FWISD UNVEILS NEW HYBRID SCHOOL BUSES ON EARTH DAY
WHAT: Photo opportunity as FWISD unveils first vehicles in its new hybrid bus fleet
WHEN: Thursday, April 22, 2010, 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Versia Williams Elementary School, 901 Bauerline, Mapsco 63Y
WHO: Superintendent Melody Johnson, Chief of District Operations Cecelia Speer, State Senator Wendy Davis, District transportation executives, representatives from the North Central Texas Council of Governments, the bus and hybrid drive manufacturers
SUMMARY: The Fort Worth Independent School District is on the road to operating the largest hybrid school bus fleet in the United States. The first of 25 new diesel hybrid electric school buses ordered by the District have arrived and are ready for service. The remainder of the fleet will be rolling into the bus yard over the next several months.
The new buses will be unveiled on Earth Day, April 22, 2010, at Versia Williams Elementary School. Versia Williams’ students will be celebrating Earth Day through smART, an annual cross curricular event expressed through the arts.
Each new bus costs $146,000. FWISD, using bond funds approved by voters in 2007, is paying the cost of a non-hybrid bus ($82,000) while the U.S. Department of Energy is paying the difference of $64,000 on each new bus.
These buses are charge sustaining hybrids meaning they recharge without needing to be plugged in to an electrical source. FWISD will be able to evaluate this technology without the added cost of the charging station infrastructure, such as compressed natural gas or liquid petroleum gas. In our large, urban District buses travel stop and go routes at speeds of 30 m.p.h. or less most of the time. This is the optimal environment for hybrid technology.
Other anticipated advantages include:
· Reduced fuel expenditures
· Reduced emissions by approximately 30%
· Reduced brake wear
· Reduced component maintenance
· Reduced noise
The federal funds are part of a $13.2 million grant being administered by the North Central Texas Council of Governments. The grant money will help the region fund 382 fuel-efficient vehicles and 11 refueling stations in the NTCOG area.
State Senator Wendy Davis, a former Fort Worth City Councilwoman, served the 81st Legislative session with committee assignments in both Education and Transportation, among others.
The Operations Division of the FWISD, headed by Cecelia Speer and Art Cavazos and the Transportation Department led by Sharon Spears and Fleet Manager Mike Horsely, along with Grants Director Tracy Marshall, collaborated on the highly competitive grant proposal.
Also attending this event will be Richard Shively, General Manager and Mike Murphey, North Texas Account Manager for Thomas Bus Gulf Coast; Jason Riggs, District Service Manager Central Region for Thomas Built Buses; Richard Harris, Hybrid Sales Manager and Mark Xepoleas, Texas / Oklahoma Sales Manager for Eaton Corporation.
-FWISD-