Environmental responsibility from a public transportation perspective can be viewed as working consistently towards reducing the environmental impacts of urban travel. This is achieved by both increasing the public use of transit rather than private automobiles and decreasing the generation of greenhouse gases (GHG) by the more efficient operation of our MiWay buses.

Quick Facts:

• One MiWay bus is able to eliminate 40 vehicles from the road, save 70,000 litres of fuel and keep 168 tonnes of pollutants out of the atmosphere each year. (Environment Canada).
• A car driver uses more energy and creates more air pollution in just 4 years than a transit passenger in 40 years.
• In rush hour, there's an average of 1.1 persons per car. At that rate, 2 buses can carry as many people as a hundred cars. In a single lane the cars would stretch over a third of a mile; the buses only 90 feet - and that can reduce congestion, noise and air pollution by over 90%.
• In Canada, urban motorists account for over 40% of the energy for transportation while transit systems account for only 2%.

What you can do:
When you ride MiWay, you are helping the environment. Reducing vehicular emissions is the most important way we can improve Mississauga air quality. Six of the seven major air pollutants come from cars and light trucks, with the average car emitting four tons of pollutants every year. Transportation is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions which are expected to cause major climate change impacts in the future.

On October 4, 2010 MiWay launched 15 new Hybrid Electric buses travelling on Route 19 - Hurontario.

How they work:
A "hybrid drive" means there is a combination of more than one type power on the bus. MiWay Hybrid electric buses utilize two power sources: a smaller than normal internal combustion 6.7 litre Cummins ISB diesel engine and an energy storage unit (the batteries). The engine runs a generator attached to a traction motor that turns the driveshaft. This means there is no physical connection between the engine and the driveshaft. Under normal operating conditions, the engine will run in its 'sweet spot' in a limited RPM range thereby providing maximum operating and fuel efficiency. When required, additional power is supplied from the generator and the lithium-ion batteries recharged from the energy recovered from the braking system.

Features of the Hybrid Electric buses:

• Decreases in greenhouse gases and pollution
• Reduced fuel consumption (30% improvement)
• Adapts to future fuel cell technology
• Recyclable Lithium-Ion battery technology
• Reduced maintenance and upkeep costs
• Quieter smoother ride
• Built locally in Mississauga by Daimler Buses North America

Bio-Diesel Fuel
All buses at MiWay use a bio-diesel blend. Bio-diesel is a clean-burning alternative fuel produced from renewable resources, principally vegetable oils (i.e. soybean, corn and canola) and waste oil products. As a fuel alternative, bio-diesel emits less carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons and particulate matter than conventional diesel. Bio-diesel is also considered readily biodegradable, non-toxic and is essentially free of sulphur. Depending on the season, MiWay buses use a Bio-Diesel fuel blend of either B20, B10 and B5.

Anti-Idling
Unnecessary vehicle idling is a problem. Emissions from internal combustion engines in car, trucks, motorcycles, buses and boats emit greenhouse gases and air contaminants including carbon dioxide and volatile organic compounds that are harmful to the environment and our health.

MiWay drivers adhere to the City of Mississauga Idling Control By-law to stop any unnecessary bus idling.

Anti-Idling:

• Saves money by burning less fuel
• Reduces wear and tear on engines
• Protects the health of the bus operators, passengers and the general public in the vicinity of the buses
• Reduces the overall impact on air quality