DENALI, Alaska, July 17, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ —-Visitors to Alaska’s Denali National Park and Preserve, one of the largest protected intact ecosystems in the world, will now have the opportunity to explore the park with the aid of an environmentally friendly vehicle — a fuel-efficient and emissions-reducing hybrid bus. IC Bus, North America’s largest school bus and commercial bus manufacturer, is delivering the Park’s first hybrid bus on July 17.
Assigned for use as part of the park’s shuttle service which extends 90 miles into the wilderness, the hybrid bus will transport visitors along a 45- mile route through August 30, during the Park’s peak season, enhancing visitors’ experience. A quieter engine will improve wildlife viewing as visitors see and hear nature in a way the other buses do not allow.
“Can you imagine the thrill of moving slowly and silently past a bear nursing its cub or wolf hunting along the road?” asked Elwood Lynn, assistant superintendent of operations for Denali.
In addition to a quieter ride, the new bus will provide better performance on the steep grades of the park road as Denali is also known for its mountain viewing.