Back in the office just a few days and playing catch up on some cool news. I've written about Lightning Hybrids Inc.'s (LHI) hydraulic hybrid drivetrain many times in the past, so wanted to share the good news that the Loveland, Colo. company's new fuel-efficient hydraulic hybrid shuttle bus was recognized for its "
Most Innovative New Technology" at BusCon in Chicago this morning.The vehicle, a 2012 Ford E-450 23-passenger shuttle bus with a hydraulic hybrid system, was available for rides along Navy Pier during the event, which is said to be North America’s biggest bus show.
LHI says that this bus, the first hydraulic hybrid shuttle bus on the road, gets up to 40% better fuel economy than a non-hybrid because it regenerates braking energy — and it has more power for acceleration and stopping. The system provides a 2 to 3 year payback for stop-and-go drive cycles based on fuel and brake savings.According to a press release from last week, “This is the first hydraulic hybrid shuttle bus on the road and we’re excited to show it off at BusCon. Surprisingly, everyone who has test driven comments more on the extra acceleration power and better braking than the fuel savings. The LHI system is clearly a great safety feature in addition to a fuel saving solution,”stated
Tim Reeser, LHI’s Co-Founder and President.
Lightning Hybrids has partnered with Davey Coach Sales of Sedalia, Colorado, to sell the retrofitted shuttle buses.
Lightning Hybrids has been working on the
hydraulic hybrid system since September 2008. It is available for heavy duty Ford and GM vehicles – work trucks, shuttle buses, utility vehicles – both new as well as retrofit to vehicles currently in fleets.
For more information please call (800) 223-0740 ext. 102 or email
[email protected].
