Hybrid School Buses for California

School buses are a significant transportation segment, and their fuel emissions are of major concern for children's exposure to pollutants that affect asthma, among other problems. By converting to alternative energies, our children both on the buses and living in the areas will benefit from cleaner air. Here is one example of alternative energy applications for school buses.

Hybrid technologies are finding their way into large, heavy-duty vehicles, including school buses. IC Corporation, North America's largest school bus manufacturer. The buses combine a V8 diesel engine with an 80-kilowatt Hybrid Drive System developed by Enova Systems, Inc. The system is based on a parallel architecture, allowing it to use both diesel and electric power in a highly efficient manner. IC Corporation claims that the buses will achieve up to a 40 percent increase in fuel efficiency. The company is a subsidiary of International Truck and Engine Corporation, which is also developing hybrid utility and delivery trucks.

The hybrid bus development was in response to a request for proposals from Advanced Energy, a non-profit dedicated to pursuing innovative and market-based approaches to energy issues.

For its hybrid electric bus project, Advanced Energy created a Buyer's Consortium that includes school districts, state energy agencies, and student transportation providers. The project was supported through an $840,000 grant from the State Technologies Advancement Collaborative (STAC), a five-year pilot program funded by DOE.

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If you'd like more California news about energy efficiency and renewable energy, check out www.eere.energy.gov