Azure Dynamics’ Balance Hybrid Electric Shuttle Bus Completes Testing
January 29, 2009 by admin
Azure Dynamics said on Thursday that it has received testing certification for a line of hybrid electric shuttle buses. This makes the vehicles eligible for federal financial assistance for public transit agencies.
An Azure Dynamics Balance hybrid shuttle bus based on a Ford E-450 chassis has completed an accelerated durability test that simulates seven years and 200,000 miles of duty. The test program was run at the Altoona, PA durability test facility.
The Balance hybrid system is a parallel system that incorporates a drive motor inline with the drive shaft, battery pack and an integrated starter/generator to provide the start/stop capability. The system is paired up with the Ford 5.4L V8 in this cutaway van chassis that can be fitted with a variety of different body styles for different applications.
Azure claims fuel efficiency improvements of up to 40 percent and a 30 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions for its hybrid system.
The Balance shuttle, along with its series hybrid HD Senator CitiBus, are the only hybrid shuttles to have completed the testing claims Azure. That makes these vehicles eligible for Federal Transit Authority grants that cover up to 80 percent of the cost when local transit system purchase these vehicles.
Comments
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!