HEADLINES
all indicated that current diesel engine emissions solutions were expected to be re- tained to meet the new requirements. “We continue to invest in our engine tech-
nology development and remain confident that we will continue to offer our customers solutions that do not have the hassle of liquid urea,” said Ann-Marie Cronin, the marketing communications manager at IC Bus.
“Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) is
the foundation Tomas Built Buses and Cummins are utilizing,” commented Kelley Platt, president of the High Point, N.C.-based school bus manufacturer. “We do not antici- pate any major engine or hardware changes to meet EPA 2014 regulations.” Cummins will reportedly certify its ISB and ISC diesel engine line used by both
expected of Navistar’s MaxxForce line of engines that rely on Advanced Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR). “We obviously look to our diesel part-
Tomas and Blue Bird to meet NOx ticulate and CO2
ner as a real answer,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird. “But at the same time, we can do things on our vehicle. We can help on calibration; we can help on fuel economy issues.” Indeed, the proposed standards cover
not only the engine but also the complete vehicle’s pay-load factor. Vehicle design improvements and fuel-saving strategies being employed by school bus manufac- turers and component suppliers include: low-rolling resistant tires; vehicle weight reduction through lighter wheels and moving toward single-rear wheels as op- posed to rear-dual wheels; idle reduction technology; intelligent vehicle routing; transmission and driveline technologies; and hybrid technology. For example, Platt added that Tomas
plans to also re-certify its school bus line for tires that will comply with rolling-resistance standards. Also, there is the decision Tomas announced earlier this year that a propane Type C would be offered for the 2013 model year, coming on the heels of introducing a hybrid-diesel school bus in 2009. Blue Bird pointed out that it remained
the only large school bus manufacturer with propane-powered solutions available to the industry for the past three years. Te company has also offered CNG options for the past two decades. Meanwhile, IC Bus continues to manu-
facturer its own hybrid technology, both the PHEV school bus and a regular diesel- hybrid bus, the first of each available to the industry starting in 2007. ■
Editor’s Note: STN maintenance and technology consultant Robert T. Pudlewski contributed to this report.
, par- standards. Te same was
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28 School Transportation News Magazine August 2011
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