Purchase of 27 Gasoline-Electric Hybrid Buses

In May 2004, Long Beach Transit initiated a procurement process to replace twenty-seven (27) older diesel buses with new, ultra-low emission vehicles. Long Beach Transit selected gasoline hybrid electric technology for the new buses. Urban buses equipped with older diesel engines are inefficient and produce high levels of criteria pollutants and toxic air contaminants. Urban buses also experience constant "stop and go" driving conditions - this duty cycle results in reduced fuel economy as compared to "steady state" engine operation. The new buses are equipped with a series hybrid-electric system, utilizing a smaller, lower-emitting gasoline engine coupled with an electric motor drive system. The gasoline engine is mated to an electric generator and operates at a constant, high efficiency speed. The electric generator produces electricity, which in turn powers the electic motor that drives the bus wheels. When vehicle power requirements temporarily increase, such as during acceleration or hill climbing, additional power is drawn from the bus's onboard energy storage system. The New Flyer gasoline hybrid bus uses Ultra Capacitors as its energy storage device. Ultra capacitors are able to quickly charge, retain, and discharge electrical energy, and are more efficient energy storage devices as compared to traditional batteries. When bus power requirements are low, the energy storage system is recharged from either the electric generator or through regenerative braking.