Ottawa (October 28, 2008) – The City introduced one of its two new 40-foot diesel-electric hybrid buses today, recognizing the future of bus transit during the same week it celebrates the Transitway’s 25^th anniversary. City Council approved the acquisition of the diesel-electric hybrid buses in June 2007.

The buses are the first of 202 hybrid buses that will be delivered to the City over the next two years. These two buses will begin servicing transit routes 5, 14 and 18 in mid-November, while the remaining 200 buses are scheduled to go into service in the summer of 2009 and 2010.

“The acquisition of this new fleet of diesel-electric hybrid buses is another example of the City’s commitment to our environment,” said Mayor Larry O’Brien. “Not only will the use of hybrid buses reduce fuel consumption, saving the City money, but it will also result in a decrease of carbon dioxide emissions, which greatly benefits our environment and our residents.”

City transit vehicles produce over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually, which accounts for about 80 per cent of the total amount of CO₂ and greenhouse gas emissions produced by all City-owned vehicles. The addition of these buses to the City’s fleet (120 of which are replacing diesel-fuelled buses) will allow for an annual CO₂ reduction of over 5,000 tonnes.

The Orion VII (Next Generation) diesel-electric hybrid buses are manufactured by Daimler Buses North America (also known as Orion Bus Industries). The hybrid propulsion system (HybriDrive) is provided by BAE Systems.

The buses will be used on routes where stop frequency is high and average speed is low to obtain maximum benefit from the hybrid technology, including energy recovery during braking.

“These new hybrid buses will be used on low-speed transit routes with frequent stops – routes where conventional diesel buses eat up a lot of fuel, as they accelerate and decelerate to pick up riders,” said Councillor Alex Cullen, Transit Committee Chair. “These buses will result in a reduction of fuel consumption between 17 and 36 per cent. That’s positive for everyone.”

The environmentally friendly diesel-electric hybrid buses, which feature seating for 38 passengers, are also a low-floor, fully accessible vehicle that can regularly accommodate two mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters or walkers.

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