Adomani Inc. and A-Z Bus Sales form an agreement to convert and maintain hybrid and all-electric school bus fleets.
The Kinetics Hybrid, a parallel electric system that captures regenerative braking energy and reuses it on vehicle launch, bolts onto new or existing vehicles to quickly transform class 3-7 trucks into more fuel-efficient and cleaner running vehicles, company officials said.
According to a case study, two school districts saw average increases of 26% to 28% miles per gallon in trials of the bolt-on electric hybrid system.
Lightning Hybrids has released a new version of its hydraulic hybrid system for certain types of school and commercial buses. Hydraulic pumps/motors and an accumulator (power storage unit) are added to existing engines to store braking energy and use it to accelerate the vehicle.
Company officials say the S3000 hybrid system is available for small to mid-size school buses. The system interfaces to a vehicle and generates 100% of its own electricity during deceleration or braking.
From fueling training to regular tank inspection to a properly equipped maintenance facility, there are many factors to consider when operating school buses on propane autogas and compressed natural gas to ensure employees’ well-being. Industry officials discuss these and other components, along with the built-in safety features of some of today’s buses.
The director of transportation and fleet service at Colorado’s Adams 12 Five Star Schools has orchestrated adjustments to school bell times to make busing more efficient, for an overall savings of $900,000. He has also set up mechanic apprenticeship programs to help young people enter the field.
The grant money for the state Department of Education will go toward project proposals from school districts to purchase approximately 213 diesel-electric-powered school buses. Public school districts in the state are eligible to apply for funding, and the deadline is Jan. 16.
The school bus contractor currently uses the platform on 900 buses and plans to use it on 1,300 additional buses by the end of this year. The technology is used to track vehicle mileage, speed, idling and stops, and some routes also utilize Zonar’s electronic vehicle inspection report and ZPass for tracking students.
Officials from Houston Independent School District, Mesa (Ariz.) Public Schools, and Wisconsin contractor Riteway receive the award at the Green Fleet Conference. Their efforts include implementing alternative fuels, increasing route efficiency and decreasing office energy consumption.
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