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Text transcript of the video "Metro
Transit hybrid bus one year report"
 Watch
this video clip (Real Media) Length: 2:42
Watch this video clip (Windows Media) Length:
2:42
Narrator says:
It has been one year since King County Metro Transit took delivery of
the largest fleet of hybrid buses in the country. The one year
report card for these 214 buses shows they are delivering on their
promise of lowering greenhouse emissions, improving gas mileage and
reliability.
King County Executive Ron Sims met with Metro drivers and mechanics
today to go over the buses performance data.
Ron Sims/King County Executive says:
Over the last year, the new hybrid fleet overall fuel economy rated 31
percent higher than the fleet of 30 conventional 60 foot diesel buses.
After logging an estimated eight million miles, the hybrid buses are
demonstrating a 32 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
compared to conventional diesel buses. The hybrid buses are also proving
to be 41 percent more reliable than their articulated diesel
counterparts which means they have less down time and require fewer
parts and repairs.
Narrator says:
Sims also credited Metro employees, many of whom agreed to specialized
training to help launch the hybrid fleet, for the success of the buses.
Ron Sims/King County Executive says:
We have you, the Metro transit employees who keep this fleet on the road
every single day, either by driving them or maintaining them, you are
the reason for this success. Some of you had to travel to Indiana
for intensive training on how to maintain these buses, over two thousand
operators were trained to drive them, as a matter of fact they had to
learn that they accelerate very quickly. Even today traffic
technicians continue to work closely with General Motors, Allison
Transmission engineers to improve this already superb vehicle. Part of
the efficiency of these buses is that 90-percent of the diagnostic work
performed by Metro technicians is done on lap top computers. This
is a very intelligent vehicle communicating with very intelligent
technicians, the best of the best.
Narrator says:
Metro Transit is acknowledged as one of the most environmentally
conscious transit operators in the nation. The 214 hybrid buses
represent about 16 percent of Metro's fleet, which also includes 155
electric trolley's that produce zero emissions. The rest of the
Metro fleet runs on ultra low sulfur diesel fuel, and Metro is currently
testing a five percent blend of biodiesel fuel in a portion of its
buses.
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