It's a body, er, a bus by Fisher

[DainBramaged]

Greg Fisher is getting back into the coachbuilding business.

Fisher is the grandson of Fisher Body Co. co-founder Albert Fisher — who, along with his brothers, ran the car body company whose iconic coach symbol was stamped on General Motors vehicles for most of the 20th century. Fisher Body later became a GM division.

Now that insignia will adorn sleek silver buses.

"We're essentially getting the band back together after 100 years," Fisher said.

He aims to build the Fisher GTB-40 bus, a 40-foot ultralightweight hybrid that boasts twice the fuel efficiency of current hybrid buses.

It uses a lightweight, nitrogen-strengthened stainless steel unibody; has no traditional engine for propulsion; and relies on Swiss-made batteries to drive motors for each wheel. The buses are half the weight of other hybrid and diesel models.

A small diesel engine powers a generator that keeps the batteries charged longer. Energy from the brakes is captured for reuse.

"It's really a different mousetrap, a different widget," Fisher said.

The buses are estimated to get 10 mpg compared with the 4 to 5 mpg for hybrid buses on the road today, resulting in a projected savings of $2.5 million in fuel costs over the typical 12-year life span of a bus. That savings is realized despite a $550,000-per-unit price — compared with today's hybrids, which cost about $200,000 less.

http://www.autonews.com/article/20080804/ANA03/808040329/1021 (subscription only, printed in full)

[DainBramaged]

1. Of course. No replies. Busses aren't part of the dialogue here

it has to be about a Toyota hybrid or nothing at all.

[phantom power]

2. I thought it was interesting.

Regular buses must get really low gas mileage. Although the miles/gallon/person is still good regardless, as long as the buses have adequate ridership.