Valence Technology Receives Orders to Power New Fleet of Environmentally-Friendly Hybrid School Buses

2010-05-27

Valence Technology, a leading global energy system manufacturer, recently announced it received new purchase orders from Enova Systems, Inc, a leading supplier of hybrid and electric powered propulsion systems, to develop a new fleet of 16 hybrid-electric school buses intended for service in school districts across Wisconsin and Ohio. Enova Systems is the electric drivetrain provider for Navistar International Corporation's hybrid-electric school bus, the Navistar IC(TM) CE Series yellow bus. Enova has been a Valence customer since 2006.

Navistar, with a 61% share of the school bus market in North America, continues to utilize Enova's hybrid-electric drivetrains and Valence Technology's proven U-Charge(R) dynamic energy systems that feature Valence Command & Control interactive logic in their hybrid-electric school buses. To date, there are dozens of Navistar IC(TM) hybrid school buses powered by Valence Technology in service at various school districts across 11 states.

"School districts across the U.S. trust Enova Systems and Navistar to transport their students safely, efficiently and with a reduced impact on the environment," said RJ Adleman, Valence Technology's Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "And as evidenced by the new orders, Enova and Navistar continue to place confidence in Valence Technology to deliver proven, safe and reliable battery systems that enable significantly-improved fuel economy and a decrease in greenhouse gases."

Introduced in 2006, the Navistar IC(TM) CE series yellow bus revolutionized the school transportation industry by offering the first commercially available hybrid-electric school bus in the United States. Navistar's CE Series school bus utilizes an 80 kW Enova Systems hybrid drive train and a 38 kWh Valence Technology lithium phosphate dynamic energy system. The innovative hybrid-electric system improves fuel economy by up to 65% and reduces greenhouse gases by up to 39%.

"In Valence Technology we found an advanced battery solution that delivers the power, energy, safety and reliability that Navistar requires," said John Mullins, Enova Systems' Chief Operating Officer. "The latest order with Valence Technology will help more school districts reduce their carbon footprints and transport children safer and quieter.