Lightning Hybrids announces 32-bus order from Kiessling Transit

Thursday June 30, 2016 0 comments Tags: Loveland, Lightning Hybrids, Tim Reeser, Energy Recovery System

LOVELAND -- Lightning Hybrids,  developer and manufacturer of the Energy Recovery System (ERS) for medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses, announced an agreement with Kiessling Transit, a leading Massachusetts-based transportation company.

As a result, Kiessling will almost double the number of hydraulic hybrid buses in its fleet.

The order for 32 units follows an order last year from the Boston-area transit company for 35 units that were commissioned in September 2015, Lightning Hybrids said.

Those vehicles have recorded nearly 1 million miles. The ERS has demonstrated improvements of 25 percent in fuel efficiency, and significantly reduced tailpipe emissions. In addition, Lightning Hybrids said it has identified ways to reduce vehicle idle time by up to 30 percent.

Kiessling Transit received a grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that pays for 80 percent of the cost of the Lightning Hybrids’ systems to be installed on Kiessling Transit’s Ford E-450 passenger buses, making them cleaner, more fuel efficient and improving braking efficiency.

The ERS is a patented, parallel hydraulic hybrid system that has no electric batteries. Instead, it applies a hydraulic system to the driveline of a vehicle to regenerate braking energy. Hydraulic pumps and a lightweight accumulator brake the vehicle, store the energy, and then use that stored energy to provide power to the wheels.

“Our partnership with Kiessling Transit proves the benefits of our ERS both to fleets and to the communities they serve in terms of cleaner air and in reduced costs,” said Tim Reeser, Lightning Hybrids’ president and co-founder.

“Kiessling Transit is an innovative early adopter and was one of the first customers to trial our technology for over a year, in 2013, which they followed last year with our largest order at that time for 35 units.

“This new order demonstrates that companies like Kiessling are willing to make their existing fleet vehicles significantly cleaner and more efficient with a high-tech hybrid system built on proven and sustainable hydraulic technology.”

When put in service, Lightning said the buses will provide an immediate positive impact on the environment due to the reduced emissions of the system.

For example, vehicles with Lightning Hybrids’ technology produce half of the NO_x emissions and 25 percent fewer CO₂ emissions, compared to vehicles without the company’s system.

In addition to these emissions reductions, the Kiessling fleet will see decreased fuel use, longer brake life, better low-end torque, and lower maintenance and operational costs.

“We are the only private transit fleet in Massachusetts running hybrid buses that do not pollute the air the way diesel and gasoline buses do,” said Roger Kiessling, chief operations officer, Kiessling Transit.

“We are pleased with the reliability of the ERS and the customer service provided by Lightning Hybrids. We are focused on providing the most efficient, reliable, environmentally friendly transportation to the areas we serve, and this technology supports our goals.”