Hybrid Gas/Electric Buses
Omnitrans is proud to be the first transit agency in the United States to introduce an electric/gasoline hybrid transit bus into service. The bus uses the latest in alternative fueltechnology to drastically cut smog-producing emissions.
You might be wondering how this new technology will affect you.You probably won't notice a difference when you get on board, but you might notice a difference in the air. That's because our hybrid bus helps to keep the air clean!
Omnitrans' hybrid buses are the first in the United States to feature the ISE ResearchThunder Volt TB40-H drive system, combining unleaded gasoline with electricity instead of diesel or compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel.
According to a study conducted by the California Air Resources Board, this
combination provides a significant reduction in smog-producing
emissions, over and above even other alternatively-fueled vehicles (see graph at left).
In addition to using the latest in technology, the buses will be part of a test to compare the efficiency of various alternative fuel systems.When all three hybrid buses are in operation later this year, they'll use two different types of electric batteries.The results of this test may help in the design of future alternative fueling systems.
