In a move that would make even Rosa Parks proud, New York City's transport services have placed the largest hybrid bus order in history, entering a contract to purchase 500 Orion VII hybrid buses. 

This is the third order New York City has placed for the Orion buses, following orders of 200 units and 125 units respectively. Orion, Daimler Chrysler's North American city bus division, plans on starting deliveries of its hybrid buses in the second quarter of 2006.

I don't know much about hybrid buses, but I know that in Chicago, city buses are probably the most environmentally unfriendly vehicles in existence.  It's not uncommon to see drivers stuck behind buses wearing gas masks, just to prevent themselves from falling prey to carbon monoxide poisoning (or as I like to call it, the silent assassin).  I jest, or course, but New York's new hybrid buses are at least a small step in saving a polar ice cap or two.

You can check out Daimler Chrysler's full press release below.


OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE


DaimlerChrysler Receives Largest Hybrid-Electric Bus Order To Date



Stuttgart/New York, Oct 11, 2005

DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America has received a contract for 500 Orion VII hybrid-electric buses from New York City transport services. New York City Transit has ordered 216 Orion VII hybrid-electric buses and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA Bus) 284 units. This is the largest order for hybrid buses in history. Orion, DaimlerChrysler’s North American city bus brand, will begin deliveries in the second quarter of 2006. This is the third hybrid order in New York City for Orion complementing the prior orders of 200 units and 125 units respectively.

“I am both pleased and proud that Orion has established itself as the leading manufacturer of diesel electric hybrid buses,” said Andreas Renschler, the DaimlerChrysler Board of Management member responsible for the Commercial Vehicles Division. “This order further underlines our on-going commitment, not only to the markets but to the environment, through our investments in alternate drive technologies and products.”

As the acknowledged industry leader, DaimlerChrysler’s Commercial Vehicles Division has also developed hybrid drive systems for the light truck and van segments, as well as advanced diesel engines utilizing SCR (BlueTec) technology for its medium and heavy duty Mercedes-Benz trucks and buses.

Orion, along with partner BAE Systems producer of the HybriDrive® series hybrid propulsion system, are the leading brand of hybrid buses worldwide with more than 300 units in revenue service and 700 more units on order for the Toronto Transit Commission, San Francisco MUNI and now New York City Transit and MTA Bus. Trusted for their significant emissions reductions and fuel savings compared to stan-dard diesel buses, Orion Hybrid buses also outperform conventionally powered vehicles.

“We’re proud to continue our partnership with New York City Transit and MTA Bus as we have mutually pioneered the hybrid transit market into a viable propulsion option for city buses,” said Wolfgang Diez, Head of the DaimlerChrysler Buses and Coaches Business Unit.

Compared to standard diesel propulsion, the hybrid units will provide significantly better fuel economy while greatly reducing emissions: 90 percent less particulate matter, 40 percent less NOx, and 30 percent fewer greenhouse gases. Drivers will enjoy faster acceleration and customers will experience a quieter, smoother ride free of the frequent transmission shifts encountered in conventional buses.

“Orion is an integral part of the DaimlerChrysler Bus family,” said Wolfgang Diez. “Orion engineers work hand-in-hand with their bus colleagues in Europe to continually advance DaimlerChrysler’s approach to build clean air buses. The significant contributions made by Orion complement our fuel cell initiatives.”

Orion, a brand of DaimlerChrysler, operates facilities in Greensboro (North Carolina), Oriskany (New York), and Mississauga (Ontario). DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses North America produces and markets a wide range of commercial bus and coach products under the Orion, Setra, and Dodge Sprinter brands and is a unit of DaimlerChrysler, the world’s leading manufacturer of buses and coaches for Class 6 and higher, with more than 32,000 chassis and complete buses produced annually.

Copyright © 2005, DaimlerChrysler AG