Re: CA's first plug-in diesel hybrid school busses

Based on 13,000 miles the hybrid bus traveled during the 2007-08 school year, annual fuel costs for a standard school bus would be just under $10,000 at $4.87 per gallon. Conversely, fuel for the hybrid bus costs approximately $5,000 at the same price per gallon.

"Fuel costs are a major concern to me," said Knight. "Cutting annual fuel costs in half for this bus is a major advantage -- both for taxpayers' wallets and for the environment."

Traveling about 65 miles per day, the hybrid bus typically transports roughly 60 children each morning and 60 each afternoon through a mixed route of highway and city driving.

"The children are excited to be riding one of the first hybrid school buses in the nation," said Knight. "The parents have also commented on the positive environmental benefits of the bus."

Drivers also enjoy driving the bus. To the driver, it operates similar to a standard school bus. However, the diesel engine receives assistance from an electric motor at certain points during acceleration and deceleration. The hybrid drive system on Napa Valley's bus is recharged by plugging it into a standard outlet at night or between morning and afternoon routes.

California's Newest Green Product - A Hybrid School Bus - Saves Fuel, Reduces Emissions - FOXBusiness.com

At least the school district made out, paying only $50K instead of $94K.

How come I don't get a warm fuzzy from the "business" of going green?

Re: CA's first plug-in diesel hybrid school busses

One must try to add calculations for the reductions in pollutants if we are going to do a true cost to benefit analysis of going green. If there is a large reduction in pollution than there will be less pollutant induced sickness which is a drag on the economy due to health costs, lost productivity, losses in water quality, atmospheric interuptions, and argicultural yields. All of these, while sometimes hard to pin down hard numbers, are contributors or detractors to the economy and national health and MUST be figured into the calculations.

Since children are the most effected by such pollution I feel it was kind of a no brainer to include school busses. It's a great pedagogical idea.

No, it's the fact that PG&E was in on the deal. I dont' think they really care if NVUD gets a Plug-In school bus. I do think they care that it'll be plugged into their grid and they'll be reaping more profits, while making up the "donation" cost with higher energy bills. Unless they're helping them buy a bus that's NOT going to be plugged into their grid, but what company would do that?

I'm glad they got their bus, just wish they could have done it on their own.

But what school district can afford $250K/bus? So it comes down to you want something, I'll help you get it, but you'll be paying me forever in the future. Just seems shaddy somehow. I know they'll be paying anyway, but it just rubs me wrong.

And are they going to cut the same deal to replace ALL the school buses for all their districts? My guess is no.

Kudos to the NVUD though. They needed a new bus, spent $50K instead of $94K AND they're cutting their gas cost by $5K. That's good economics, I'm just worried about what's coming on the backside.

Re: CA's first plug-in diesel hybrid school busses

Ok, I see your point now. I'd have to ask my friend who sits on the Bay Area Air Management Board (Chris Daly) about the specifics but I doub't I'll be awake enough after work to make the drive to SF to meet them for dinner tonight like we planned. lol

It's my understanding that the California Public Utilities Commission rules make it advantageous for PG&E to promote energy conservation.

Does anybody understand how this works? Is it real?