[media-credit name=’JEFF SCHORFHEIDE/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Madison took one step toward cleaner air and a reduced dependence on oil with the unveiling of five new hybrid-electric public transit buses Tuesday afternoon. Scheduled to begin their routes around the city within the next couple weeks, the new buses are a part of Mayor Dave Cieslewicz's commitment to the 100K Clean Energy Challenge, which seeks to reduce citywide emissions of carbon dioxide by 100,000 tons by 2011. "These buses will save Madison thousands of gallons of fuel annually while significantly reducing emissions," Scott Mueller, the Wisconsin zone manager for General Motors said. At the news conference, which took place outside the UW Arboretum Visitor Center, Cieslewicz revealed the many advantages of the new buses, including up to 75 percent better fuel economy and a significantly smoother ride for passengers. According to a 2006 study by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the buses are also expected to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions up to 39 percent, particulate matter up to 97 percent, carbon monoxide up to 60 percent and hydrocarbons up to 75 percent. "These buses will contribute less to global climate change," Cieslewicz said. Metro Transit General Manager Chuck Kamp announced these are the first hybrid buses in Wisconsin. Two of the five new buses are scheduled to run routes on the University of Wisconsin campus, as UW is the largest customer of Metro Transit. To accommodate student riders, those two buses contain extra-wide aisles as well as seats that flip up for instances of standing-room only space. The buses will also feature a unique UW graphic design and Badger red seats. "These [buses] are concrete examples of what we're doing to help the local environment," said UW Chancellor John Wiley. "They're consistent with the university's master plan." Wiley said UW already has four buses that are entirely electric and added the university is currently working to get them certified. "The university has been a great partner in helping fund two of the buses," Cieslewicz said. According to the mayor, 80 percent of the project is federally funded, while the other 20 percent comes from local funds. Although these are the first buses of their kind in Wisconsin, the new fleet joins nearly 815 GM-Allison hybrid-equipped buses that are currently operating in 71 cities throughout North America and Europe. According to a GM news release, the company has orders for an additional 379 hybrid bus systems that will be fulfilled throughout 2007. "These hybrid buses showcase to our community that we are dedicated to providing cutting-edge technology that translates to clean, fuel-efficient service," Kamp said in the release. According to a release from the mayor's office, the new fleet of buses would not only benefit the environment, but taxpayers as well, as the cost of diesel fuel continues to rise.