Greyhound's Historic Clean Diesel Bus Order Highlights Efficiency And Environmental Gains in Advanced Diesel Technology

220 Clean Diesel Bus Order Is Greyhound's Largest in 20 Years

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Greyhound's announcement that it has placed orders for 220 new clean diesel, low emission buses highlights the major advancements in diesel fuel efficiency and environmental gains, according to Allen Schaeffer, the Executive Director of the Diesel Technology Forum.

"Congratulations are in order for Greyhound and the two manufacturers - Motor Coach Industries and Prevost of the Volvo Group - for this major order of the newest clean diesel bus technology," Schaeffer said.  "These new buses will offer the most modern and advanced clean diesel technology to Greyhound's national fleet, which is the largest provider of intercity passenger service in North America.

"Because of its safety, reliability and efficiency, diesel is the predominant power source for public transit, school and intercity bus services nationwide.  It's extremely noteworthy that Greyhound Bus Line serves 3,800 destinations across the country and connects communities with a 100 percent diesel bus fleet," Schaeffer said.

"Diesel buses are the best source of transportation for Greyhound's expansive service area because of the efficiency and power needed to dependably and safely transport 25 million passengers throughout North America every year."

Greyhound Lines Inc. officials say the order is the company's largest bus order in more than 20 years and will make their fleet "one of the youngest and most environmentally friendly in the industry."

Clean Diesel Bus Technology Has Reduced Particulate Matter and NOx Emissions By 98%

Diesel power systems have been undergoing revolutionary technological advancements that have already achieved dramatic reductions in emissions for urban buses and highway engines. Advances in emissions-control systems and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) are helping clean diesel engines achieve emissions performance equivalent to compressed natural gas (CNG) and other alternatives.

"Today, EPA regulation have virtually eliminated emissions from new diesel buses - reducing particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by 98 percent from 1988 levels," Schaeffer said. "In addition, new technologies are also being used to upgrade older diesel engines which can reduce key pollutants from existing bus fleets by up to 90 percent.

"Because of these major advancements, clean diesel buses offer significant operational advantages over many alternative fuels, and assure reliable, durable, and cost-efficient bus transportation.

"Businesses and governments no longer have to turn to alternative fuels like CNG for greener operations.  They can now invest in clean diesel technology without the higher acquisition, facility and fueling station investments required with CNG," Schaeffer said. "While CNG fuel prices are lower than diesel at this time, that's just one part of the equation and there are significant other factors to consider.  Clean diesel buses are 20 to 25 percent less expensive than CNG buses, and do not depend on the separate fueling infrastructure and all of its attendant installation and operating costs required for CNG.  

"The new clean diesel technology is ideal for Greyhound's extensive intercity route system.  Diesel fuel is widely available in every area throughout the country, allowing for rapid shifts for Greyhound to serve new riders and routes.   And new-generation clean diesel engines are typically achieving five percent or better gains in fuel efficiency compared to previous generations.

"On a similar note, major city public transit systems are relying on both clean diesel and diesel-hybrid technology to improve efficiency and reduce emissions," Schaeffer said.

Related Diesel Bus News

Green bus bonanza for Greater Manchester (Rochdale Online – United Kingdom, March 13, 2013) 
Greater Manchester is set to become a green bus capital of the United Kingdom, with 229 diesel-electric hybrid vehicles on the road by this summer.

How SEPTA won its transit Oscar (Philly.com, February 27, 2013) 
SEPTA won the 2012 transit Oscar - the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) award for Outstanding Public Transportation System in a major metropolitan area.  Among the accomplishments cited by APTA was: $232 million for 440 new fuel-saving hybrid buses, bringing SEPTA's hybrid total to 472, approximately one third of the 1,400-bus fleet, the highest ratio of hybrid-to-diesel buses of any fleet in the country.

MTD starts using newer hybrids in fleet (News-Gazette – Illinois, January 22, 2013) 
Within a few months more than half of the 102-bus fleet of the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District will be made up of low-emissions, improved mileage diesel-electric hybrid buses.

CTA to purchase 300 clean diesel buses (Metro Magazine, January 14, 2013) 
The Chicago Transit Authority's (CTA) board unanimously approved the purchase of at least 300 new buses as part of CTA's bus fleet modernization initiative announced by Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CTA President Forrest Claypool in June 2012.

Metro saves millions with hybrid buses (WTOP Radio – Washington DC, September 28, 2012) 
Metro is saving big money with its hybrid buses, even though the technology gets nowhere close to the 40 miles per gallon available on hybrid cars.

Hybrid diesel electric transit buses (Maryland Department of Transportation, June 21, 2012) 
Governor Martin O'Malley today announced the Board of Public Works approval of $35,314,862 for the purchase of 53 hybrid diesel electric buses for the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA). Today's announcement meets the Administration's goal, first outlined in 2008, that the MTA purchase only hybrid diesel electric powered buses as older models are retired from service with a stated goal of up to 500 hybrid diesel electric powered buses in daily operation by 2014.

Hybrid Diesel-Electric Buses Coming To Chicago (HybridCars.com, May 15, 2012) 
New Flyer Industries Inc. announced yesterday an order for one hundred 60-foot articulated buses for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in support of its fleet renewal and customer enhancement strategies. Of the new buses, 33 are hybrid diesel-electric buses (model DE60LFR) and the other 67 are clean-diesel buses (model D60LFR).

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ABOUT THE DIESEL TECHNOLOGY FORUM
The Diesel Technology Forum is a non-profit national organization dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of diesel engines, fuel and technology. Forum members are leaders in clean diesel technology and represent the three key elements of the modern clean-diesel system: advanced engines, vehicles and equipment, cleaner diesel fuel and emissions-control systems. For more information visit www.dieselforum.org.

(View this press release online here.)

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
Allen Schaeffer
ProfNet- http://www.profnetconnect.com/Schaeffer 

Contact:
Steve Hansen
[email protected]
301-668-7230 (o)
202-355-3664 (c)

SOURCE Diesel Technology Forum