IC Corporation to develop first Hybrid school bus

IC Corporation to develop first Hybrid school bus

IC Corporation, North America's largest school bus manufacturer, is working with Enova Systems, Inc. to introduce the nation's first hybrid school bus. The two companies have developed a prototype school bus with a hybrid diesel-electric drivetrain that is currently undergoing testing. "Together, IC Corporation and Enova are delivering an integrated solution that allows the customer to attain an approximate 40 percent increase in fuel economy and also greatly reduce emissions," said Mike Staran, Enova's vice president of marketing. The project features Enova's post-transmission 80 kW Hybrid Drive System and is currently being evaluated at IC Corporation's research and technology facility in Fort Wayne, Ind. The hybrid school bus will be delivered to a school bus customer in spring 2006.

The initial powertrain for the school bus project will couple an International(R) VT365 V8 diesel engine with an 80 kW hybrid-electric powertrain, incorporating a transmission, batteries and permanent magnet motor. The system is based on a parallel architecture, allowing the system to utilize both diesel and electric power in a highly efficient manner.

The system recovers kinetic energy during braking, charging the batteries while the bus is slowing down. This provides additional power for acceleration, making the hybrid buses ideal because of the frequent starting and stopping of the bus.

January 31, 2006 - 7:06 AM | Posted in - Others