Hybrid bus unveiled in Kelowna,BC first of its kind in Canada!
Hybrid bus unveiling
by Jason Lamb - Power 104 - Story: 36624
Jan 15, 2008 / 4:08 pm
The first hybrid school bus to be used in Canada was unveiled in Kelowna Tuesday morning.
Education Minister, Shirley Bond, was on hand along with local politicians, school officials and young students, to take the inaugural trip.
Board of Education chair, Moyra Baxter says they are excited to be the first school district in the country to have an environmentally friendly bus in its service.
"Hybrid vehicles produce fewer fumes while idling, and so that's good for students who may be boarding or departing the bus," says Baxter.
She says funding for the bus came, in part, from the provincial government.
"The Province is providing a total of $180,000 towards the school district's purchase of the bus. The 72-passenger hybrid vehicle costs about $240,000."
It uses a combination of electricity and diesel, cutting down on emissions and fuel costs.
The Central Okanagan school district will put the bus into service right away, on the KLO Middle School route.
A very noteworthy topic indeed when it comes to thinking about the concerns of global warming. It is definitely a step in the right direction in terms of lower emissions, especially a vehicle like a bus that spends large amounts of time idling while in service. I think it is even better that it is a diesel hybrid, as diesel vehicles typically have better fuel mileage. Obviously, the question of cost has to play a big role in the decision to implement a fleet of these types of buses for the average Canadian school district. Only long term studies will be able to tell us if this sort of vehicle actually made a significant difference to the environment at large. I for one am glad that our local school (SD23) is giving this newer technology a shot. Thanks for reading my blog!
Sincerely,
Jason Neumann
Posted by Jason Neumann
on January 22, 2008