There's not much in the article about the new hybrid busses other than these two paragraphs, but if you want to read the whole press release, click here: http://www.transitchicago.com/news/ctaandp...rticleid=124521 From the press release. . . 11/8/04 The Chicago Transit Board today approved the purchase of 265 new CTA buses designated to replace older buses in CTA’s fleet that have reached the end of their useful life. The 40-foot, low-floor, accessible, air-conditioned buses will help to improve service reliability and the overall transit experience for many CTA bus customers. The purchase includes 20 environmentally friendly diesel hybrid buses that are powered by both diesel engines and electric motors to help reduce emissions. The new buses will replace 5300-series Flxible buses purchased by the CTA in 1991. . . . By including 20 hybrid buses as part of the purchase, CTA will be able to evaluate the performance of the environmentally friendly vehicles in Chicago’s extreme weather conditions. Performance results will help determine if hybrid buses are suitable as future additions to CTA’s fleet.
We have a bunch of these in Denver on the 16th Street mall. They are hybrid electric/CNG. http://www.rtd-denver.com/SpecialRides/Mal...tles/index.html You can hear the electric motors while riding, and the engines seem to run at the same RPM all the time (sound familiar?). Some of the interior space is taken up by the hybrid system, but these are used for stand-up riding mostly so they work pretty well. Nate
WTG CTA!! although a small step, it is nevertheless moving in the right direction and every movement begins with but a single step.
As a CTA employee (I help buy new technology for them), thanks. The press release states this is the beginning of the process of ordering the buses. Typically the manufacture and testing process takes a year or two before the buses are in revenue service. And we thought we waited a long time! FYI CTA also has an order (shorter wait) for some Escape Hybrids to use in non-revenue service (such as for getting bus supervisors around the system with tools and supplies they need). That announcement can be found at http://www.transitchicago.com/news/ctaandp...rticleid=112062 It does not mention that Prius was our first choice for an evaluation, but no dealers would bid. And of course a public-funded agency couldn't buy out-of-state, where the lists are shorter.
IT transit in Olympia has several Priuses and diesel-electric hybrid buses here. but we were helped by a state and federal grant that paid for most of the cost. although not as severe as california in most respects (more severe in some though) our polution laws are concentrating more on the business and government sector instead of the private sector. the primary reason being that most of the state run fleets are in major population centers and most of WA doesnt have a problem. (it sucks that people have to start choking before we do anything about it) i will say the diesel hybrids are amazing. other than the diesel sound, you cannot tell by smelling that you are behind a diesel. they have no visible smoke and no smell at all.
