Passenger Bus, Rail and Motorcoach Industry News

Presented with the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, the highest environmental honor in the state of California, for building the most comprehensive hydrogen fuel cell demonstration program in the country. Its zero-emission fuel cell buses achieve nearly double the fuel economy of conventional buses.

The solar lighting system was created to provide illumination to poorly lit bus stops in the El Paso area. Thirteen solar lighting units have been installed across the city.

Using a Power Purchase Agreement to finance the systems, it is anticipated that VTA will save $2.7 million in electricity costs over the next 20 years.

Officials say it will be the first transit station in Florida and one of the first in the nation to be completely supported by solar energy.

The solar panels generate enough electricity to offset a significant portion of this facility's annual electricity consumption and have the same environmental benefit as planting more than 285 acres of trees a year.

As part of the campaign, posts at selected bus stops are crowned with a solar panel that charges a battery that powers the light-emitting diode, or LED, fixtures.

Placed in a light rail station shelter in downtown Phoenix to provide air-conditioning to commuters. The station is believed to be the first of its kind in the U.S.

NRG Thermal LLC is building a system that uses solar power and the company’s downtown district cooling system to provide cooling to the seating areas of the popular 3rd Street/Washington Valley Metro light rail station. Will design and build the system by July 5, the week before the Major League Baseball All-Star game is held in Phoenix.

The Solar Bus consists of four thin film solar panels that run the length of the bus and charge an on-board battery bank. When the bus engine is off, the batteries power the air-conditioning and wireless connectivity equipment, enabling the buses to effectively meet anti-idling standards without compromising passenger comfort.

Agency installs its solar powered bus shelters where the shelter may lie outside the municipal electric power grid, and because the connection and electric usage costs are prohibitive.