4838 Olev Technologies has announced that its On-line Electric Vehicle (OLEV) bus project for the city of McAllen, Texas has been selected for funding through the US Federal Transportation Administration TIGGER (Transit Investment in Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction) grant programme. The objective of the project is to run electric buses utilising Olev's proprietary technology, which delivers electric power wirelessly from the roadbed, allowing the buses to charge wirelessly both during operation and while they pause to load and unload passengers. Three diesel buses from theMcAllen City Bus fleet will be retrofitted to run on electric power. The project is scheduled to launch in 2012 and be completed by 2013.Dr Hikyu Lee, president and CEO of Olev Technologies said, "This project will demonstrate the overall effectiveness of using enroute-charging technology to create an effective 'electronic roadway', as well as the cost effective means of converting buses from the existing diesel fleet to electric vehicles." According to Lee, Olev technology will also result in an annual greenhouse gas reduction of 289 tons of CO2, with a total reduction in CO2 of 3,455 tons over the lifetime of the project. Projected annual energy savings will amount to 2,596 Million BTUs, with a total 31,149 Million BTUs saved over the lifetime of the project."We are delighted that our technology has been selected for funding to showcase the near-term and long-term benefits of electric buses via wireless power transfer technology, a zero tailpipe emission green transportation solution," said Lee.
