Allison Transmission Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ALSN) and Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) today announced that they have received approval from the Air Resources Board (ARB) in California to sell the Allison H 40/50 EP™ hybrid propulsion system paired with Cummins ISB6.7 and ISL9 diesel-electric hybrid engines for transit buses and coaches.
“We are pleased to be the first hybrid system manufacturer approved for the transit market in California,” said 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. It has been shown to improve fuel economy up to 25 percent over similar diesel buses. Additionally, its regenerative braking capability can significantly extend the brake change interval by as much as 350 percent.
The dual Executive Order (EO) issued by the ARB to both Allison and Cummins allows sales of the Allison H 40/50 EP with the Cummins ISB6.7 or ISL9 hybrid engine, and is valid for 2014 models. Allison and Cummins will also apply for a 2015 EO.
“Cummins is pleased the hybrid system has received approval from ARB as it will provide transit customers another viable solution designed to meet their business needs,” stated Laura Chasse, general manager of North American Bus Business.
The Cummins ISB6.7 and ISL9 diesel-electric hybrid engines feature proven technology designed and developed in-house that is optimized to deliver the efficiency, durability and performance transit bus customers expect. The ISB6.7 diesel-electric hybrid engine is rated at 280 hp (209kW) while the ISL9 diesel-electric hybrid engine is rated at 330 hp (246kW) for the transit bus market.
“A major underlying factor for issuing the EO was the approval of the H 40/50 EP’s Heavy Duty On-Board Diagnostics (HDOBD) system, which was also a major milestone that Allison was the first to achieve,” said Gordon.
Since 2003, Allison has delivered over 6,500 hybrid propulsion systems which have accumulated nearly 650 million miles, saving over 34 million gallons of fuel and preventing 340 metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.
