Hybrid Bus Transit Now Available in Shreveport

[pupp1]

FOR RELEASE: 2005-06-08 Hybrid Bus Transit Now Available in Shreveport

GM delivers hybrid power for bus added to SporTran transit fleet

SHREVEPORT, La. - SporTran demonstrated its on-going commitment to clean air today by announcing the addition of a hybrid bus to its mass transit fleet. SporTran and the city of Shreveport join the growing ranks of communities investing in transit buses powered by General Motors' hybrid technology, which offers greater fuel economy and cleaner emissions than conventional diesel buses.

In a media event today at Stoner Boat Launch, the city of Shreveport unveiled the bus - the very first hybrid-powered bus to operate in the state of Louisiana. On hand for the festivities were representatives from the city, SporTran, The Department of Environmental Quality and Environmental Protection Agency, the city's Clean Air Committee and General Motors.

Transit buses with GM's hybrid propulsion system provide a significant fuel economy improvement over conventional diesel buses, with a range of 25 to 55 percent fuel economy improvement depending on the route and driving conditions. To date, GM has delivered 353 hybrid buses to urban mass transit systems in 23 cities.

"The GM diesel-electric drive system for buses uses the most efficient parallel hybrid architecture available in the world today and is manufactured by GM Allison in Indianapolis," said David Gibbons, plant manager, GM Shreveport Operations. "We think it is an excellent investment for urban transit bus fleets and applaud SporTran for its efforts."

In addition, the hybrid buses provide dramatically lower emissions, including 90 percent fewer particulate, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. Other benefits include reduced maintenance costs resulting from extended brake, engine oil and transmission oil life; superior torque and better acceleration than conventional diesel buses and operation sound levels equal to passenger cars even in tunnels.

The clean hybrid technology is manufactured by GM Allison Transmission, maker of transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems for commercial trucks, buses, off-highway equipment and military vehicles, headquartered in Indianapolis. Gillig Corp. of Hayward, Calif., manufactured the buses.

The technology in these buses has served as the starting point for GM's co-development with DaimlerChrysler of a hybrid system that GM will launch in the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon in late 2007.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world's largest automaker, has been the global industry sales leader since 1931. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 321,000 people around the world. It has manufacturing operations in 32 countriesand its vehicles are sold in200 countries. In 2004, GM sold nearly 9 millioncars and trucks globally, up 4 percent and the second-highest total in the company's history.GM's global headquarters are at the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit. More information on GM can be found at GM's corporate responsibility web site, contains additional information about GM's environmental initiatives.
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[Parkwood60]

I loved the ad they were running about how much more oil GM busses were saving compared to all the Priuses Toyota had sold. My question is, why run these ads in enthusiast magazines, why not run them during the Super Bowl, or at least on TV during Prime Time, when TV brightest stars come out to shine.

This is what good PR is made out of. Toyota Hybrids are only beneficial to the few people lucky enough to have them. GM's Hybrid Busses benefit not only the people who ride the busses everyday, but anyone who has ever gotten a lung full of soot from driving behind a city bus.

Now shrink it down and put it in the rest of you vehicles!

[rueben44]

Good question and that is why people think so little of GM. When they do have something big they do not advertise it properly and when they do they do not have the product out.

[Stu]

Originally Posted by rueben44

Good question and that is why people think so little of GM. When they do have something big they do not advertise it properly and when they do they do not have the product out.

I agree, I don't think the GM Hywire was advertised enough too, and shown to the public how revolutionary it is.

It seems that GM is more focused on hybrid/hydrogen powered vehicles than they previously have been.

[Buick61]

I've seen several of them in Manhattan and one in Philadelphia. It seems like the engines never shut down at stops or low speeds. But they are somewhat quieter than conventional diesels and have no smoke, which is nice.

[plane]

I live near Seattle and there isn't much advertising at all regarding the hybrid buses here. Isn't that suprising? We also have dual-mode buses that can run diesel or on electric wire in certain areas of the city. Most if not all the new buses here are two section articulated and carry a large number of people. For those that work in Bellevue or Seattle or nearby, riding the bus makes great sense considering that the buses get the benefit of the HOV lanes - early to work, low price, no parking hassles, no worries. I'm not a bus rider, but I am very grateful for GM getting rid of the diesel "blast" of smoke everyone that has ever followed a bus has been exposed to.