Best Hybrid Batteries, a company that specializes in battery testing and reconditioning services, has serviced several hybrid bus battery packs removed from a GM-Allison hybrid bus with approximately 250,000 miles and eight years of service. By performing important preventative maintenance on the battery packs, Best Hybrid Batteries helped the transit district save over $40,000 compared to the cost of purchasing a new battery in order to keep the bus operational.
The battery packs were removed at the bus district after the bus started having battery performance issues and Best Hybrid Batteries transported the battery packs to their facility for analysis. Analysis revealed that the battery performance issues were caused by over 50% loss of energy storage levels compared to new, and corrosion across all battery terminals and contactor plates.
The battery specialists at Best Hybrid Batteries developed a custom program that returned most of the lost energy capacity and restored all of the corroded surfaces to new condition. By implementing these preventative services before battery failure occurs, bus fleets can maintain their costly hybrid batteries in operational condition for years to come at a fraction of the cost of purchasing a new unit.
According to Best Hybrid Batteries founder, Dr. Michael Bradley, "These results strongly suggest that a preventive maintenance plan using our unique restoration approach can be extremely valuable to bus districts by keeping their costly hybrid battery packs in operational condition instead of replacing them."
