WARRENVILLE, Ill. — The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently added 10 IC Bus hybrid units to a list of vehicles that qualify for the Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle Credit enacted by the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Through the program, customers who purchase certain large hybrid vehicles can claim credits of $3,000, $6,000 or $12,000 if they qualify for the Qualified Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle Credit. The 10 qualifying models offered by IC Bus are the first and only school and commercial buses on the list.

“These credits are significant because they can help to offset the price of hybrids,” said David Hillman, IC Bus marketing director. “This tax credit will be appealing to schools and organizations looking for an added incentive to purchase hybrid buses. Even tax-exempt customers like schools can take advantage of the federal program by working with their IC Bus dealer.”

IC’s school bus products that meet the requirements for the Qualified Alternative Fuel Motor Vehicle Credit include the:

• 2008 CE Series hybrid school bus equipped with an Enova charge-depleting hybrid drive system, gross vehicle weight (GVW) 14,001 to 26,000 lbs.

• 2008 CE Series hybrid school bus equipped with an Enova charge-depleting hybrid drive system, GVW 26,001 to 33,000 lbs.

• 2009 CE Series hybrid school bus equipped with an Enova charge-depleting hybrid drive system, GVW 14,001 to 26,000 lbs.

• 2009 CE Series hybrid school bus equipped with an Enova charge-depleting hybrid drive system, GVW 26,001 to 33,000 lbs.
  Its qualifying commercial bus units include the:

   

• 2008 CE Series commercial bus equipped with an Enova charge-depleting hybrid drive system, GVW 14,001 to 26,000 lbs.

• 2008 CE Series commercial bus equipped with an Enova charge-depleting hybrid system, GVW 26,001 to 33,000 lbs.

• 2009 CE Series commercial bus equipped with an Enova charge-depleting hybrid drive system, GVW 14,001 to 26,000 lbs.

• 2009 CE Series commercial bus equipped with an Enova charge-depleting hybrid drive system, GVW 26,001 to 33,000 lbs.

• 2009 HC Series commercial transit bus equipped with an Eaton 10HEV hybrid system 13GSB, GVW 14,001 to 26,000 lbs.

• 2009 HC Series commercial transit bus equipped with an Eaton 10HEV hybrid system 13GSB, GVW 26,001 to 33,000 lbs.
  IC Bus began producing hybrid school and commercial buses in 2006. According to the company, the diesel hybrid-electric units provide up to 65 percent improvement in fuel efficiency and up to 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.