Hybrid Buses In Maryland  

The Washington Post reports that the US state of Maryland is to convert its bus fleet to hybrids.

Gov. Martin O'Malley wants Maryland's entire fleet of transit buses to be diesel-electric hybrids. O'Malley announced Tuesday that he has directed the Maryland Transit Administration to purchase only hybrid buses in the future as older buses powered only by diesel fuel are taken out of service.

The state says hybrid buses use up to 20 percent less fuel and are up to 40 percent quieter. They're also more reliable, going 6,200 miles between service calls, compared with 3,000 miles for diesel models.

There are currently 653 buses in the MTA fleet, and 10 are hybrids. MTA spokeswoman Jauwana Greene says the agency has been given approval to buy up to 100 hybrids a year starting next year. She says if buses are replaced at the usual rate, there should be about 500 hybrids in the fleet by 2014.