Torrance Takes First Step Toward Electric Transit : Alternative fuels: The City Council approves the purchase of a bus that can operate up to six hours on a charge. Ridership will be free for an undetermined period.

In what is being hailed as a pioneering effort to reduce air pollution, the Torrance City Council on Tuesday approved the purchase of an electric-powered transit bus that could pave the way for the eventual conversion of its diesel-operated fleet.

Officials said the electric bus is among the first mid-size transit vehicles of its kind and, unlike trolley buses, will not require overhead wires. Getting away from standard gasoline or diesel fuel eliminates the need for a muffler and, for that matter, a smog check. It is scheduled to begin operating in 1993.

“I think it’s a very exciting project,” Mayor Katy Geissert said. “It will be a demonstration project to demonstrate alternative fuel systems. It will also be a boost to a major manufacturer, a large employer in this area.”

If the $265,000 project is successful, city officials will eventually consider replacing the entire 55-bus Torrance transit fleet with electric-powered vehicles, said Helene Buchman, Torrance’s transportation planner.

“We certainly would like to convert our fleet to a completely non-polluting source of propulsion,” Buchman said. “This, as of now, is a very feasible source. We see it as a first step.”

The bus will be built by Specialty Vehicle Manufacturing Corp. of Downey and purchased with part of the city’s allocation of Los Angeles County transportation funds. The council approved the purchase, 7-0.

Capable of operating five to six hours on a charge, the 29-foot-long bus has a top speed of 35 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h. and accommodates about 25 passengers. The front section of the bus could be hydraulically lowered to curb level to make the bus more accessible to riders with physical handicaps.

To further encourage use of the bus, ridership will be free for an undetermined period.

The Torrance project also reflects the application of aerospace technology to commercial uses, officials said. It utilizes some of the same Hughes Aircraft technology now being used in the development of General Motors’ planned Impact electric passenger car.

In 1990, Hughes Aircraft Co. in Torrance began work with General Motors to duplicate a power unit for the electric car. Hughes was able to apply its knowledge in the field of aircraft radar to develop a power electronics unit that could transfer DC power from a battery to AC power for vehicle motors.

The aerospace firm then set up Hughes Power Control Systems, dedicated to electric transportation.

“The engineers who designed this system were formerly aerospace engineers,” said Bruce Moor, manager of Hughes’ bus and industrial vehicle programs. “As you know, the aerospace industry is going through what we call defense conversion. This is an example of that type of conversion.”

The electric vehicle market can only grow, he said. Beginning in 1998, 2% of all major manufacturers’ cars sold in California must be emissions-free, increasing to 10% by 2003.

“The requirement is there; what we’re trying to do is meet the market needs,” Moor said. “What we (Hughes) are doing is taking similar technology and adapting it for transit application. We’re not using (the Torrance bus project) as a technology demonstration. We believe the technology is here today.”

The bus will initially be operated from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, allowing employees along Lomita Boulevard corridor to easily reach restaurants and other shopping facilities. If successful, officials will add a morning and afternoon route.

The bus will operate on a continuous loop beginning east on Lomita Boulevard, south on Crenshaw Boulevard, west on Skypark Drive and north on Madison Street to complete the loop at the intersection of Madison and Lomita.

“We also see this as an effort to reduce congestion,” Buchman said. “This particular route was strategically chosen because there is a huge employment base and demand for that type of service. It allows people to connect to transit routes that are on those streets now. . . . This will be very helpful for employers who are trying to get their employees to not drive alone.”

Experimental Bus Torrance officials have approved buying an electric battery-powered bus that could pave the way for conversion of its gas-powered, 55-bus transit fleet. The eletric bus will be field-tested on a loop just north of Torrance Municipal Airport.