World's First Parallel Hybrid-Electric Articulated Bus Joins King County Metro Transit Fleet

October 23, 2002

World's First Parallel Hybrid-Electric Articulated Bus Joins King County Metro Transit Fleet

Seattle - At a ceremony today, King County Metro Transit added the world's first parallel hybrid-electric powered 60-foot articulated bus to its fleet. The ceremony marked the delivery of the bus to King County Metro Transit by manufacturer New Flyer of America. The 60-foot articulated bus is powered by an advanced hybrid-electric powertrain the E^PSystem^tm from Allison Transmission Division of General Motors (GM).

The E^PSystem^tmparallel hybrid system brings solid environmental benefits to the Seattle area. The system significantly reduces hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen (NOX) and particulate matter emissions compared to conventional diesel buses.

The Allison E^PSystem^tmpowered bus delivers 50 percent better acceleration and a significant improvement in fuel efficiency compared to buses equipped with a conventional diesel powertrain.

The bus, which was designed to meet special requirements of the King County Metro Transit system, features a 330 hp Cummins ISL engine from Cummins Inc. The engine delivers the ideal combination of power, low weight and low emissions.

The E^PSystem^tmhybrid powertrain features the latest design generation from Allison Electric Drives^tm. A previous Allison design generation, the E^SSystem^tm series hybrid system, has successfully powered two buses for Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) for more than 18 months. The earlier E^SSystem^tm also powers two hybrid-electric buses for Tri-Met Transit in Portland, Oregon that were delivered in April.

"Today's delivery of this hybrid-powered articulated bus is more than an important milestone: it's a world-first," said Fred Cartwright, program director of the Allison Electric Drives ^tm program at Allison Transmission. "The bus that King County Metro Transit today places into revenue service is poised to demonstrate the environmental and operational benefits of hybrid technology in a range of transit vehicles, including articulated buses. We are delighted to join with New Flyer to fill a need for low-emission, high-efficiency transit solutions."

"This first-of-its-kind bus underscores the key role hybrid technology plays in our strategy of using commercially-viable innovations to produce low emission vehicles that consume less fuel," said Elizabeth Lowery, GM vice president, environment and energy.

"New Flyer is proud to deliver the world's first parallel hybrid-powered articulated bus to Metro Transit, one that brings important environmental and performance benefits to the Seattle area," said Paul Smith, vice president of Sales and Marketing, New Flyer of America. "We are pleased to join Allison Transmission to complete this significant bus delivery."

"Cummins is delighted to join with New Flyer and Allison Transmission to make this significant next step in commercial application of hybrid technologies," said John Malina, general manager, Worldwide Bus Business of Cummins Inc. "This is an important development for the transit bus market."

How hybrid works
Here's how hybrid technology works: Hybrid systems use two sources of power to move a vehicle - engine and battery. In the parallel hybrid system, the engine-generator combination works in parallel with the battery, furnishing electrical power to keep the battery charged. The engine is coupled to a drive unit that furnishes an infinitely variable ratio to the wheels. This allows an engine in a hybrid system to run more efficiently, quietly and cleanly. For example, when the bus accelerates from a stop, the batteries can supply ample power for a seamless and quiet acceleration. This allows for optimization of engine performance and lowest exhaust emissions.

A parallel hybrid bus uses the diesel engine's mechanical power to maintain speed after the vehicle is underway. In this mode the engine also charges the energy storage system (battery), making it unnecessary to plug the vehicle in for charging. Performance data on Allison-powered buses now in operation in Orange County, CA demonstrate that 40 percent of the energy needed to accelerate the bus comes from the energy recovered and stored during the stop.

In 1999, Allison successfully completed a demonstration hybrid bus program for the New York City Transit (NYCT) Authority. In 2000, the company began its hybrid electric "Preview" program. This "first generation hybrid" program, the first step of which was undertaken with New Flyer of America, is bringing hybrid electric buses to transit systems across North America.

California's Orange County Transit Authority (OCTA) was the first transit property to place Allison-powered series hybrid buses into revenue service in 2000. Tri-Met transit in Portland, Oregon added two of the buses to its fleet in April 2002.

Allison is supplying E^PSystem^tm equipment for installation in additional "Preview Program" hybrid buses and coaches for delivery to select transit operators nationwide in 2002. Allison plans to go into production of its system late 2003.

Allison Transmission leads the world in the design, manufacture and sales of medium- and heavy-duty automatic transmissions. Founded in 1915, the General Motors division has produced and sold nearly four million transmissions.

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