Altoona testing subjects vehicle to a lifetime of usage in just a few months time at the Altoona, PA accelerated durability test center where harsh road conditions mimic real-world conditions endured by a commercial shuttle bus over a seven-year, 200,000 mile cycle.

The successful completion of this test qualifies Ford E-450 shuttle buses built with Azure’s Balance Hybrid Electric drive train system for Federal Transit Authority (FTA) programs of up to 80% funding when purchased by public transit agencies across the United States.

In addition to FTA programs, the Balance hybrids may qualify for up to a US$3,000 Federal tax credit and/or numerous individual state and agency programs.

The E-450 shuttle bus with Azure’s Balance Hybrid System, along with Azure’s series hybrid HD Senator CitiBus (earlier post), are the only hybrid shuttle buses that have completed this significant Altoona durability testing.