrolet Silverado: 2WD models get 18 mpg city, 21 mpg highway for an increase of 10-12 percent over gasoline siblings. Saturn Vue: SUV rated at 27 mpg in city and 32 mpg highway — a 20 percent increase over gasoline sibling. 2007: Saturn Aura sedan, no specs available. Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, up to 35 percent mpg boost. Chevrolet Malibu, 15 percent increase. 2008: Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups that get up to 35 percent mpg increase. Honda Insight: two-door rated at 56 mpg on highway and in city but discontinued starting in 2007 model year. Civic Hybrid: four-door rated at 51 mpg on highway and 49 mpg in city. Accord Hybrid: rated at 35 mpg on the highway, 29 mpg in the city. Nissan Fall 2006: Hybrid version of midsize Altima. Toyota Prius: Sedan rated at 60 mph in city, 51 mpg on highway. Lexus RX 400h: SUV rated at 31 mpg in city driving, two thirds more than its gas-only RX 330 sibling. Highlander Hybrid: SUV is rated at 32/27 mpg in city/highway driving based on two-wheel-drive model. Lexus GS 450h: Sports sedan rated at 25 mpg in city and 28 mpg highway, along with 339 horsepower. Camry Hybrid: Sedan rated at 40 mpg in city, 38 on highway.

King County Metro Transit "retrofitted many of its buses with equipment that traps diesel exhaust and is operating its entire fleet on ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, reducing toxics and fine-particle emissions by up to 95 percent," director Dennis McLerran said in a statement.

The first group of the hybrid buses, manufactured by New Flyer of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is scheduled to join the fleet June 5. GM says the remainder will be delivered by year’s end.

Caterpillar Inc., based in Peoria, Ill., is supplying the diesel engines.

GM, the world’s largest automaker, and every one of its major competitors are investing heavily in hybrid technology, primarily for cars and trucks. For now only Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. sell hybrid passenger cars in the United States. GM recently began selling a “mild” hybrid pickup, and Ford is scheduled to introduce a hybrid sport utility vehicle this summer.

Already, Orange County, Calif., and Philadelphia are among the places using GM hybrid technology on transit buses. GM said more orders are pending.

MORE FROM GREEN MACHINES

Green Machines Section Front

Solar-power guru circles back Green cars in line for better batteries GM, utilities join to study electric car’s impact Scientists tap motion in the ocean for energy 2,400-mile car race runs on the sun Texas OKs lots more wind power Hydrogen future doable, experts say 33,000 solar panels going atop warehouse Technology could streamline solar power Nissan plans electric cars in Portugal Green Machines Section Front   Add Green Machines headlines to your news reader: