Dec 3, 2008 12:50 pm US/Central
CTA Rolls Out Articulated Hybrid Buses
CHICAGO (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
The CTA has begun operating the first of its 150 new Flyer Articulated Hybrid buses, which the agency says will improve service, reduce emissions, relieve congestion and save money.
A press conference announcing the implementation of the new buses was held Wednesday at the CTA's 103rd Street Garage.
The hybrid articulated bus is at least 30 percent more fuel efficient than the current non-hybrid articulated buses, according to a release from the transit agency.
The articulated hybrids are able to hold up to 125 riders -- the buses they are scheduled to replace are able to accommodate up to 80.
"As the rest of the hybrid buses are placed into service, the CTA will become part of a small, elite group of transit agencies that have a sizable fleet of hybrid electric buses," Mayor Daley said at the press conference. "These buses will help the CTA save money, operate in a safe and environmentally-friendly way and improve bus service for the thousands of people who depend on it every day to get around the city."
The 22 buses now operating have been phased into service since mid-October and the rest will arrive by summer 2009.
The articulated hybrid buses are equipped with a parallel drive system, similar to a hybrid system found in a car. They significantly reduce emissions compared with standard diesel buses, the release said, and are also quieter, cleaner and run more smoothly.
Characteristics of the bus include a plug-in feature that allows the batteries to remain charged when the bus is not in use. Power is drawn from the batteries to operate the auxiliary heater and circulate warm coolant through the engine block during overnight storage in cold weather. This eliminates the need to idle buses.
The bus has a smaller engine than traditional articulated buses. It uses the same low-emission engine used in the CTA's newest 40-foot buses. The engines have additional emissions technology -- a diesel particulate filter -- that removes soot as the exhaust passes through the exhaust system. The buses are 1,000 pounds lighter than their original design by using the smaller engine and a carbon fiber frame.
LED passenger lighting makes buses even more environmentally friendly. The lights are long lasting and reduce maintenance because there are no bulbs to change. They also eliminate the CTA's need to dispose of harmful mercury when replacing bulbs.
The CTA estimates that the hybrid buses will save the agency nearly $7 million annually in maintenance, parts and labor costs, including more than $900,000 annually in fuel costs. The CTA also saved $60,000 on the price of each hybrid bus by assuming the last contract option from King County Metro -- Seattle's public transit agency -- for the bus lease.
The lease cost will be approximately $13.4 million per year. The terms allow the agency to lease the buses for 12 years and retain ownership at the conclusion of the lease. Leasing allowed the CTA to begin to take delivery of buses now, rather than waiting until sufficient capital funds were available to buy them.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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