ANAHEIM TRANSPORTATION NETWORK TO TEST BUS CONVERSION FROM DIESEL TO ELECTRIC
The Anaheim Transportation Network (ATN) announced a partnership with NexGen Power Group Inc., based in San Clemente, CA, to test a fully functional heavy-duty, zero-emission, battery-powered transit bus for one year beginning December 2010. NexGen Power will retrofit two buses from diesel to an electric operating platform to perform a full operating day.
Two buses, one full size 40-foot diesel bus and one 22-foot diesel bus will go through a six-month conversion process before being placed back in for a one-year demonstration test. NexGen Power is providing conversion at no cost to the ATN. During the demonstration phase of the project, NexGen Power will have full access to the buses for data collection and analysis purposes.
At the completion of the one-year test, ATN may lease the converted buses from NexGen Power, sell the buses to NexGen or have them returned to their prior state at no cost. ATN has also secured the right of first refusal for its future needs.
The CEO of NexGen Power, Shekhar Chitnis, explained: “The basic technology was originally developed for the Beijing Olympics to provide zero-emission transportation for athletes and officials. Since then, the technology has evolved in range and cost efficiency to allow the use of zero-emission vehicles for public transportation.”
