The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority has purchased seven new hybrid buses to add to the fleet.
- PSTA goes green with electric powered buses
- BAE-Series-E a 2nd generation hybrid electric bus
- Buses to save money, reduce carbon in atmosphere
Manufactured by Gillig, the BAE-Series-E is a complete integrated electric propulsion and power system. All of the bus propulsion and accessory systems are powered electrically from the HybridDrive system, including zero-emission modes of travel.
Joseph Cheney, Deputy Director of Maintenance for PSTA was part of the team tasked to bring the buses to Pinellas County.
"I think that the agency has committed to go green - to be as green as possible. To have the smallest carbon footprint that we can," Cheney said.
The new bus is the second generation hybrid electric bus in use by the Transit Agency. Each bus costs $750,000 and is expected to be on the road for approximately sixteen years, logging more than fifty thousand miles each year.
Like it's predecessor, the BAE-Series-E has an engine and a generator. However, where most hybrid buses use a combination of electric and fuel power, this generator is connected to the engine. The engine's only job is to generate electricity. The power is sent to the batteries on the roof of the bus. It's the batteries that power the motor and carry the bus down the street.
The new buses will save money over time and reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. PSTA sees them as the future of Green Transportation in Tampa Bay.
Learn more about the Gillig BAE Series E Bus.