San Francisco Adds Hybrid Buses to Its Transit Fleet

California’s first diesel-electric hybrid transit bus cruises down the Embarcadero in San Francisco

(June 7, 2006) — The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (MUNI) took delivery on June 1 of its first hybrid electric transit bus with a ceremony in front of City Hall. BAE Systems and DaimlerChrysler participated in the event with the environmentally conscious city, launching the first of 56 Orion VII hybrid buses into service there.

Mayor Gavin Newsom attended and spoke at the event, praising the fuel economy and emissions reduction enabled by the new buses. “We are confident that adding these hybrid electric buses to our fleet is a step in the right direction for our citizens’ health and our environment,” he said. “Many of our residents have already made the switch to hybrid vehicles, and it is time we follow suit.”

The Orion VII bus, which is powered by BAE Systems’ HybriDrive® propulsion system, is the first hybrid diesel-electric bus to enter service in California. According to estimates derived from recent data, San Francisco’s 56-bus fleet will save, over its lifetime, more than 200 tons of NOx, more than 13,000 tons of greenhouse gases, and more than 1.2 million gallons of diesel fuel.

MUNI chose the Orion VII after extensive testing of various systems, during which the ability to climb steep hills was especially important. The city already has extensive experience with electric propulsion in its system of trolleys and cable cars. When the order is complete, hybrid electric buses will account for 11 percent of the city’s transit fleet, and electrically propelled vehicles will comprise 50 percent of the city’s fleet.

About BAE Systems:
BAE Systems is the premier trans-Atlantic defense and aerospace company, delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. BAE Systems, with more than 100,000 employees worldwide, had 2005 sales that exceeded $28 billion.

For further information please contact:
Larry Stone, BAE Systems — Tel: 607-770-3944

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