BAE Systems Delivers First Hybrid Propulsion Systems to Alexander Dennis Ltd. Under “Green Bus Fund Initiative”
LONDON--The first of the hybrid electric systems that will power 56 clean, green and efficient double-decker buses in Oxford and Manchester have been delivered by BAE Systems to bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL).
“These new hybrid vehicles are part of a package of measures to make our operations more sustainable and attract people to our greener, smarter public transport services. We are looking forward to being the first operator of these next-generation buses outside of London.”
Bus operator Stagecoach Group will take delivery of their buses commencing with Oxford first, followed by Manchester, in the summer of 2010. They are the first of up to 300 hybrid electric buses that will be supplied to operators across the UK with support from the Department of Transport’s £30 million Green Bus Fund, which provides financial incentives to adopt green technologies.
The diesel-electric BAE Systems HybriDrive system being installed in the new ADL Enviro 400h hybrid buses for Oxford and Manchester will deliver fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions that are up to 30 per cent lower than conventional buses.
Double-decker buses are already a fuel-efficient, highly maneuverable and capable way of carrying more people within a 12-metre footprint than any other vehicle. The introduction of these new hybrid buses powered by BAE Systems will help transport authorities across the UK meet forthcoming UK environmental regulations by greatly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, as well as saving fuel and reducing life-cycle costs.
BAE Systems’ HybriDrive technology currently powers more than 2,500 buses in cities across the UK and North America, transporting more than one million passengers every day. So far, these buses have travelled more than 150 million miles, saved ten million gallons of diesel fuel and prevented more than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
BAE Systems has partnered with ADL since 2007 to build hybrid electric buses for the UK, and these latest orders follow Transport for London’s evaluation of 17 BAE Systems-powered hybrid buses.
"We have been impressed with the performance, reliability, and product support in the UK provided by BAE Systems' hybrid technology,” said Adrian Havlin, Stagecoach group technical engineer. “These new hybrid vehicles are part of a package of measures to make our operations more sustainable and attract people to our greener, smarter public transport services. We are looking forward to being the first operator of these next-generation buses outside of London."
The HybriDrive system consists of a generator, an electric motor, and an energy storage system managed by computerized controls. A diesel engine that turns the generator operates independently of the electric drive motor, allowing it to run at nearly constant speed for optimum efficiency. The system also uses no mechanical transmission, a major maintenance item on conventional diesel buses.
The BAE Systems technology has been trialed in a range of civilian and military vehicles and has proven itself as a smooth, powerful, reliable and environmentally friendlier power source.
“Our HybriDrive system powers the world’s largest hybrid bus fleet in New York and BAE Systems’ partnership with Alexander Dennis enables us to continue developing market-leading hybrid bus technologies,” said Rob Lindsay, Director of Transport Systems for BAE Systems.
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is a global defense, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion.
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