Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. and Cummins Inc. have received certification from the California Air Resources Board (ARB) to sell the model-year 2015 Allison H 40/50 EP hybrid propulsion system paired with the Cummins ISB6.7 and ISL9 diesel-electric hybrid engines for transit buses and coaches.
The ARB first provided approval in 2014, but the process requires the executive order to be reviewed for renewal eligibility on a model-year basis.
‘We are pleased to remain the first and only hybrid system manufacturer approved for the transit market in California,’ says Deborah Gordon, executive director of regulatory issues and hybrid programs for Allison Transmission.
Allison's H 40/50 EP hybrid propulsion system is used for both straight and articulated transit buses. The company claims its system has been shown to improve fuel economy up to 25% over similar diesel buses, and its regenerative braking capability can extend the brake change interval by as much as 350%.
‘Cummins is pleased the hybrid system has received 2015 certification from the ARB, as it will provide transit customers another viable solution designed to meet their business needs,’ states Laura Chasse, Cummins' general manager of North American bus business.
The Cummins ISB6.7 diesel-electric hybrid engine is rated at 280 hp (209 kW), while the ISL9 diesel-electric hybrid engine is rated at 330 hp (246 kW) for the transit bus market.
