xcel
11-27-2006, 11:11 AM
The buses are supposed to have 40 percent better fuel efficiency and 50 percent fewer emissions than the diesel buses they are replacing. (http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20061126/NEWS/111260033)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/GM_Hybrid_Bus3.jpgEdward Stoner - Summit Daily News - Nov. 26, 2006
VAIL - April Jean-Baptist and her husband just bought a Toyota Prius hybrid car. For their ski vacation to Vail from Chicago, they bought credits to offset the "carbon footprint" that their trip created. April was also very interested in Vail Resorts' recent decision to get all of its electricity from wind power.
And when the Jean-Baptists happened to be among the first passengers on Vail's new hybrid bus, April gave the new bus a thumbs-up.
"We just see that things are changing and are worried about global warming and the future of our kids and want to be active about it," she said.
April said she'd like to see the town buy more of the buses. If things go well with Vail's first hybrid bus - which went into service Wednesday - that will happen. Vail plans to buy nine more hybrid buses over the next four years.
The new hybrid bus is serving the "in town" route, which runs from Golden Peak to the Vail Marriott in Lionshead.
The buses are supposed to have 40 percent better fuel efficiency and 50 percent fewer emissions than the diesel buses they are replacing.
The hybrid bus costs $508,300, about $200,000 more than a standard diesel. The town used federal and state grants for about 80 percent of the cost.
Once all 10 hybrid buses are being used, the town expects to save 11,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year.
The move to the environmentally friendly buses complements the announcements this summer that Vail Resorts, the town of Vail and the Vail Recreation District are offsetting all of their electricity use with wind-power credits.
'Just for the environment'
As the bus pulled away from the Vail Marriott, the electric motor hummed from a low pitch to a high pitch, and, simultaneously, the gas engine quietly rumbled.
One rider, Patty Jenkins of Denver, a visitor to Vail for decades, said she thought it was great that the town bought the hybrid bus.
"Just for the environment," she said.
"It's a good use of tax dollars," said her son, Jeff Petroff of Denver.
"Less emissions to breathe," Jenkins said. "Anything that can save the environment."
Petroff said he saw the "hybrid" sign on the bus as soon as he got on it. He noted the smell of gas fumes was less noticeable on the hybrid bus.
The bus driver, Ernie Chavez, first and foremost said the bus had a great stereo, as Nelly's "Ride Wit Me" appropriately played for his midday passengers. He also said the bus was less noisy than its diesel counterparts.
"It's nice and quiet, that's for sure," he said.
It seemed to be demonstrating better gas effiency, too, he said.
"It's been out since this morning at six o'clock, and it hasn't used any gas, according to the gauge," he said.
The bus will remain on the in-town route and won't be used for East Vail and West Vail routes, said Mike Rose, Vail Transit transportation manager.
"Where these really work best is stop-and-go driving under 25 miles per hour," he said.
The buses have an internal combustion engine that's about the same size as a pickup truck's engine, Rose said.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/GM_Hybrid_Bus3.jpgEdward Stoner - Summit Daily News - Nov. 26, 2006
VAIL - April Jean-Baptist and her husband just bought a Toyota Prius hybrid car. For their ski vacation to Vail from Chicago, they bought credits to offset the "carbon footprint" that their trip created. April was also very interested in Vail Resorts' recent decision to get all of its electricity from wind power.
And when the Jean-Baptists happened to be among the first passengers on Vail's new hybrid bus, April gave the new bus a thumbs-up.
"We just see that things are changing and are worried about global warming and the future of our kids and want to be active about it," she said.
April said she'd like to see the town buy more of the buses. If things go well with Vail's first hybrid bus - which went into service Wednesday - that will happen. Vail plans to buy nine more hybrid buses over the next four years.
The new hybrid bus is serving the "in town" route, which runs from Golden Peak to the Vail Marriott in Lionshead.
The buses are supposed to have 40 percent better fuel efficiency and 50 percent fewer emissions than the diesel buses they are replacing.
The hybrid bus costs $508,300, about $200,000 more than a standard diesel. The town used federal and state grants for about 80 percent of the cost.
Once all 10 hybrid buses are being used, the town expects to save 11,000 gallons of diesel fuel per year.
The move to the environmentally friendly buses complements the announcements this summer that Vail Resorts, the town of Vail and the Vail Recreation District are offsetting all of their electricity use with wind-power credits.
'Just for the environment'
As the bus pulled away from the Vail Marriott, the electric motor hummed from a low pitch to a high pitch, and, simultaneously, the gas engine quietly rumbled.
One rider, Patty Jenkins of Denver, a visitor to Vail for decades, said she thought it was great that the town bought the hybrid bus.
"Just for the environment," she said.
"It's a good use of tax dollars," said her son, Jeff Petroff of Denver.
"Less emissions to breathe," Jenkins said. "Anything that can save the environment."
Petroff said he saw the "hybrid" sign on the bus as soon as he got on it. He noted the smell of gas fumes was less noticeable on the hybrid bus.
The bus driver, Ernie Chavez, first and foremost said the bus had a great stereo, as Nelly's "Ride Wit Me" appropriately played for his midday passengers. He also said the bus was less noisy than its diesel counterparts.
"It's nice and quiet, that's for sure," he said.
It seemed to be demonstrating better gas effiency, too, he said.
"It's been out since this morning at six o'clock, and it hasn't used any gas, according to the gauge," he said.
The bus will remain on the in-town route and won't be used for East Vail and West Vail routes, said Mike Rose, Vail Transit transportation manager.
"Where these really work best is stop-and-go driving under 25 miles per hour," he said.
The buses have an internal combustion engine that's about the same size as a pickup truck's engine, Rose said.