Yosemite National Park Testing GM Hybrid Buses April 2005

Visitors to California's Yosemite National Park are being transported in brand-new, fuel-efficient General Motors Corp. hybrid diesel-electric buses.

The new buses use a larger-scale version of the automaker's hybrid powertrain developed for 2007 full-sized Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon sport-utility vehicles.

GM is testing the technology at Yosemite and in 22 cities, the Detroit News said.

The buses use batteries to power an electric motor at low speeds, with a diesel engine starting on demand at higher speeds or while passing or climbing. GM officials said the hybrid powertrain offers 50 percent better acceleration than a conventional diesel bus and reduces exhaust emissions by as much as 90 percent.

The dual-mode hybrid powertrain is manufactured by the Gillig Corp., of Hayward, Calif.

Nearly every U.S. automaker is developing less-polluting hybrid vehicles after falling behind Toyota and Honda.

SOURCE: Washington Times

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