Hybrid Bus Transit Now Available in Springfield

GM delivers hybrid power for bus added to PVTA transit fleet

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. October 14, 2005; ThePioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) today announced the addition of a hybrid bus to its mass transit fleet. PVTA and the city of Springfield join the growing ranks of communities investing in transit buses powered by General Motors’ hybrid technology, which offers greater fuel economy and cleaner emissions than conventional diesel buses.

In a media event today at the future site of the Holyoke Multimodal Transportation Center in Holyoke , Mass. , the PVTA unveiled the bus. On hand for the festivities were Congressman John W. Olver, who was instrumental in securing the funding for the bus, and representatives from the PVTA and General Motors.

“As individuals and as a society we must make a greater effort to promote energy conservation and efficiency,” said Congressman Olver. “I am glad to have contributed to a first step in this effort and hope to see many more of these vehicles on the road in the near future.”

Transit buses with GM’s hybrid propulsion system provide a significant fuel economy improvement over conventional diesel buses, with a range of 25 to 55 percent fuel economy improvement depending on the route and driving conditions.

“The GM diesel-electric drive system for buses uses the most efficient parallel hybrid architecture available in the world today and is manufactured by GM Allison in Indianapolis,” said Tom Stephens, group vice president, GM Powertrain. “We think it is an excellent investment for urban transit bus fleets and applaud PVTA for its efforts.”

In addition, the hybrid buses provide dramatically lower emissions, including up to 90 percent fewer particulate, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. Other benefits include reduced maintenance costs resulting from extended brake, engine oil and transmission oil life; superior torque and better acceleration than conventional diesel buses and operation sound levels equal to passenger cars even in tunnels.

“The timing of the introduction of this vehicle to our fleet could not be better,” said Gary Shepard, PVTA administrator. “With skyrocketing fuel prices impacting our operating budgets, we are the fortunate beneficiaries of Congressman Olver’s dedicated effort to bring this new technology to the Pioneer Valley.”

The clean hybrid technology is manufactured by GM Allison Transmission, maker of transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems for commercial trucks, buses, off-highway equipment and military vehicles, headquartered in Indianapolis. Gillig Corp. of Hayward, Calif., manufactured the bus .

The technology in these buses has served as the starting point for GM’s co-development with DaimlerChrysler and BMW of a two-mode hybrid system that GM will launch first in the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon in 2007.