Urban sprawl and a spotty transit system usually aren't listed among a city's competitive advantages.
But with droves of suburban commuters and long stretches of freeway, Atlanta is a prime location for a bus that would run on electric power in the city and switch to diesel on major highways, according to officials from China Ankai Automobile Co. Ltd.
The state-owned Chinese vehicle maker from Anhui province is developing a plug-in hybrid electric bus for the U.S. market. While many companies, especially in China, have introduced cars using the technology, only a few firms have applied it to mass-transit vehicles.
Ankai, which already makes all-electric buses, isn't deterred. China's third-largest bus manufacturer is working with a California company, Efficient Drivetrains Inc., to develop the plug-in hybrid's drive train. EDI was founded by Andy Frank, a mechanical engineering professor at University of California Davis whose research laid the initial groundwork for plug-in hybrids. Ankai aims to have a test model ready for the U.S. by the end of this year, said Linda Wang of Ankai's international business department.
The basic difference between plug-in and conventional hybrids is that which their names suggest. Both use a combination of electric and diesel or gas power for propulsion, but plug-ins can be charged using a charging station, while conventional hybrids rely on gas-powered engines to replenish their batteries. Plug-ins generally have longer all-electric ranges but retain the ability to switch to gas for greater speeds or longer hauls.
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