SAN
DIEGO, CA, April 28, 2008 — On April 10, 2008,
Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) launched the first
commercial bus with a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
hybrid-electric drive system (CNG Hybrid Drive System).
ISE Corporation (ISE) developed and supplied the CNG
Hybrid Drive System, a variant of ISE's successful
line of ThunderVolt™ hybrid drive systems. ISE
also integrated the CNG Hybrid Drive System into a
standard 40 foot transit bus that was supplied by MTS.
Funding for the program was provided by grants from
the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD),
San Diego Air Pollution Control District (APCD), and
the California Air Resources Board (CARB). North Island
Credit Union participated in the program by providing
a unique bus wrap to call attention to the environmentally
friendly and technologically advanced bus.
The $1 million CNG
hybrid prototype bus will cut significant emissions from
the already clean-burning CNG buses in the MTS fleet,
providing more power and a quieter ride.
"This new technology
is important to California transit agencies that have
invested heavily in CNG infrastructure and are seeking
even more efficient power drives," said San Diego County
Supervisor Ron Roberts, who also represents San Diego
on the boards of directors of MTS, APCD and CARB. "The
CNG-electric hybrid technology represents the next step
forward in our commitment to a healthier environment."
The CNG hybrid bus
will travel all over the MTS network, providing commuters
the opportunity to experience the new technology.
The
CNG Hybrid Drive System is expected to provide the
following environmental benefits:
- Significantly greater
fuel economy than standard CNG
- Reduced NOx emission over standard CNG
- Reduced CO2 emissions
- Reduced brake wear and brake maintenance
- Operate quieter than standard CNG buses
"MTS
is committed to providing clean, safe, reliable and environmentally
friendly transportation," said Paul Jablonski, CEO of
MTS. "We have been in the process of retiring our old
diesel buses and replacing them with cleaner and more
efficient technologies since 1997. We have already replaced
almost 75 percent of our fleet with CNG buses and will
complete the conversion over the next five to six years."
The CNG Hybrid Drive
System is based on ISE's proven ThunderVolt™ gasoline
hybrid drive systems and features a Cummins ISB Gas Plus
engine, a Siemens 165kW electrical generator, two Siemens
duo inverters, two Siemens 85kW drive motors and Cobasys-developed
NiMH batteries. MTS provided a New Flyer bus for the
program and New Flyer assisted ISE in the modification
of the bus chassis.
"ISE is excited to
take part in this program to help further improve the
environmental impacts of public transit in San Diego,"
said Gary Willms, ISE VP of Business Development. "Our
hybrid system has provided measureable benefits in other
California cities, throughout the United States and Canada.
We look forward to do the same for San Diego. Our
next step is to assist MTS in the testing and evaluation
of the CNG Hybrid Drive System performance compared
to conventional CNG buses."
San Diego's North Island
Credit Union, which is developing a new LEED-certified,
environmentally friendly headquarters, was selected
by MTS to provide a unique bus wrap for the CNG hybrid
bus. The credit union is known for its corporate brand,
which includes an iconic illustration of San Diego County's
greatest landmarks. Called "Island Paradise," the signature
artwork is a perfect fit to highlight the CNG hybrid
bus.
"North
Island Credit Union employees and members are committed
to caring for the environment in San Diego," said Geri
Dillingham, executive vice president and chief operating
officer of North Island Credit Union. "We are proud to
lend our signature artwork to call attention to this
technologically-advanced and environmentally friendly
bus."
The addition of the
new CNG hybrid bus to the MTS fleet comes in conjunction
with the recently authorized MTS purchase of up to twenty,
35-foot gasoline hybrid buses for delivery this fall,
and up to 250, 40-foot conventional CNG powered buses
or gasoline hybrid powered buses over the next five years.
The new order of buses will be the biggest procurement
order in the history of MTS.
Currently MTS maintains
and operates 476 buses of which 75 percent are CNG. The
new CNG hybrid bus and the new bus procurement will align
MTS with its stated goal of converting its entire fleet
to CNG or hybrid technology within the next 6 years.
For a look at MTS' new CNG hybrid-electric bus, follow
this link:
http://www.isecorp.com/gallery/SDMTS-CNG-Hybrid-Electric-Bus
About ISE Corporation:
ISE Corporation, based in San Diego, CA, is a leading
supplier of hybrid drive systems and components
for heavy-duty vehicles such as buses, trucks,
trams, airport equipment, and military vehicles.
ISE is a world leader in electric, hybrid-electric,
and fuel cell technologies, and the only authorized
distributor of Siemens ELFA® electric and hybrid-electric
drive components for the U.S. transit bus market.
www.isecorp.com
ISE Contact:
Gary Willms
Vice President Business Development
gwillms@isecorp.com
# # #
Safe Harbor Statement: Certain statements
contained in this press release are forward-looking in
nature. ISE's business and operations are subject to
a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors.
Consequently, actual results may materially differ from
those projected and/or stated by any forward-looking
statements. ISE Corporation makes no commitment to revise
or update any forward-looking statements in order to
reflect events or circumstances after the date any such
statement is made.
ISE, the ISE logo, ThunderVolt and
Transportation Recharged are trademarks of ISE Corporation.
Other brand or product names are trademarks of their
respective holders.
Copyright © 2008 ISE Corporation.
All rights reserved. |
