INNOVATION HAS ADVANCED WITH THE 2010 ALLISON HYBRID E^P SYSTEM™

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Allison Transmission, Inc., a leader in advanced hybrid technology, has announced that the 2010 Allison Hybrid E^P System for buses and coaches will feature new and improved components for greater reliability, durability and performance. Allison is the world’s largest heavy-duty hybrid producer with over 4000 hybrid systems either delivered or awarded.

For 2010, the system will use Allison Fourth Generation Electronic Controls. These are Allison’s latest microprocessor controls featuring hardware common to all high-volume Allison commercial transmissions. They have greater processing power and memory capability with memory expansion that allows for further technology evolution. These controls have fewer electrical connections for greater system durability and reliability and have full optimization with 2010 engines.

The second-generation DPIM2 (Dual Power Inverter Module 2) unit features more robust internal hardware with enhanced redundancy for greater reliability. Externally, this new unit is fully interchangeable with all prior production units giving users maximum maintenance flexibility.

The second-generation ESS2 (Energy Storage System 2) utilizes the latest Nickel Metal Hydride battery cell technology from Panasonic. The high-capacity cells are common to both the Allison Hybrid E^P40 and E^P50 Systems and can handle buses of every size. Allison has used Panasonic Nickel Metal Hydride batteries in the ESS since the start of production in 2003 and has proven itself in more heavy-duty hybrid vehicles than any other brand or battery chemistry. Allison’s original ESS achieved 100,000,000 service miles (160,934,000 km) without a single end-of-life battery cell failure.

The 2010 E^V Drive™ is a Two-Mode Parallel Hybrid that operates automatically as a parallel hybrid or series hybrid. The continuously variable drive features an infinite number of ratios and automatically adjusts ratios to operate at optimum power curves to attain the best performance and fuel economy. The 2010 E^V Drive™ automatically chooses one of an infinite number of ratios to run 2010-spec engines at their most efficient points for low fuel consumption, low emissions and low noise. The 2010 E^V Drive also has the Allison HyValue™ performance features HyGain™, HyIdle™ and HyTraction™.

There are over 2,600 buses and coaches equipped with the Allison Hybrid E^P System in operation around  the world  providing  166,000,000 miles  (268,000,000 km) of reliable  and low emission service. These hybrid buses are operating in over 130 cities worldwide and include the transit agencies of Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Seattle, Houston, Minneapolis-St Paul, Oahu, Vancouver and Yosemite National Park. They have traveled over 100 million miles without a single “end-of-life” battery failure. They have saved an estimated 8.8 million gallons (33 million liters) of fuel. And, they have eliminated over 87,000 metric tons of CO₂.

In 2009, the Allison hybrid manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, shipped a world record 205 systems in a single month to vehicle manufacturers worldwide. The Allison Hybrid E^P System is released and available from five of the six largest North American heavy-duty transit bus manufacturers (New Flyer, Gillig, NABI, Nova, MCI).