Globally, 8,000 hybrid electric drive systems are now helping transit buses save fuel and reduce emissions, according to a milestone announcement from producer BAE Systems.
The announcement marks a sizeable increase in demand, as 3,000 of those systems were produced in the last two years–more than double the number produced in the previous four years. These systems provide the option for vehicles to operate all their accessories with electric power while utilizing hybrid electric propulsion and effectively eliminating emissions while buses are stopped.
“The continued high demand for these systems is driven by the flexibility of the Series-E product line,” Bob Lamanna, director of global transit sales and service at BAE Systems, said. “The line provides the reduced and zero-emission travel that transit agencies are looking for without the infrastructure challenges presented by fully electric solutions.”
When coupled with onboard generators, the company notes that buses are able to move 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without the need to return to charging systems and the downtime that comes with them–a problem that still affects fully electric vehicles.