Two low-floor, hybrid electric transit buses, partially powered by equipment from UQM Technologies and manufactured by Hybrid Bus Technologies, have been delivered to Los Angeles International Airport for use to transport passengers within the airport.

The buses have compressed natural gas fueled 2.5-liter Ford industrial engine that operates at 2,000rpm to generate the electricity to power the bus.

The hybrid transit buses’ electrical drives are each powered by two 100-kilowatt UQM propulsion systems and a 100-kilowatt UQM generator. The hybrid electric transit buses are an updated design of the 45-foot, low floor bus that has been transporting 63,500 passengers daily across the 1.3-mile long 16th Street pedestrian mall in Denver since 2000.

The electric propulsion system features regenerative braking, a process in which kinetic energy is converted to electric energy through the braking process and this electric energy is used to recharge the battery pack. Each 45-foot transit bus can transport over 100 passengers.

We are pleased that LAX, a leader in the deployment of alternatively fueled vehicles, will be placing our hybrid electric transit buses in service. Our ability to upgrade to a UQM propulsion system and generator for the motive power needs of the vehicle has improved both vehicle performance and fuel economy, said Jay Schneiders, president of Hybrid Bus Technologies.