District adds six hybrid buses to fleet

Columbus (Ohio) City Schools continues to make progress in its goal of “greening” its fleet.

Last year, the district applied for and received a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program to replace six 1990 model year school buses with new hybrid diesel-electric buses. The funding totaled more than $1.1 million.

Steve Simmons, director of transportation at Columbus City Schools, reports that the hybrid buses were added to the fleet in August.

The district expects the hybrids to achieve a fuel economy increase of around 70 percent compared to a standard diesel. CO2 emissions are expected to be reduced by more than 40 percent.