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December 2, 2005
BATA shows off hybrid prototypeBus will be tested in TC over next few monthsTRAVERSE CITY - The wheels still go 'round and 'round on a new bus prototype bought by the Bay Area Transportation Authority, but what powers the machine is something different.BATA officials will unveil a prototype of the authority's first hybrid-electric bus this afternoon, the first such vehicle in a stable of buses that serve Grand Traverse and Leelanau counties. The bus was developed in part with a $4 million federal grant BATA received in November 2004, a grant partially earmarked for the purchase of hybrid-electric buses. BATA operations director Don Scharmen said the hybrid buses, which BATA hopes eventually will total between eight and 10, will be primarily used within Traverse City. "I am real happy about it and how it turned out," he said. "It, of course, is unique. It is the first one in the country of this style and of this particular bus size." The 27-foot, low-floor bus can carry up to 22 passengers and has two wheelchair positions, BATA officials said. The hybrid system allows the bus to be operated for extended periods in electric, "zero emission" mode that is controlled by the driver. "The advantages are that they save a lot of fuel," said Scharmen. "We will double our fuel economy, and it is much cleaner and better for the environment." Although the bus is designed for low-speed, city operation, it is capable of reaching a speed of 55 mph. The bus unveiling will begin at 3 p.m. today at the Hagerty Center on Front Street, and include comments from U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., and U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Midland. Scharmen, who spent about 10 weeks in Georgia while the prototype bus was being built, said the vehicle will be tested in Traverse City for the next three to six months. "We made one to make sure that this is what we wanted and get what we expected," he said. "Being the first of its kind, the idea is to test it and keep what we like and change what can be improved. Then, we can get the rest of them built." Clearing the Record
The photo caption above should have said graphics and printing of the artwork on Bay Area Transportation Authority’s new electric hybrid bus were made and donated to BATA by Truckskin, a subsidiary of Britten Media. The local company also paid Allen Letson, owner of an Indiana decal installation business who was pictured with the bus, to install the artwork.
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