PVTA debuts new hybrid electric bus
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By Paula Canning
Staff Writer
With a press conference and an opportunity for those in attendance to take a ride on the new vehicle, The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PTVA) celebrated the newest addition to its fleet of transit buses last Friday a hybrid electrical bus.
The program took place in Holyoke, the starting destination of the new hybrid bus's transit route, which will travel to various points in the greater Springfield area.
With a price tag of $500,000 PVTA Administrator Gary Shepard said that purchasing the bus would not have been possible without the 80 percent federal funding that was secured by the efforts of Congressman John Olver (D-MA).
"Olver has done it again for us," he said. "If it wasn't for his effort and support, this would not have been possible."
Shepard said that, with rising fuel and maintenance costs for vehicles, the new hybrid bus "couldn't have come at a better time."
"With skyrocketing fuel prices impacting our operating budgets, we are the fortunate beneficiaries of Congressman Olver's dedicated effort to bring this new technology to the Pioneer Valley," he said.
Manufactured by Gillig Corporation, and powered by technology from General Motors (GM), the transit bus's hybrid propulsion system provides an estimated 20 to 25 percent fuel economy improvement, and dramatically lower emissions, according to GM Service Engineer Julie Peoples.
She explained that the bus uses a type of diesel fuel that is extremely low in sulfur content, which is one of the key omissions that GM is trying to reduce.
The new hybrid technology produces fewer oxides of nitrogen emissions and 90 percent fewer particulate, hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions, she said.
In addition to the environmental benefits, she explained that GM's hybrid propulsion system results for lower maintenance costs resulting from extended brake, oil, and transmission oil life.
Shepard, who said that he hopes that this is "the first of many," hybrid electric buses, said that other benefits of the vehicle include many "user-friendly," and handicapped accessible features.
Among these features are a fold-out ramp in place of a wheelchair lift, lower steps, a front end kneeling system, a video surveillance system, and special destination signs from the visually impaired.
Olver, said, "As individuals and as a society, we must make a greater effort to promote energy conservation and efficiency. I am glad to have contributed to a first step in this effort and hope to see many more of these vehicles on the road in the near future."
Holyoke Mayor Michael Sullivan, who also attended the press conference, thanked Olver and the PVTA for all of their hard work.
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