Navistar International Corporation (NYSE: NAV) of Fort Wayne, Indiana, has been selected by the
Department of Energy (DOE) for negotiation of a cost-shared award of up
to $10 million to develop, test and deploy an electric hybrid school
bus.
As part of the Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Technology Acceleration and Deployment Activity program, Navistar will develop and deploy 60 plug-in electric hybrid buses to fleets across the nation during a multi-year program.
DOE will provide up to $10 million over three years (50% of the
project’s projected total cost), subject to annual appropriations.
Development will include examining hybrid architectures to achieve a
40-mile electric range, evaluating advanced energy storage devices, and
operating on an emissions compliant diesel engine capable of running on
renewable fuels.
Navistar said it’s IC Bus unit is the only bus manufacturer that currently offers a plug-in hybrid school bus. In the proposed project, Navistar will work to further develop the plug-in hybrid bus into a vehicle capable of all-electric drive for extended periods. This proposed vehicle will have engine-off driving capability, saving fuel and reducing emissions while traveling on electricity only.
“These projects will help move technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace by improving their durability, reducing their costs, and validating their performance in real-world settings,” said DOE Secretary Steven Chu. “By investing in the vehicles of the future, we will create new jobs while reducing our dependence on foreign oil and improving our environment.”
Navistar International Corporation is a holding company whose subsidiaries produce International® brand commercial and military trucks, MaxxForce® brand diesel engines, IC Bus brand school and commercial buses, and Workhorse® brand chassis for motor homes and step vans. It also is a private-label designer and manufacturer of diesel engines for the pickup truck, van and SUV markets.
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