Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Power - New York Power ...

April 24, 2007
SUMMARY
9. Transfer of Ownership of Electric School Bus to Byram Hills Central School District
The President and Chief Executive Officer submitted the following report:
“The Trustees are requested to authorize the transfer of ownership of a 1997 Blue Bird electric-powered
school bus (VIN 1BAAGBUH5VF072614) from the Authority to the Byram Hills Central School District
(‘BHCSD’). BHCSD has had exclusive use of the bus since September 2005. Due to liability concerns, staff has
determined that it would be beneficial to the Authority to discontinue ownership of the bus. BHCSD has agreed to
accept ownership and to continue to operate the bus for as long as is mechanically and economically feasible. If
approved by the Trustees, transfer of ownership of the bus will provide an immediate benefit to the school district
and a long-term benefit to the State by demonstrating the advantages of clean, energy-efficient electric-drive
technology for school bus applications.
BACKGROUND
“The Authority has been implementing electric-drive transportation development and demonstration
projects since 1994 as part of its overall mission to promote clean, efficient electric technologies that lessen
dependence on imported oil and improve air quality for the benefit of the people of New York State. The Authority
has helped place in service more than 850 electric-drive vehicles. The vehicles have traveled more than 6.5 million
miles, saved more than 21,000 barrels of crude oil and avoided the release of 3,000 tons of CO 2 .
“In 1996, the Authority purchased an electric school bus from Blue Bird Body Company (‘Blue Bird’) and
Westinghouse Corporation (‘Westinghouse’) for demonstration and reporting (to the Authority) of certain
performance data such as mileage and energy consumption. The bus was a pre-production model and only the
second of its kind to be manufactured in the U.S. The bus cost $130,000. The Authority received co-funding in the
amount of $104,000 from the New York State Department of Transportation. The bus was placed in service with
New York City school bus operators in the Bronx and Brooklyn and was then transferred to Westchester County.
“Shortly after the bus was purchased, Blue Bird and Westinghouse discontinued production of electric
school buses, and Westinghouse dismantled the engineering group responsible for electric-drive system
development. Over the next few years, the Authority contracted with other drive-system manufacturers that
provided technical support for the bus. This included the replacement, in 2000, of the bus’ electric-drive system and
batteries. In 2005, Atlantic Express, a Brooklyn operator, returned the bus to the Authority after operating it for five
years. The Authority then canvassed other New York City school bus operators but did not find a company
interested in the bus. In Westchester County, the Authority found an enthusiastic and willing partner in BHCSD.
BHCSD was willing to accept a loan of the bus for a two-year period to operate, store and maintain it, and provide
the Authority with performance data. BHCSD invested labor and funds in charging infrastructure and bus upgrades
before placing the bus in service.
DISCUSSION
“Since no manufacturers are currently producing electric school buses, the continued demonstration of this
technology has value for both BHCSD and the State. School buses serving urban and suburban routes travel short
distances with significant stop-and-go driving patterns, and extended periods of idling. Electric school buses are
more efficient than conventional diesel school buses. Electric vehicles use no energy at idle and recapture energy
during braking. They also release no tailpipe emissions, thus providing significant health benefits to schoolchildren
compared with conventional technologies.
“There is, moreover, a renewed interest in all-electric vehicles for specialty applications, and several New
York State companies are working on developing advanced batteries. As the market for advanced batteries grows
and costs come down, the business case for electric buses and trucks becomes stronger. BHCSD’s willingness to
keep the bus in service at its own expense and to continue to demonstrate and provide performance data to the
Authority for this clean, energy-efficient electric-drive technology would be a significant benefit to the State.
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