now, the student transportation industry and other commercial segments were gearing up to review the first-ever CAFE regula- tions for vocational vehicles such as school buses. Te joint CAFE and greenhouse gas emissions standards pro-
mulgated by NHTSA and EPA were first announced last October. By 2018, newly manufactured school buses must achieve up to a 10 percent reduction in fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Te proposed rule was expected to be released by July 30 in
response to a May 2010 directive from President Obama. Te “Medium- and Heavy-Duty Fuel Efficiency Improvement Pro- gram” seeks to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil by 500 million barrels during the life cycles of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles sold between 2014 and 2018. At the same time, the feds want to cut GHG emissions by 250 million metric tons. Te EPA says transportation sources emitted 29 percent of all U.S. GHG emissions in 2007 and have been the fastest growing source of U.S. GHG emissions since 1990. “Most of the observed increases in global average temperatures
since the mid-20th century are very likely due to human-caused GHG concentrations,” the EPA stated in 2009. Joining school buses as vocational vehicles — which also include
transit buses, shuttle buses, fire trucks, motor homes, refuse haul- ers, utility trucks, and dump trucks, to name a few — in the new regulations are combination tractors and heavy-duty pickups and vans beginning with the 2014 model year. In fact, school buses are spread across the spectrum of light-, medium heavy- and heavy- duty vehicles affected by the proposed rules. Type A and Type
❝ We obviously look to our diesel
partner as a real answer. But at the same time, we can do things on our vehicle. We can help on calibration; we can help on fuel
economy issues. ❞ — Phil Horlock, Blue Bird president and CEO
B school buses are generally considered to fall between Class 2B and Class 5 vehicles, which span 6,000 pounds GVWR to 19,500 pounds GVWR. Type C conventional school buses are considered Class 6 vehicles ranging from 19,500 pounds to 26,000 pounds GVWR, and Type D transit-style school buses fall in Class 7 and, in some cases, Class 8, or 26,000 pounds to more than 33,000 pounds GVWR. In lock step with the proposed regulations are engine improve-
ments tied to accessory electrification, turbocharger efficiency, variable valve timing, friction reduction, alternative combustion cycles (HCCI), advanced engine control systems (OBD), and al- ternative fuels. At this writing, the large school bus manufacturers
www.stnonline.com 27
It’s service that empowers. It’s service that excels. It’s a team that understands the challenges you face. And it’s a commitment to making your job easier.
The Versatrans transportation management solution is now available as a subscription based solution.
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Versatrans Software as a
Service (SaaS)
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