E-Power Buses Debut on Long Beach-Area Streets

World's First Production Hybrid Gasoline-Electric Buses Save on Gas, Slash Emissions and Cut Noise

LONG BEACH, Calif., June 16 -- Long Beach Transit super-sizes the hybrid revolution Monday when it officially begins passenger service on 15 new, brightly decaled "E-Power" buses. The 40-foot vehicles use technology similar to the Toyota Prius and are the first production hybrid gasoline-electric buses to be introduced into regular transit service in the world.

With superior gas mileage, dramatically cleaner tailpipe emissions and a quieter ride for passengers, E-Power buses will replace older ultra low-sulfur diesel buses in the Long Beach Transit fleet. All of the agency's first order of 27 buses will be carrying passengers this month, with another 20 scheduled to be delivered before the end of summer.

"Hybrid E-Power buses not only meet Southern California's clean air goals but exceed them," said Laurence W. Jackson, Long Beach Transit's president and chief executive officer. "Long Beach Transit has been a leader in reducing bus emissions and we are staying on the cutting edge with these hybrid vehicles."

Long Beach Transit has dubbed the new vehicles E-Power buses to help differentiate them from the rest of its bus fleet.

Very similar to hybrid cars available to motorists, E-Power buses use a combination of gasoline and electricity to make them the cleanest, most fuel-efficient heavy-duty urban transit buses now available. In testing, they beat liquefied natural gas (LNG) and compressed natural gas (CNG) -- chosen by many transit agencies several years ago as the successor to diesel -- on fuel efficiency, emissions and projected lifetime vehicle cost.

Hybrid bus prototypes were tested in passenger service by San Bernardino County's transit agency in 2002 and 2003. Long Beach Transit is the first in the world to deploy the resulting production models. Other Southern California transit agencies are now awaiting delivery of their orders, including the Orange County Transportation Authority, Gardena Municipal Bus Lines, Montebello Bus Lines and Norwalk Transit.

The hybrid buses began arriving in Long Beach this spring. As they arrive, the buses are customized with fare boxes and other equipment, labeled with the E-Power logo and used to train bus drivers. Once the full order of 47 buses has been delivered this summer, Long Beach Transit has an option to order 20 more hybrids each year for four years. If all options are exercised, more than half of the existing fleet of 220 buses eventually would be hybrids.

For passengers, the logo on the top and sides of the new buses and the quieter ride will distinguish E-Power buses. If they take a closer look, they will spot the electric ultra-capacitor storage unit on the roof -- a new technology replacing the conventional battery used in automotive hybrids such as the Toyota Prius.

For Long Beach Transit, E-Power buses far exceed local, state and federal emissions requirements for the foreseeable future, use up to 50 percent less fuel than diesel buses, get far better gas mileage than any other fuel option, and cost less over their lifetime than alternative-fuel buses. The price tag for each hybrid bus is $550,000, but the E-Power bus will cost less to maintain, operate and fuel than existing buses. And E-Power buses require no expensive infrastructure modifications as CNG and LNG buses do. They also never need to be plugged in, but recharge as they travel their routes.

The hybrid bus purchase was funded by local, state and federal sources. Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald was instrumental in assisting Long Beach Transit to secure the federal dollars for these vehicles.

Long Beach Transit serves 27 million passengers annually in Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lakewood, Cerritos, Norwalk, Hawaiian Gardens, Seal Beach, Artesia, Bellflower, Paramount, Compton and Carson. It operates 38 bus routes, Dial-A-Lift paratransit, and three water taxis. It has been carrying customers in the area since 1963.