By the end of 2004, over a dozen North American cities will have hybrid-equipped buses in operation. Cities like Seattle and  New York have found them to be a win-win situation. Typically, they reduce pollution, have better acceleration than conventional buses, and reduce operating expenses for cash strapped cities.

A hybrid electric bus manufactured by Ebus, Inc.

Tests in different cities have showed a 25 to 35 per cent reduction in fuel consumption. This can be a big issue; Ottawa found themselves $3.3 million over their fuel budget due to the fuel price increases during 2004. Ottawa is currently testing hybrid buses from two manufacturers.