Metro News Release

For immediate release: October 22, 2009

Metro, West Virginia University Research Corporation to partner test bus emissions

Testing designed to determine the cleanest fuel option for future bus orders

Metro’s Board of Directors today authorized a contract for the West Virginia University Research Corporation and Metro to conduct bus emissions testing that will assist the agency in selecting the preferred choice of cleaner bus fuels for future bus orders.

West Virginia University and Metro will perform emissions testing, collect operations data, and gather in-service vehicle performance and operating cost information for a comparison between Metrobuses operating with diesel fuel, hybrid-electric propulsion systems, compressed natural gas and clean-diesel bio-fuels. The evaluation will help Metro determine which fuel and propulsion system provides the cleanest fuel option and most cost-effective way to power the transit agency’s bus fleet in the future.

The contract is for one year, with four, one-year options contingent upon funding. The base year of the contract, $184,528 is fully funded through an operating grant received from the East Coast Hybrid Consortium, a group comprised of public and private stakeholders.

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Media contact for this news release: Steven Taubenkibel or Lisa Farbstein at 202-962-1051.
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News release issued at 1:50 pm, October 22, 2009.