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Contract brings New Flyer hybrid buses to King County, Wash.

Addition of up to 500 buses could create largest-ever hybrid-articulated fleet.

May 17, 2007
Contract brings New Flyer hybrid buses to King County, Wash.

King County Executive Ron Sims welcomed key local officials and representatives from GM and New Flyer, as they announced the contract agreement during a press conference Wednesday at Qwest Field.

1 min to read


King County, Wash., announced a contract for the purchase of up to 500 New Flyer articulated buses, most of which will be powered by GM's two-mode hybrid system.

 

The five-year contract between King County and bus-manufacturer New Flyer Industries, could be worth as much as $400 million. GM supplies New Flyer with the hybrid system for the buses.

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King County has been operating a fleet of 214 GM hybrid-powered buses since 2004 and with the addition of this contract, King County could have a total of 714 buses, making it the largest fleet of hybrid-articulated buses. The county will establish a new rapid transit bus service with the first 122 articulated hybrids ordered, according to officials.

 

The two-mode hybrid diesel-electric drive system for transit buses is manufactured by GM Allison Transmission, headquartered in Indianapolis. Currently, 720 buses with GM's 2-mode hybrid system have been delivered to 56 cities across the U.S. and Canada.

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