Consortium Orders 157 GM Hybrid-Powered Buses

A hybrid bus consortium consisting of 11 transit agencies in California, Nevada and New Mexico has awarded a contract to Gillig Corp. for the purchase of up to 157 diesel-electric hybrid buses powered by General Motors’ advanced hybrid propulsion system.

The purchase contract is the second largest since GM’s system debuted in 2003 and was spearheaded by the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD) in California. San Joaquin RTD plans on buying 50 hybrid buses, while the remaining 107 buses will be available for other consortium members.

“Our board of directors’s commitment to the diesel fuel path led San Joaquin RTD to purchase two GM hybrid-powered buses made by Gillig in June 2004,” said Bobby Kuhn, director of maintenance for San Joaquin RTD.

Deliveries will begin in 2006 and conclude in late 2007.