Green Car Congress: Azure Dynamics Launches Hybrid Shuttle Bus Program

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Azure Dynamics Launches Hybrid Shuttle Bus Program

21 July 2005

Underneath the G1 (looking at the electric motor).

Leveraging the work it has done on commercial delivery vans, Azure Dynamics has launched a hybrid-electric shuttle bus program in North America based on its G1 series-hybrid powertrain. The first sale of five hybrid-electric, 20-passenger shuttle buses is to the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC).

The Bronx Clean Commuter Van Program is the first hybrid electric bus shuttle initiative in the borough.

The hybridized buses will operate approximately two to three shifts daily and are expected to drive between 160-240 miles per day, six days per week, all-year round. Three shuttles will provide service for workers at the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center, and two will replace vans currently used by non-profit organizations throughout the Bronx.

The hybrid shuttle buses will use the same chassis and G1 hybrid electric drive system currently used in delivery vans supplied to other Azure customers such as Purolator Courier Ltd.

Azure’s basic series-hybrid chassis and powertrain. Genset to the right, motor and energy storage mid-vehicle.

The G1 series hybrids use a GM-powered genset—either a 4.8-liter GM Vortec gasoline engine or a 6.5-liter GEP diesel. (General Engine Products (GEP) is a subsidiary of AM General, the manufacturers of the military HMMWV (Humvee) and the civilian HUMMER H1. The 6.5-liter diesel is the base engine for both.)

The hybrid-electric powertrain develops 85 kW of continuous power (90 kW peak) and peak torque of 450 Nm. Cobasys 336-volt NiMH battery packs with 70 kW of power output provide the energy storage.

The G1 platform promises an improvement in fuel economy of 25%–45%. Peak speed is 65 mph, and the all-electric range is 2.5 miles.

Funding for the Bronx hybrid electric shuttle bus program came in part from the Clean Air Communities (CAC) which is collaborative initiative of Northeast States Center for a Clean Air Future (NESCCAF), Con Edison, Natural Resources Defense Council, and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

BOEDC has committed approximately US$387,000 towards part of the program while the Clean Air Communities has committed US$300,000. Additional funding, in the form of a grant to BOEDC, was raised from the New York State Energy Research Authority (NYSERDA) in the amount of US$339,200.

July 21, 2005 in Fleets, Hybrids | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)