Expertorial: How BAE Systems Is Enabling Zero-Emission Green Zones with Hybrid Buses

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Picture a busy downtown street during rush hour. As a hybrid-electric bus turns a corner near a hospital, its engine cuts completely off and the bus glides into electric vehicle mode, eliminating emissions. This seamless transition is powered by advanced geofencing technology, allowing transit agencies to designate green zones and transform hybrid-electric buses into zero-emission vehicles within select areas.

BAE Systems’ zero-emission capable hybrid-electric drive system enables this innovative solution, delivering significant benefits: cleaner air, reduced noise pollution, and advanced technology for a sustainable future. For transit agencies, the company’s hybrid-electric system provides a cost-effective, low-risk, and rapid pathway to zero emissions, with its geofencing technology ensuring zero emissions today, all while leveraging the proven strengths of a hybrid-electric fleet.

What are green zones?

Green zones offer a zero-emission solution by leveraging advanced programming software to optimize a hybrid fleet. BAE Systems’ hybrid system uses a series architecture, which employs just the electric motor to move the vehicle. The motor receives power from high-voltage batteries, which are maintained by an on-board generator connected to a small diesel engine. This architecture allows the vehicle to drive with the engine off up to 35 percent of the time. It also eliminates the need for recharging infrastructure, as the system charges itself with the on-board generator while the bus is on the move.

Green zones activate zero-emission operations precisely when and where it is needed most. Using GPS-enabled geofencing technology, the hybrid-electric propulsion system signals the diesel engine to shut off in selected areas, enabling zero-emission vehicle operation when traveling in specific locations. For instance, some cities are creating green zones in population-dense neighborhoods, confined areas such as tunnels, or locations with high-dwell times like parks and city centers. Geofencing is an established technology in the transit industry, used for years to track buses and monitor speeds around depots.

After the bus leaves the zone, it switches back to normal hybrid-electric operation and re-charges the high-voltage battery. This seamless transition ensures that the bus is always ready to enter the next designated green zone.

Implementation: Simple, Flexible, Scalable

Simple integration – With a BAE Systems electric drive system on a hybrid bus, implementing green zones is straightforward. The process requires a simple software upload, often scheduled during an existing software update to minimize downtime. The GPS coordinates are entered into the vehicle data logger, making it easy to install and activate in minutes. BAE Systems has also worked with leading Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) solution providers, such as Clever Devices and Chargepoint, to seamlessly deploy green zones within transit fleets’ operations.

Flexible operation – The technology is highly flexible, allowing agencies to quickly change coordinates and switch green zone locations. This can be done at any time, even for short periods such as a weekend or specific events. The system does not require driver intervention, as it functions automatically.

Scalable solution – BAE Systems’ geofencing solution is also scalable with no need for new infrastructure or additional hardware on the hybrid bus. The ease of scalability ensures that agencies can expand their green zones efficiently and cost-effectively.

Expertise in action for a sustainable future

BAE Systems is no stranger to innovative transportation solutions, with more than 25 years of experience and greater than 18,000 electric propulsion systems operating worldwide. This expertise allows the company to effectively implement impactful technologies, such as green zones.

Since 2016, BAE Systems has deployed green zones across more than 1,100 buses for over one million miles of zero-emission operation. A notable example is with the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), where approximately 130 green zones have been established across the city using geo–fencing. The scope is constantly expanding after a successful pilot program with ten buses that demonstrated high reliability. All 336 new hybrid-electric buses will feature this capability, and the TTC is also exploring the retrofitting of existing hybrid buses with this technology.

BAE Systems’ hybrid-electric drive systems with green zones are operating on buses in other major cities such as San Francisco and Boston, as well as in smaller fleets like in Broome County and Rockford. 

Hybrid buses are a smart choice for fleets due to their fuel efficiency and proven performance, and the integration of green zones enhances these advantages by enabling zero emissions in designated areas, paving the way for a cleaner future.

John Hroncich
Director, North American Transit Sales
BAE Systems
baesystems.com/electrificationsimplified