The hybrid electric school bus, manufactured by Thomas Built Buses with the Eaton Hybrid System, was delivered today at 11:00 in front of Trigg County Schools. The keys to the new hybrid electric school bus were presented to Superintendent Travis Hamby by Bill Glisson, Whayne Supply.
Kentucky will have the distinction of having the largest hybrid electric school bus fleet in the nation. Trigg County is one of the 30 districts awarded a share of the $13 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, adding a total of 213 hybrid electric vehicles to public school fleets across Kentucky. At approximately $150,000 per vehicle, hybrid electric school buses cost twice as much as traditional school buses. The grant offsets the differential costs for local districts.
“While the new hybrid has several benefits including being more fuel efficient, we are proud to be doing a small part to positively impact the environment.,” says Superintendent Hamby
“We are encouraging school systems throughout the state to improve efficiency while being environmentally conscious,” says Commissioner Terry Holliday with the Kentucky Department of Education. “The new technology will also provide learning opportunities for students on real-world issues like fuel consumption, air quality and transportation costs.”
The Hybrid Horsepower for Kentucky Schools program is a collaborative effort between the Kentucky Clean Fuels Coalition (KCFC) and the Kentucky Department of Education. Performance data for these hybrid electric school buses will be gathered by KCFC, a non-profit organization.
“Kentucky students will be interactive participants in the hybrid electric school bus project,” says Melissa M. Howell, Executive Director of KCFC. “KCFC plans to engage students through on-site energy teams that include teachers, students, administrators and local communities,” adds Howell.
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