For the first time ever in Alabama, a public transit agency is adding hybrid buses to its fleet.

The Montgomery Area Transit System (MATS) is replacing eight older diesel buses with state-of-the art hybrid buses thanks to funding from the TIGGER Program and the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.

The hybrid buses are considerably more energy efficient than the diesel buses, which are reaching their maximum lifespan and take considerable resources to maintain. Hybrid buses typically get 25%–35% better fuel economy compared to standard diesel buses. Lower fuel use means lower costs and less pollution.

Reducing pollution is particularly important in Montgomery—while the city is currently in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria pollutant standards, pending stricter EPA rules may change that.