Minneapolis Metro Transit debuts biodiesel-electric hybrid buses

Minneapolis Metro Transit debuted 19 hybrid electric-diesel buses, and promoted the new buses by offering free rides on one bus through the end of the year. The diesel-electric buses reduce emissions by 90 percent, and will produce 22 percent gain in mileage than current Minneapolis buses. The buses will run on a soy-based biodiesel blend. Metro Transit expects to increase the diesel-electric fleet to 150 buses by 2012.

Minneapolis Metro Transit doubled the biodiesel content to B10 beginning this past September.

In March 2008, Metro plans to convert to B20 biodiesel for summers and will continue to use B10 in the winters. The first phase of the transition is expected to reduce petroleum diesel consumption by 1.2 million gallons.

In 2005, Minnesota became the first state to impose a B2 mandate and the state’s Governor Pawlenty has called for the imposition of a B20 mandate to go into effect by 2015.

Free Subscription to the Daily Biofuels Digest e-newsletter

Related Stories

Minneapolis’ Metro Transit to double biodiesel content to B10 in 2007, B20 in summer 2008

Minneapolis Metro Transit will double the biodiesel content of its fuel to a B10 blend starting this month. In March 2008, Metro plans to convert to B20 biodiesel for summers and will continue to use ...

Brisbane, Australia to trial B20 in 25 city buses

Brisbane, capital of the state of Queensland in Australia, has determined to trial B20 biodiesel in 25 of its metro transit buses.   The move follows completion of a successful two-year trial of bi...

Daily Biofuels News Digest for November 16: 100 billion gallon gas shortage and $300 oil in view, Greenpeace blockades Indonesian palm oil tanker

Top Story: The International Energy Agency released a report projecting a severe energy supply shortage by no later than 2015. The report warned that increasing energy demand in India and China wou...

Toledo Regional Transit converts 25 percent of fleet to B20 biodiesel

In Ohio, the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority converted 10 buses to B20 biodiesel to coincide with Earth Day festivities. 25 percent of TARTA's fleet now runs on biodiesel blends....

Barbados to test biodiesel in buses

In Barbados, the national government will provide $4.2 million in funding for a alternative fuel test project for Transport Board buses. The buses will be tested using compressed natural gas, biodiese...

Powers Distributing switches 15 trucks to diesel-electric hybrids

In Michigan, Powers Distributing announced that it would convert 15 trucks in its fleet to DuraStar Hybrid Medium Duty Trucks – the first biofuels-hybrid trucks on the market.  International DuraSt...