Hybrid buses reduce emissions, save on fuel costs

RTA’s electric vehicles to offer a smooth, quiet ride.

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By Dave Larsen, Staff Writer Updated 12:08 AM Tuesday, April 6, 2010

DAYTON — Reducing air pollution from vehicle emissions has come at a cost for public transit systems.

“The cost has been lower miles per gallon,” said John Thomas, the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority’s chief maintenance officer.

The 10 new hybrid diesel buses that rolled into service Monday, April 5, reduce emissions and increase fuel economy.

Conventional diesel buses give off the most pollution when they pull out from a stop, often creating a visible puff of smoke.

The hybrid diesel buses run on electric power when they pull out and don’t switch over to diesel fuel until about 17 mph. They run on diesel at cruising speed, which is at “the low-pollution side of the diesel cycle,” Thomas said.

Hybrid buses have higher fuel economy on city routes with frequent stops, where they run on electric power.

The Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky (TANK) uses four of the same Gillig hybrid diesel buses on a shuttle route serving Covington, Newport and downtown Cincinnati “because it is stop and start,” said Andrew Aiello, TANK general manager. “We achieve maximum fuel economy savings by using that particular vehicle in the urban area,” he said.

Hybrid buses use nickel-metal hydride batteries that capture and store braking energy, which could quadruple vehicle brake life, said Mark Donaghy, RTA executive director.

“When you let off the accelerator it starts breaking by itself, but it’s actually generating more power back to the batteries on the roof,” Donaghy said.

Conventional transit buses average 60,000 miles a year and require brake jobs every 40,000 to 45,000 miles. Hybrid buses can go 200,000 between brake jobs, increasing cost savings, Donaghy said.

Riders will notice a smoother, quieter ride, more like an electric trolley than a conventional diesel bus, Donaghy said.

“The interior is the same as our other buses,” he said.

RTA will roll another 10 hybrid diesel buses into service in October or November, for a total of 20. The oldest buses, which are 1997 models with more 600,000 miles, will be retired, Donaghy said.

Hybrid buses will run on all RTA routes, which will be evaluated for fuel efficiency, Thomas said.

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