Hybrid-Biodiesel Buses: The New Breed

"RFTA, in partnership with the City of Aspen, Pitkin County and the Town of Snowmass Village, sought an alternative mass transit system that would reduce environmental impacts on the community and dependence on foreign oil by moving towards sustainable and renewable forms of energy," said Dan Blankenship, CEO of RFTA. "These buses are a positive step in that direction and a big win for everyone in and around the Roaring Fork Valley."

Other benefits of the GM hybrid system include reduced maintenance costs resulting from extended brake, engine oil and transmission oil life; superior torque; and better acceleration than conventional diesel.

The RFTA hybrid buses will operate year-round, carry up to 300 passengers per hour, and provide continuous in-service operation to visitors for up to 20 hours a day. The hybrid buses will operate under several unique conditions including operating at elevations of up to 9,000 feet above sea level, climbing grades as steep as 12 percent and regularly traveling at speeds of up to 65 mph.

The clean hybrid technology is manufactured by GM Allison Transmission, maker of transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems for commercial trucks, buses, off-highway equipment and military vehicles, headquartered in Indianapolis. The buses are manufactured by New Flyer Industries, the leading manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses in Canada and the U.S. New Flyer is headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and has two facilities in the U.S.