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Ed Yeates reporting In about two weeks, UTA will unveil pollution friendly hybrid electric buses - which eventually could save the transit authority millions of dollars in fuel costs.
It looks like a bus, boards like a bus and moves like a bus. But this bus IS different.
This UTA bus runs mostly on electricity. In fact, the only time the diesel engine kicks in is to keep the batteries recharged to drive two electric motors, or for added demands at higher speeds above 50 miles per hour.
NATHON RUES, FIELD ENGINEER, ALLISON TRANSMISSION: "WE NEVER HAVE TO PLUG THIS IN. IT'S CONSTANTLY - EVERYTIME WE COME TO A STOP, WE'RE CHARGING THE BATTERIES. EVERYTIME YOU TAKE OFF AGAIN - ACCELERATE - YOU'RE DRAINING THE BATTERIES A BIT."
Like new generation hybrid cars, computers take care of the mix. The operator doesn't have to flip switches, just drive the bus.
RUES: "PLUS, THERE ARE NO SHIFTS IN THIS BUS, SO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE PASSENGERS SHOULD FEEL A MUCH SMOOTHER RIDE."
But even more, unlike the older buses which spew out black smoke, the hybrid electrics don't, because the demand on the diesel engine is less.
ED YEATES: "BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD AND THE NEW. COMPARED TO CONVENTIONAL DIESEL BUSES, THE NEW HYBRIDS USE 30 PERCENT LESS DIESEL FUEL."
That converts to less pollution - almost a 90 percent improvement - and a dramatic savings in fuel costs.
JOHN INGLISH, UTA GENERAL MANAGER: "THAT'S GOING TO SAVE US LITERALLY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IF THE FLEET WERE COMPLETELY CONVERTED TO THIS TECHNOLOGY."
And that is the long range goal. For now, UTA has purchased only three hybrids. But if they perform well out on the streets, stop after stop...
INGLISH: "TO REACH THAT POINT WHERE WE DON'T PUT A DIESEL ENGINE IN THESE VEHICLES AT ALL... THIS IS A STEP THAT'S LEADING ULTIMATELY TO A HYDROGEN FUEL CELL HYBRID ELECTRIC TECHNOLOGY. THAT WILL BE THE ULTIMATE."
Don't underestimate the electric motors in these buses. These aren't golf carts. They accelerate even faster than the traditional diesel-driven bus.
