Azure Dynamics Sells 10 Hybrid Buses In N.J.
The Oak Park hybrid and electric truck powertrain developer Azure Dynamics Corp. (OTC:AZDDF) Tuesday announced the sale of 10 Balance Hybrid Electric shuttle buses to NJ Transit on behalf of six transit agencies within the state.
The shuttles will be used primarily in paratransit service.
The Azure vehicles are moving into service at the end of this month in the six following agencies in New Jersey:
* Burlington County Transportation
* Cumberland Area Transportation System
* Mercer County TRADE
* Middlesex County Area Transportation
* South Jersey Transportation Authority
* Somerset County Transportation
"This program with NJ Transit puts our technology in the hands of six different end-users -- all significant entities in their own right and all working to find efficient transportation alternatives," said Scott Harrison, Azure CEO. "We're delighted to have the opportunity to demonstrate our technology in this capacity and hopefully are seeding future orders."
Added Evie Wills, general manager of American Bus & Coach, the dealership that handled the sale: "Aside from providing transportation equipment and service in New Jersey, our employees live here and raise our families here. Efforts taken by leading transportation providers like NJ Transit to make our air cleaner to breathe and to help create a healthier environment while at the same time providing vital services to our senior and disabled community members is a win-win situation for New Jersey and its residents. We're proud to have had an involvement."
Covering a service area of approximately 5,325 square miles, NJ Transit is the nation's third largest provider of bus, rail and light rail transit, linking major points in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia. NJ Transit also administers several publicly funded transit programs for people with disabilities, senior citizens and people living in the state's rural areas who have no other means of transportation.
The Azure Balance Hybrid Electric Drivetrain is incorporated on a Ford E450 chassis and manages the conventional 5.4-liter Triton gasoline engine and the 5-speed automatic TorqShift transmission to produce a cleaner, more fuel efficient vehicle. Since most commercial vehicle fleets spend about 50 percent of their total operational costs in fuel, the Balance Hybrid Electric's ability to improve economy by up to 40 percent provides demonstrable financial return. Additionally, the Balance Hybrid Electric reduces maintenance cost by up to 30 percent while typically reducing vehicle maintenance time and cost, providing opportunity for more revenue-producing trips.
The contract was managed by American Bus & Coach in Trenton, N.J. Goshen Coach in Elkhart, Ind. built the bodies for the buses.
More at www.azuredynamics.com or www.americanbusandcoach.com.
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