As part of an effort to cut the city’s CO2 emissions by 100,000 tons by 2011, the Metro Transit System of Madison, WI, has taken delivery of five hybrid diesel-electric buses built by GM-Allison. The Madison fleet joins 815 GM-Allison hybrid buses already running in 71 cities, according to the manufacturer.

Two of the Metro Transit hybrids have been assigned to shuttle routes on the Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison campus. The other three will work commuter routes on the city’s streets.

Based on tests conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the GM-Allison hybrid bus technology is expected to deliver up to a 75% improvement in fuel economy compared to diesel-powered transit buses while reducing particulate matter up to 97%, carbon monoxide up to 60%, NOX up to 39% and hydrocarbon emissions up to 75%.

GM’s Allison Transmission Inc., a maker of heavy-duty transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems headquartered in Indianapolis, manufactures the hybrid technology used in the new buses. The bus chassis are manufactured by Gillig Corp. of Hayward, CA.