Westchester County's Bee-Line bus system is the second largest transit fleet in New York and serves more than 100,000 daily riders on nearly 60 routes across a 400-square-mile area. As its fleet of articulated buses approached the end of their lifespan, the county's Department of Public Works & Transportation, contracted with STV to develop the next generation of environmentally sustainable vehicles.

Following the county's mandate to meet strict environmental standards, STV's Vehicle Procurement Team developed detailed specifications for the new buses based on rigorous hill climbing and acceleration tests to find a propulsion system capable of providing enough horsepower to climb Westchester's steep hills while also operating comfortably at highway speeds. Based on the testing, the vehicle procurement team developed technical specifications calling for a hybrid-electric series configuration that operates on both battery and diesel fuel. The buses are equipped with anti-idling technology and can operate for up to a mile on battery power alone and are expected to save 850,000 gallons of fuel and prevent 12.400 tons of greenhouse gas emissions over their lifespan.

The first of 78 buses was delivered to the county under a $90 million contract in September 2018. The 60-foot, articulated buses can carry up to 117 passengers and include amenities like USB charging ports at every seat, bike racks, and upgraded security with 14 cameras and a protective shield for operators. Between three and five buses will be delivered from New Flyer’s St. Cloud, MN, plant every week through June to complete the order.