BAE Systems has achieved a major milestone with the production of its 8,000th series hybrid electric drive system for transit buses. This milestone signifies a dramatic increase in demand for the company’s electric solutions that save fuel and reduce emissions. In the last two years, BAE Systems has delivered 3,000 systems, double the number the company shipped in the prior four years.

“The continued high demand for these systems is driven by the flexibility of the Series-E product line,” said Bob Lamanna, director of global transit sales and service at BAE Systems. “The line provides the reduced and zero-emission travel that transit agencies are looking for without the infrastructure challenges presented by fully electric solutions.”

BAE Systems’ flagship Series-E system not only provides hybrid electric propulsion, but also operates all accessories on vehicles with electric power. The system offers stop/start technology as well that eliminates emissions while the bus is stopped. This technology has now advanced to give an operator up to 35 percent engine-off operation without needing to stop and charge the vehicle’s batteries. With an on-board generator, the bus is available for service 24/7 and there is no need for charging systems or scheduling time to use them.

The company has been supplying hybrid electric drive systems for more than 20 years, and it continues to advance electric solutions for transit, including full battery electric systems and fuel cell electric systems for those looking for zero emission solutions. BAE Systems’ 8,000 electric drive systems operate around the globe, transporting more than 1.3 billion passengers and saving 17 million gallons of fuel while preventing 170,000 tons of CO2 from entering the Earth’s atmosphere each year.