BAE Systems to Power New Flyer Hybrid Transit Buses in Washington and Georgia

In Atlanta, HybriDrive technology will power two 35-foot Xcelsior buses for Atlantic Station, a residential and commercial community designed for smart growth and sustainable development through optimal land, air, and water quality resource management. Operated and maintained by Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, the buses will transport Atlantic Station residents to local MARTA rail stations.

The buses will be equipped with BAE Systems’ lithium-ion energy storage system, which offers longer life than other battery technologies and reduces vehicle weight for improved fuel economy and lower emissions.

“Our proven HybriDrive system is based on more than 40 years of technology development,” said Steve Trichka, general manager of power and energy management for BAE Systems in Johnson City, New York. “BAE Systems is a recognized leader in the growing market for greener, cleaner, and more efficient transportation around the world.”

BAE Systems’ HybriDrive technology currently powers more than 2,700 buses in cities across North America and in the United Kingdom and has transported more than a billion passengers in New York, San Francisco, Toronto, Ottawa, Houston, Seattle, London, and Oxford, U.K. To date, the buses have accumulated more than 150 million miles of passenger travel and have saved more than 10 million gallons of diesel fuel, while also preventing the release of more than 100,000 tons of carbon emissions.

The HybriDrive system dramatically reduces emissions and increases fuel economy while meeting the durability requirements of demanding urban transit operations. It consists of a generator, an electric motor, and an energy storage system managed by computerized controls. A diesel engine turns the generator and operates independent of the electric drive motor, allowing it to run at nearly consistent speed for optimum efficiency. The system also uses no mechanical transmission, a major maintenance item on conventional diesel buses.

BAE Systems is a global defense, security and aerospace company with approximately 107,000 employees worldwide. The Company delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. In 2009 BAE Systems reported sales of £22.4 billion (US$ 36.2 billion).

www.baesystems.com