Roosevelt Island gets on green bus.

The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation has purchased four Orion VII hybrid electric buses that will provide improved service to all island residents as well as help reduce air pollution.

In conjunction with the arrival of the new buses, RIOC has extended bus service to the Octagon, the island's new 500-unit rental building, and to Coler-Goldwater Hospital, while still maintaining tram schedules. The new fleet will now primarily consist of the four new Orion VII buses.

The addition of the new buses to the Roosevelt Island fleet came about through a partnership of RIOC, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and the New York Power Authority.

The total cost of the new buses was $2.2 million.

RIOC's new hybrid electric buses will significantly reduce emissions through the use of ultra-low sulfur fuel.

The vehicles operate using a 600-volt board charging system with an overhead battery pack system that provides the buses with enough power to reach highway speeds, although this is not necessary on the island.

With cleaner emissions than current EPA standards, the hybrid buses have greatly reduced pollution: 90 percent less particulate matter, 40 percent less oxides of nitrogen, and 30 percent fewer greenhouse gases. The buses use less fuel improving fuel economy by 25 percent to 35 percent.