Clean Buses: BAE Systems HybriDrive Series Green Propulsion System Orders Surpass 3,500

JOHNSON CITY, NY--May 23, 2011: BAE Systems’; HybriDrive^® series hybrid electric propulsion system is operating in more cities and available from more bus manufacturers than ever before with more than 3,500 delivered or ordered worldwide.

“The fact that HybriDrive is being selected by large and small cities for their transit needs, demonstrates the value and versatility of our product and support”

Buses powered by HybriDrive currently transport nearly two million passengers a day in cities across North America and the UK including Houston, London, Manchester, New York, Ottawa, Oxford, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, and many more.

Atlanta, Ga. and Everett, Wash., recently took delivery of the first New Flyer Xcelsior hybrids powered by BAE Systems and will be followed later this year by Washington, D.C. and Santa Rosa, Calif. Seattle and Houston are taking delivery of HybriDrive-powered buses built by Daimler as will Baltimore City, Md., and suburban Chicago by the end of 2011. Additionally, Red Rose Transit Authority of Lancaster, Pa., has selected BAE Systems’; HybriDrive to power its new fleet of Gillig Low Floor hybrid buses.

“The fact that HybriDrive is being selected by large and small cities for their transit needs, demonstrates the value and versatility of our product and support,” said Steve Trichka, general manager of power and energy management for BAE Systems.

The Lancaster buses will come equipped with BAE Systems’; Accessory Power System (APS), which eliminates the need for a bulky, standard alternator and provides the necessary power to electrically drive vehicle accessories such as air conditioning, engine cooling fans, air compressors, and 208-volt AC/28-volt DC vehicle systems. Electric accessories are expected to further increase fuel economy by reducing and managing accessory losses, especially engine cooling and HVAC.

Gillig is the latest in a growing number of bus manufacturers that are offering BAE Systems’ HybriDrive propulsion system. BAE Systems holds similar relationships in the transit bus market for its HybriDrive series product, with companies such as Daimler Bus North America and New Flyer Industries in the United States and Alexander Dennis and Irisbus Iveco in Europe.

“Progressive transit authorities recognize the environmental and cost advantages of our HybriDrive system and now have more bus options to utilize HybriDrive than ever before,” said Trichka.

The HybriDrive series hybrid electric system dramatically reduces emissions and increases fuel economy while meeting the durability requirements of demanding urban transit operations. It consists of a generator, an electric motor, and an energy storage system managed by computerized controls. A diesel engine turns the generator and operates independent of the electric drive motor, allowing it to run at the optimum engine speed for fuel efficiency. The system also uses no mechanical transmission, a significant maintenance item on conventional diesel buses. Buses equipped with HybriDrive series have travelled over 300 million miles, prevented over 280,000 tons of CO₂ emissions and have saved over 25 million gallons of diesel fuel.