Special Report: Tomorrow's Buses Rolling Today

This article examines the state of alternative power for buses, including battery electric, fuel cells, hybrid and hydrogen. Hybrids gain fuel savings by shutting down the engine rather than idling, and provide the greatest fuel savings when a bus is starting and stopping frequently. About 700 hybrid buses are in regular service in North America, and another 400 are expected to be delivered in 2006. The article describes various kinds of hybrid buses now in use. The author suggests they are an attractive option for transit agencies looking for clean buses because they use the existing fueling infrastructure, unlike CNG buses, which require major infrastructure changes. The article also talks about the relatively high costs for the buses in comparison to diesel or CNG vehicles, but suggests that new emission regulations could make hybrids more competitive. The article also describes hydrogen-fueled buses in operation in California, hybrid-electric shuttle buses, and the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle.