MTA approves a $840,500 expenditure to replace belt-driven alternators with Vanner HBA®

Vanner HBA™ Maryland Transit Authority Board approved a $840,500 expenditure for the retrofit of 41 existing Baltimore buses with Allison Hybrids. The retrofit will be with Vanner’s solid state Hybrid Beltless Alternators aka HBAs. The expenditure includes retrofit services by Johnson and Towers. The retrofit will include removing the belt-driven alternators and installing Hybrid Beltless Alternators along with Vanner’s 80-Series Equalizer with battery sensors to optimize charging of the 12/24-volt system based on state-of-charge. Over 2000 Hybrid Beltless Alternators are in operation world-wide and have proven maintenance, fuel and emission savings, which led Baltimore MTA to take this initiative.