Colonial Equipment Co. Delivers Hybrid Electric CitiBuses™ to Howard County Government

Jan. 21, 2010 - PRLog -- Monrovia, Md. – Colonial Equipment Company, the premier supplier of customized vans, buses and alternative fuel vehicles to the Mid-Atlantic Region and an authorized General Services Administration (GSA) supplier, announced that it has delivered the first order of a year-long, 25 bus contract with the Government of Howard County, Maryland.  The contract will provide the County the opportunity to replace existing vehicles in their fleet with Azure CitiBuses™ which reduce harmful emissions and increase fuel efficiency.  Upon award of the contract, the County immediately placed an order for eight CitiBuses and has the option to order an additional 17 over the next year.

The Azure CitiBus is a commercially available Series Hybrid Electric vehicle based on the Supreme Corporation StarTrans Bus Division’s HD Senator bus body.  This clean, fuel-efficient alternative to conventional shuttle buses offers engine-off at stop functionality and regenerative braking.  Implementation of the CitiBus as part of the County’s fleet is intended to improve fuel economy by up to 50% while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%.  This environmentally responsible solution further saves money by reducing vehicle maintenance by up to 30%.  The CitiBus has completed the Altoona 200,000 mile, seven-year test and meets the requirements for the Buy America and FTA funding programs.

Howard County was the first county in the state of Maryland to establish an “Office of Sustainability” and has a focused dedication to green solutions.  A specific policy has been created to begin phasing in hybrid vehicles for all vehicles in its fleet that have a hybrid equivalent.  The County currently owns 50 hybrid vehicles comprising about 15% of the fleet- currently the largest in the state.

“Colonial Equipment Company is proud to contribute to the green movement in Maryland and more specifically, Howard County,” said Donald Combs, President, Colonial Equipment Co.  “Through our partnership with Azure Dynamics, we strive to deliver top of the line transportation solutions eligible for Stimulus Package funding.”  

Leading the way in green transportation options for the area, Colonial Equipment Co. offers a variety of alternative-fuel vehicles such as: Clean Fuel, Hybrid Drive Electric, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Propane and Ultra Capacitor Electric Drive.  

Colonial Equipment Co. and Azure Dynamics previously partnered on GSA CitiBus sales for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. and the United States Air Force Academy in Fort Collins, Colorado.  These buses were sold in 2008 and are now in active service for the respective fleet operators.

For more information about Colonial Equipment Co. and its products, please visit
http://www.thebusplace.com or call 1-800-GO-BY-BUS.

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About Colonial Equipment Company
The premier Mid-Atlantic supplier of vans and buses including: cutaway buses, paratransit and transit buses, coaches, tour buses, double-deckers, low-floor and specialty units. A leader in the alternative fuel and hybrid drive industry, Colonial Equipment Co. offers Clean Fuel, Hybrid Electric, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), and Propane and Ultra Capacitor Electric Drive vehicles. Located in Monrovia, Maryland and founded in 1982, the company services commercial and government customers in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia and the District of Columbia. With a new 30,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility, Colonial Equipment Co. showcases a large inventory on site and is fully equipped to service most makes and models. The company offers a variety of financing options including purchase, lease and short/intermediate term rentals. Colonial Equipment Company is a GSA authorized supplier.