MENU
SEARCHNAZARETH, Pa. — Students in the Nazareth Area School District will become the first in Pennsylvania to ride the new hybrid school bus built by IC Cor...
NAZARETH, Pa. — Students in the Nazareth Area School District will become the first in Pennsylvania to ride the new hybrid school bus built by IC Corporation and Enova Systems.
School bus contractor Jennings Transportation received one of the buses as part of the nationwide Plug-In Hybrid Electric School Bus Project. The state’s Environmental Protection Agency provided a grant of $112,000 to assist with the cost of the bus.
A total of 19 hybrid buses have been awarded to states around the country by Advanced Energy, a non-profit corporation that initiated a buyer's consortium of school districts, state energy agencies and student transportation providers.
Last month, the School District of Manatee County (Fla.) was the first district in the country to receive hybrid school buses through the Advanced Energy program.
The hybrid school bus project features Enova's Charge Depleting System (or "Plug In"), which was extensively tested and evaluated at IC Corporation's research and technology facility in Fort Wayne, Ind.
The initial powertrain for the hybrid school bus will couple an International VT365 V8 diesel engine with the 25/80-kilowatt hybrid-electric powertrain, incorporating a transmission, batteries and an electric motor.
Based on a parallel architecture, the system utilizes both diesel and electric power. Depending on the route, fuel economy is expected to improve by 70 to 100 percent. The hybrid system can also reduce emissions by up to 90 percent.
The hybrid school buses are manufactured at IC Corporation's plant in Conway, Ark. For more information about the program, visit www.hybridschoolbus.org.
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are under fire again after repeated school bus passing violations, raising questions about safety, remote operators, and regulation.
Read More →
Distracted driving continues to pose serious risks in school zones, with new data and driver insights highlighting ongoing concerns and potential solutions to improve student and roadway safety.
Read More →
A former airline pilot has stepped into a new role at the independent federal agency, but where does he stand on issues like seat belts on school buses? Here’s what he’s said.
Read More →
Two recent close calls at railroad crossings, a train clipping a bus and a rear-end crash, highlight why vigilance and training still matter. Here’s what happened and what to tell your own drivers.
Read More →
The federal agency's proposed rulemaking would eliminate the requirement for school buses to come to a complete stop at railroad crossings if the warning device is not activated. The goal: to improve traffic flow and save costs. With new data released, public comment is open through April 27, 2026.
Read More →
Stop reacting to engine lights and start predicting them. This guide reveals how transitioning from a "break-fix" model to a data-driven maintenance strategy can drastically reduce fleet downtime and protect your district's budget. Learn how to transform your garage operations from a cost center into a reliability powerhouse.
Read More →
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County.
Read More →
From North Dakota public charter school regulations, tracking illegal school bus passing consequences in multiple states, and the continued debate on New York’s electric school bus mandate, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
While the yellow school bus remains the backbone of student transit, 75% of administrators identify limited transportation access as a major driver of chronic absenteeism. This guide explores how districts are strengthening their fleets by integrating flexible, supplemental solutions to serve students with the most complex needs. Learn how a multimodal approach can bridge service gaps, restore attendance, and support your most vulnerable populations.
Read More →
Grand Rapids Public Schools is partnering up with BusPatrol and Dean Transportation to outfit the entire bus fleet with cameras.
Read More →
