12 hybrid buses bought by Clark County's C-Tran

Clark County's C-Tran transit agency is now running 10 percent of its bus fleet on hybrid engines.

The agency, which provides bus service to the entire county, has introduced 12 new buses that will burn 25 percent less diesel than the average C-Tran bus. The new buses cost $200,000 more than the existing buses, at $650,000 per vehicle. The black and silver buses are 40 feet long and seat 35 passengers - 10 fewer than the older buses. The lack of space is due to the buses' lower floors, which are intended to ease boarding. Atop each bus is a battery, which will need to be replaced in six years.

TriMet has toyed with the idea of hybrid buses, but found that anticipated fuel savings did not justify the vehicles' higher cost.

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