Thanks to the infusion of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) federal funds, Charlevoix County and Beaver Island have a new small hybrid bus on the road this summer.
The new vehicle went into service in June, making it a first in the state.
"Our newest edition to the fleet features the latest in technology and will give us better mileage, quieter performance and is perfect for the stop-and-go service we provide for our customers," said Ray Leach, manager, Charlevoix County Transit System, which provides public transportation throughout the county. The transit system provides over 80,000 rides annually.
The $109,000 hybrid bus has a flexible seating arrangement and can serve 12 passengers. It features several wheelchair options, and includes a wheelchair lift for disabled riders. The pilot model uses a gas/electric hybrid system, manufactured by Azure Dynamics, which is headquartered in Oak Park. The bus was manufactured in the Midwest while the battery packs were assembled by Cobasys in Lake Orion.
According to the manufacturer, the bus is called a "parallel hybrid" because the electric drive can run parallel to the standard gas engine. Under 20 mph, it will run off electricity. More than 20 mph, the engine will run, powering the drive train and recharging the batteries.
The new "green" technology is expected to improve fuel economy by up to 40 percent, reduce maintenance costs by 30 percent, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 30 percent.
