Indiana Unveils First Hybrid-Electric School Bus
To kick off the Learn Green, Live Green initiative, Reed and members of the State School Bus Committee approved Indiana's first hybrid-electric school bus, which will go into daily use immediately at Randolph Eastern School Corporation.
"This is the right thing to do," said Cathy Stephen, Superintendent of Randolph Eastern School Corporation. "Schools need to lead in helping our problems with the environment, with our dependence on oil and in providing safe and healthy riding conditions for our students. This system has the potential to address all of these issues."
The bus was converted with new hybrid-electric technology designed Variable Torque Motors, LLC, a company based out of Fort Wayne. The retrofit includes an electric motor, a controller and an ultracapacitor that fit directly into the existing drive shaft. When the bus operates at or below 35 mph, it is propelled by the electric motor with a "boost" installed from the diesel engine when needed. Once the bus exceeds 35 mph, the diesel engine takes over and propels the bus. Read the full story.
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