Hybrid buses may be better for the environmental, but are they practical, or beneficial, economically speaking? Well, this is a complicated issue with no easy answer - it depends on many different factors, short and long term:

1) how fuel-and-oil-efficient are the buses?
2) how much maintenance do the buses require?
3) how much do the buses cost to build? (including the need to build and develop "recharging stations")

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note: Hybrid buses are being circulated by the Manhattanville Depot in Harlem, and the results of these buses were compared with diesel buses running out of the same depot, and the nearby Amsterdam Depot.

Fuel Economy and Oil Consumption

Over time, hybrid buses would be a long-term benefit in cutting gasoline costs. Currently, according to the MTA, they control 4, 373 buses (though the Department of Energy placed the number as high as 4,489), traveling over 107 million miles using 38 million gallons of gasoline per year. The NYCT pays $1.03 per gallon of gasoline, and $0.64 per quart of engine oil.

Diesel buses in the Manhattanville and Amsterdam depots got an average of 2.42 miles per gallon, while the hybrid buses got 2.65 mpg. On average, the diesel buses used about 45 cents worth of gasoline per mile, while the hybrid buses used 39 cents. Overall, this could work out to a savings of about 6.4 million dollars per year. Oil consumption was expected to be slightly higher in the hybrid buses (about between 0.72 and 0.22 quarts per thousand miles). This problem would cost about $15,000 (by liberal estimates) to $50,000 (by conservative estimates) more per year in costs. This is still a significantly smaller amount of money compared to what would be saved on fuel costs.

These numbers are also only averages. During some months, the hybrid buses really outshone the diesel buses, improving fuel economy by over 60%. As technology improves, hybrid buses should be able to keep these numbers year-round.

Maintenance

The performance of the hybrid buses can only be judged by the 10 prototypes currently on the road in New York City. Reports indicate that these ten buses break down more often than regular buses, and require more maintenance, which raises costs. However, reports say that the increase in break-downs can largely be attributed to the fact that these are prototypes, not put together on an assembly line, and it is usually the case that prototypes do not work as efficiently as standard models. Also, mechanics were not familiar with the hybrid buses (leading to more labor hours), and replacement parts were not readily available because these are new fleets, few in number.

At this time, the average maintenance costs, per mile, were $0.67 for the diesel buses and $1.90 for the hybrid buses. This enormous difference in price could end up costing the city over $100 million if the whole bus fleet were replaced with hybrids, assuming that maintenance costs don't decrease. However, when the hybrid bus program really takes off, and the buses are better made, the mechanics become more knowledgeable and spare parts needed for repair become more available, the cost of maintenance should decline significantly. Also, the depots themselves are taking more active control over maintenance of the hybrid buses, which was previously handled by the manufacturer.

Building Costs

It is almost impossible to find the numbers/figures that represent the actual cost of building a hybrid bus, because the manufacturer, Orion, has not released the figures (nor has the city). We do know, however, that the Pataki administration has invested about $300 million in the project over a four year period (2000-2004). One hundred and twenty five new buses are on order from Orion for next year.

Also, along with buying the buses, the depots have to be equipped with "recharging stations"; however, they are used sparingly and use little electricity (low cost). The Department of Energy report refers to these "facility conversions" as "minor".

Conclusions

New York City, and State, is facing a tremendous budget crisis. The buses can perform when it comes to increasing fuel economy, but should the maintenance costs not be brought down enough, the buses may prove too costly. However, should the hybrid buses be able to significantly bring down maintenance costs near, at, or below current diesel bus costs, hybrid buses would become very economically efficient, saving in fuel costs while saving the environment.

Resources:

"Hybrid Electric Transit Buses - NYCT - Final Report" by the Department of Energy, from the Alternative Fuels Data Center

"About New York City Transit - Buses" from the MTA's Website