New Brunswick's first hybrid school bus has been on the road since September. According to the province, it is the second vehicle of this kind to be operated in Canada.
The purchase of the school bus, which will be transporting Moncton students, will help New Brunswick reduce its green house gas emissions.
The 72-passenger hybrid bus, made by IC Corp., is equipped with a diesel engine and a battery-powered electric motor.
Substantial savings
The manufacturer estimates that, compared with a regular school bus, there will be a 20 to 50 % fuel economy. Also, up to 90 % of particulate emissions could be eliminated.
The bus was bought as part of a pilot project. For $6.7 million, the province renewed its school bus fleet in June 2008. Shawn Graham's liberal government then purchased 85 school buses with clean-burning engines and equipped with a trap that filters harmful particulate emissions before they a re released into the atmosphere.
The new hybrid bus' performance will later be compared against the other new 85 buses.
More green vehicles
New Brunswick Transportation Minister, Denis Landry, explained that Moncton was chosen for the new hybrid bus' trial period because that type of vehicle performs better in urban areas. Also, Moncton has one of the province's two IC Corp. dealerships, wich will be convenient when maintenance work needs to be done.
"My department is working continuously to be a leader in green transportation, said Minister Landry. This new bus is part of our work to make the New Brunswick government fleet a model user of alternative fuel technologies."
The Department of Transportation received $180,000 from the New Brunswick Climate Change Action Fund to buy the hybrid bus.
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The purchase of the school bus, which will be transporting Moncton students, will help New Brunswick reduce its green house gas emissions.
The 72-passenger hybrid bus, made by IC Corp., is equipped with a diesel engine and a battery-powered electric motor.
Substantial savings
The manufacturer estimates that, compared with a regular school bus, there will be a 20 to 50 % fuel economy. Also, up to 90 % of particulate emissions could be eliminated.
The bus was bought as part of a pilot project. For $6.7 million, the province renewed its school bus fleet in June 2008. Shawn Graham's liberal government then purchased 85 school buses with clean-burning engines and equipped with a trap that filters harmful particulate emissions before they a re released into the atmosphere.
The new hybrid bus' performance will later be compared against the other new 85 buses.
More green vehicles
New Brunswick Transportation Minister, Denis Landry, explained that Moncton was chosen for the new hybrid bus' trial period because that type of vehicle performs better in urban areas. Also, Moncton has one of the province's two IC Corp. dealerships, wich will be convenient when maintenance work needs to be done.
"My department is working continuously to be a leader in green transportation, said Minister Landry. This new bus is part of our work to make the New Brunswick government fleet a model user of alternative fuel technologies."
The Department of Transportation received $180,000 from the New Brunswick Climate Change Action Fund to buy the hybrid bus.
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| Transportation Minister Denis Landry and Environment Minister Roland Haché worked together to purchase the new hybrid shcool bus. |