The Bureau of Passenger Transportation is pleased to announce that Midwest Transit Equipment of Kankakee, Illinois has recently received notification that they have been awarded the State of Michigan contract for a small hybrid bus. This small hybrid bus contract is the first of its kind for MDOT and will provide the state's local transit agencies an additional option when looking to meet their bus equipment needs.

Startrans of Goshen, Indiana will manufacturer the bus which will be built on a Ford E-450 cutaway chassis with a modified drivetrain and electronic control system. Azure Dynamics of Oak Park, Michigan developed the hybrid electric and electric drive technology for use in this vehicle. The use of this system is said to increase fuel economy by as much as 40 %, reduce maintenance costs by 30 % and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30%.