NI Firm Helps Dublin Bus Go Green

A Co Antrim bus builder has now begun deliveries of truly 'green' vehicles to Dublin.

Ballymena's Wrightbus confirmed a £7.8m deal with Dublin Bus earlier this year and has now begun its exclusive, environmentally friendly deliveries with the first eco-bus to hit Dublin's streets.

The new vehicle, which is expected to dramatically cut emissions and noise during its three-year trial period is in fact a hybrid-electric vehicle.

It is dual powered by an electric motor as well as its combustion engine and burns 34% less fuel as a result.

Dublin Bus said the level of carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere will be reduced by 31%, carbon monoxide by 97.6%, hydrocarbons by 76.5% and nitrous oxides by 12%.

The new double-decker, which is wheelchair accessible, is part of a project funded in part by the Irish Government and is part of Dublin Bus' commitment to developing greener business practices.

The bus will also be 50% less noisy than traditional bus engines.

Other features include regenerative braking, which uses the energy dissipated during braking to charge its battery.

"The contribution of fuel emissions on global warming is a concern to Dublin Bus, said spokeswoman Cliodhna Ni Fhatharta.

The overall order for 50 vehicles marks a continuing and lucrative relationship with the Irish bus company, which already operates 70 Ballymena-built buses.

The order is being paid for with the help of the Irish Government's 'Transport 21' Investment Programme, and is part of Dublin Bus’s continuing fleet replacement programme, which ensures that the average age of the Dublin Bus fleet continues to remain at six years.

Delivery of the should by completed by March 2009.

The company is one of NI's most go-ahead. Earlier this year, NI Employment and Learning Minister, Sir Reg Empey, opened a new enhanced learning environment for apprentices who are undertaking professional and technical training with Wrightbus, Ballymena.

He was told that, in 2008, Wrightbus recruited 70 apprentices under the Department for Employment and Learning's ApprenticeshipsNI provision, to contribute to the company's engineering and design work.

Wrightbus also recently received a further boost when it won the contract to deliver 50 environmentally friendly vehicles to StreetCar Rapid Transport Vehicle in San Diego, California.

(BMcC)