NYSBCA Members Participate in First National Side-by-Side Evaluation of Hybrid School Bus Technologies

  Published on December 3rd, 2008

Members of the New York School Bus Contractors Association joined the New York Power Authority, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the Schenectady City School District in launching the first national evaluation project of the performance of two different hybrid school bus technologies.

The goal of the evaluation project is to compare the two hybrid school bus technologies with conventional diesel school buses for fuel and energy efficiency, emission reductions, reliability and maintenance costs. The study will examine how different bus routes with varying speeds, stops, idle time, and roadways affect performance.

“These are exciting times for the school bus operator industry,” said Karen Paquette, President of the New York School Bus Contractors Association.  “Governor Paterson, the New York Power Authority, NYSERDA and everyone involved should be commended for their efforts to help expedite the process of bringing these environmentally-friendly technologies to market.”

Paquette continued, “The Hybrid-Electric Bus Evaluation Project has already begun demonstrating the validity of these new technologies in places like California where hybrid diesel-electric buses are doubling fuel efficiency, eliminating tailpipe smoke and reducing particulates by up to ninety percent.  We are hopeful we can demonstrate similar results here in New York.”

For more information you can read the New York Power Authority’s press release: http://www.nypa.gov/press/2008/081203a.htm