Florida' Manatee County School District received what are believed to be the first two production plug-in hybrid school buses. IC Corporation, one of the nation's biggest school bus manufacturers, worked with Enova Systems to develop the hybrid platform.
The buses could reduce emissions by up to 90 percent when compared to standard diesel engines. The buses can be configured as hybrids or plug-in models, and 19 hybrid buses that were funded by the non-profit Advanced Energy group will be delivered to schools this year by IC Corporation.
Combining electric motors with the diesel engines will improve fuel economy by between 30 to 55 percent. Enabling buses to run off of batteries when idling near schools will clean the air and remove the negative health impact (asthma) of breathing diesel fumes.
Hopefully soon some automakers will take the bold step of introducing diesel hybrids.
Source: Tampa Bay's 10
