April 5, 2006
Metro Transit earns national Clean Air Excellence Award
EPA recognizes Hybrid Buses for delivering reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
Passengers who've become partial to King County Metro Transit's new hybrid buses now have another reason to like their ride - Metro has been named the winner of a prestigious national Clean Air Excellence Award for 2005 presented by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Metro's hybrid bus program was cited for its innovative combination of hybrid electric technology and use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, placing the buses among of the cleanest-running public transit vehicles in the county.
"We are honored to receive this award and pleased to be a living lab of innovation that is helping to pave the way for governments here and abroad to use new technology that delivers cleaner air and reduces global warming," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "The buses are performing better than expected and our experience is creating a market for this technology. People's health, the environment and the economy all benefit from the growing use of hybrid buses."
King County Metro Transit was the first agency in the nation to invest in articulated hybrid buses and now operates one of the biggest fleets in the nation. The buses are manufactured by New Flyer industries.
General Motors, the manufacturer of the hybrid drive system, is crediting King County's hybrid initiative, with stimulating other governments to invest in the clean burning buses including a California consortium of governments, Hawaii, and the cities of Albuquerque, Reno and Shanghai. Four-hundred-thirty hybrids are now on the road.
In an estimated 8 million miles on the road in 2005, Metro's hybrid buses produced a 32 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the conventional diesel fleet. The hybrids also proved to be 41 percent more reliable than their articulated diesel counterparts, which means they have less down time and require fewer parts and repairs. The hybrid buses are also getting better gas mileage. In the past year, Metro says the hybrid fleet's overall fuel economy rated 31 percent higher than its newest fleet of 30 conventional 60-foot diesel buses. Passengers seem to like them, too. Metro says its most common customer feedback shows general satisfaction with the buses' smooth, quiet ride.
King County 's 214 hybrid buses comprise approximately 16 percent of the Metro's fleet, cost $645,000 each, and are projected to have a minimum life span of 12 years. Each bus will travel 35,000 to 40,000 miles annually. King County also operates an additional 22 hybrid buses for Sound Transit. A consortium of nationwide companies that includes Allison Transmission, a division of General Motors, New Flyer of America, and Caterpillar developed the hybrid buses.
Additional information:
- One year later, Metro's hybrid buses delivering on their commitment to cleaner air
- First of 50 New Flyer Buses Powered By GM's Hybrid Technology Rolls Into Washington Metro's Fleet
- Metro Transit rolls out the first new hybrid buses