In this issue:
IC Bus Awarded $10 Million Grant

Advanced Energy Monitors PHESB Performance in Wake County

New Technology Could Mean Instant Heat and Comfort for Passengers

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IC Bus Awarded $10 Million Grant

In April, the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded IC Bus with a $10 million grant to build, deliver and evaluate the company’s third-generation plug-in hybrid electric school buses (PHESBs).  As a part of this grant, IC Bus will build eight vehicle prototypes that will undergo chassis dynamometer and track testing. The evaluations will help in determining which of the prototypes should be selected for production.  Thirty of the selected prototype buses will be built and distributed for field evaluation by the end of 2012.  The evaluation stage should be completed by 2014. Advanced Energy will support the company with data collection, monitoring and purchase facilitation for this project

IC Bus expects to achieve approximately 30 miles per charge and run the buses up to 45 mph using the electric motor.  The anticipated start date for this project per the DOE is October 1, 2009.

Advanced Energy Monitors PHESB Performance in Wake County

In an effort to evaluate the performance of the International/Enova PHESB system, Advanced Energy conducted a field test monitoring the operation of a Wake County, North Carolina PHESB and a control bus. The buses were instrumented with monitoring equipment that consisted of a Kvaser Memorator CAN data logger and a GPS receiver/logger. The PHESB was also equipped with a computer-based hybrid system monitor known as PDS supplied by Enova.  Advanced Energy established an independent test route that made it possible to compare bus performance in a real-world driving environment. Approximately 31.5 miles in length, the test route encompassed highway, intercity and residential driving segments.

Based on the test results, the Wake County PHESB showed the following performance:

• Approximate 10 percent reduction in fuel efficiency compared to a standard school bus when traversing the highway segment of the test route.
• Approximate 53 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared to a standard school bus when traversing the intercity segment of the test route.
• Greater than 75 percent improvement in fuel efficiency compared to a standard school bus when traversing the residential segment of the test route.
• Approximate 25-mile PHESB initial charge-depleting mode range before the vehicle switched to charge-sustaining mode.

Findings indicate that PHESB route selection is critical for achieving optimum performance. Tests show that routes with minimal highway travel and frequent stopping and starting are ideal for PHESB deployment. Advanced Energy plans to continue monitoring buses on working routes and examining methods to provide decision support to PHESB users for proper route selection.

New Technology Could Mean Instant Heat and Comfort for Passengers

Ventech recently introduced the Liquid Heat Generator (LHG) technology, an innovative means of supplemental heating for buses that could mean near instant heat and comfort in cabins in cold climates. Buses with the LHG device, which is integrated into the vehicle’s coolant system, are expected to see improved cabin heating time compared to traditional buses. According to the company’s Web site, buses equipped with this technology can expect reduced idling, less fuel consumption, decreased emissions and improved engine life-cycle, resulting in cost reductions and improved air quality. Independent performance evaluations for this device are not yet available.