King County Metro / Sound Transit Award New Flyer

After testing the technology for the past year, King County determined that diesel-electric hybrid technology is the best alternative to replace an aging fleet of dual mode vehicles.  Sound Transit wanted a heavy-duty vehicle for a clean commuter route.  New Flyer was up for the challenge to build an articulated bus using Allison's (a division of General Motors) hybrid electric drive technology, the first of its kind in North America.

Paul Smith, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for New Flyer, said "It's transit agencies like King County and Sound that help New Flyer push the envelope of innovation.  This award is a firm indication that hybrid technology is here to stay, benefiting transit agencies and the riding public."

Savings in diesel fuel (750,000 fewer gallons annually in the Seattle area) and maintenance costs (mechanical components and brake linings) will be realized immediately.  Citizens will benefit from lower Green House Gas emissions and the riding public will enjoy a comfortable ride.  Furthermore, the experience gained from this fleet purchase will assist in the development of zero-emission vehicles for transit agencies and bus OEM alike.

The bus is configured as a normal diesel propelled bus, with a CAT C9 engine and an Allison EV50 electric drive system, which uses some common transmission components as other Allison products.  As the bus accelerates from a stop, energy from the batteries stored on the roof provides the required propulsion.  At higher speeds, the engine will provide assistance at an optimal RPM.  As the brakes are applied, energy captured from the brakes (regenerative braking) is used to charge the rooftop batteries.  The system is configured to efficiently use available resources without sacrificing performance or complicate a transit agency's current mode of operations.

Demand is increasing New Flyer's diesel-electric hybrids, as North American transit agencies are implementing plans for pollution reduction strategies to join those who have already adopted New Flyer's DE40LF and DE60LF transit vehicles.