First ThunderVolt Diesel Hybrid-Electric Bus Delivered to New Jersey Transit

Electric Vehicle Product Update from ISE Corporation
Volume III, Issue 3 * 2003.05.31

NEWARK, NJ - On 11 June 2003, New Jersey Transit publicly unveiled the first of three advanced technology diesel hybrid-electric transit buses developed by ISE. Installed into a Nova RTS 40-foot bus, the ISE series hybrid drive system achieves unprecedented improvements in performance and fuel economy by taking advantage of the latest hybrid control, energy storage, and power management technologies. In addition to reducing harmful emissions, the ISE diesel hybrid drive system is designed to enable a 40-foot bus to achieve a fuel economy of 6 to 7 miles per gallon in urban transit service. This is about twice the fuel economy of a standard diesel bus and a significant improvement over other hybrid-electric drive systems.

The ISE diesel-hybrid drive system generates electric power with a Cummins ISB02 diesel engine mated to a Siemens generator. This 5.9 liter engine meets 2004 EPA/ARB Tier II emissions standards and is much smaller than the engines used to power conventional 40-foot buses. This engine size reduction is enabled by several features of ISE's advanced "ThunderVolt-ELFA" series hybrid drive system. In this system, hydraulic and pneumatic accessories normally powered by engine-driven belts are operated on electric power from the generator and a deep-cycle battery pack. Since the engine is also de-coupled from the vehicle's mechanical driveline, the only work it performs is generating electricity. These innovations not only enable use of a smaller engine, but also allow the engine to be operated in its most efficient, cleanest-burning power range.

An added benefit of ISE's large battery pack and electrically-driven accessories is that the engine can be completely turned off for extended periods. ISE's hybrid control system senses when engine power is not needed, and automatically turns the engine off during these intervals. The engine is then restarted, using the Siemens ELFA? generator, when its power is once again required. With this unique engine "auto-start/stop" feature, the engine is turned off any time the vehicle stops for more than a few seconds, eliminating most of the noise and pollution created by engine idling. On a typical urban transit route, the bus is operated with the engine turned off as much as 30% of the time. This capability for "all-electric" bus operation also allows the vehicle to be operated in an ultra-quiet, zero emission mode for up to ten miles at a time, when operating in noise or environmentally sensitive areas such as tunnels or residential neighborhoods.

For many transit bus operators, the most significant benefit of ISE's technology is higher fuel efficiency. In preliminary drive tests on an ISE urban test loop, the first Nova RTS bus using ISE's drive system has achieved diesel fuel economies as high as 7.3 miles per gallon. By comparison, a conventional diesel bus of this size will typically get between 2.5 and 3.5 miles per gallon in urban transit service. Based on these preliminary test results, ISE hopes to see buses using its system achieve near term fuel efficiencies of about 6 mpg, which would save approximately $10,000 per year for a typical urban transit bus. Greater savings are possible in the future as fuel prices increase.

"New Jersey Transit is excited to be the recipient of one of the most advanced transit buses in the world," according to Paul Kaufmann, Senior Director, Bus Equipment Design and Engineering for New Jersey Transit. "In early tests of the ISE hybrid bus in New Jersey, bus operators and riders have been impressed with the vehicle's smooth, quiet operation." The bus will be entered into regular revenue service this summer, following a brief training period. Two more ISE-supplied hybrid RTS buses are to be delivered to New Jersey Transit in 2003.

By early 2004, ISE hopes to see large numbers of buses sold with its ThunderVolt-ELFA drive system, which can be installed into virtually any transit bus model. The Siemens "ELFA" motors, motor controllers, and generators used in this system have proven their reliability and durability in more than 600 buses in Europe. The system also utilizes "ZEBRA" nickel sodium chloride batteries, which have a higher energy density than the lead-acid and nickel metal hydride batteries used in competing hybrid systems. In addition, ISE offers variants of its drive system using ultracapacitors to store energy; with engines fueled by gasoline, natural gas, and hydrogen; and with advanced power plants including fuel cells. This broad offering of energy storage and power generation options, combined with the flexibility of ISE's hybrid control system, allows the "ThunderVolt-ELFA system" to be customized to meet the specific needs of many different transit bus operators.

For additional information, please contact:

Director of Marketing
ISE Corporation
7345 Mission Gorge Road, Suite K
San Diego, CA 92120
Phone: (619) 287-8785
Fax: (619) 287-8795
www.isecorp.com
marketing@isecorp.com