California-based ISE Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of ISE Limited, is accepting orders for a new battery-dominant (i.e., series hybrid) CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) Hybrid System for transit buses, with production units expected to be available in 2011.

ISE currently delivers gasoline, diesel and fuel cell series hybrid systems for the transit industry. The CNG Hybrid System leverages production technology already in service in more than 300 ISE Hybrid Systems on the road, such as the Siemens motors, generators, and inverters. On-board system operations processes are optimized through the use of the ISE-developed electric accessory assembly. Features and benefits of the ISE CNG Hybrid System include:

• Series-Hybrid Efficiency Gains. ISE’s CNG Hybrid System is expected to improve fuel efficiency by up to 40%, which enables the removal of a significant amount of onboard fuel storage, without compromising vehicle range. By requiring fewer fuel storage tanks, the ISE CNG Hybrid System offers the opportunity for a vehicle that weighs less than today’s conventional CNG bus.

• Engine Platform. The next-generation ISE CNG Hybrid System will use the widely known Ford V10 engine, which is more than 1,000 pounds lighter than the modified diesel engines used in conventional CNG vehicles, without the added complexity of existing diesel exhaust aftertreatment.

• Emissions Reductions. The next-generation ISE CNG Hybrid System is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of CO₂ by up to 40% as compared to conventional CNG systems, and also has lower CO₂ emissions than commercially available diesel hybrid systems. In addition, ISE’s CNG Hybrid System will fully comply with EPA 2010 standards for NO_x and particulate emissions (PM) without the added cost and complexity of today's diesel exhaust aftertreatment systems.

• Long Life Energy Storage. The ISE CNG Hybrid System is designed to use the company's proprietary Lithium energy storage system, which provides high performance and long life, and is configured within an environmentally sealed housing.

ISE’s next-generation CNG Hybrid System has more than sufficient power to handle freeway travel and the varied bus routes that are inevitably part of normal operation. The performance gains of ISE’s hybrid technology provide better acceleration than conventional CNG, the company says. The battery dominant system allows the engine to run at lower speeds and power, which translates to quiet and smooth operation and contributes to longer engine life.

Our new CNG Hybrid offering is a smart choice for transit agencies, especially those that already have CNG fueling infrastructures. This system offers agencies a CNG choice with an aggressive return on investment, lower weight, quieter and cleaner operation, and significantly greater fuel economy than any CNG offering on the market.

—Senior VP of Sales and Marketing Alex Bernasconi