Ford and Georgia Tech Collaborating on a Biofuel School Bus

The Georgia Institute of Technology and the Ford Motor Company issued a joint press release that introduced environmentally-minded car lovers to the "Green Eco School Bus." What are Ford's money and Georgia Tech's brain power accomplishing?

Setting the Environmental Standard

When WHAS 11 reported on hybrid school buses, the responses were mixed. The Kentucky public school system received federal stimulus funds to go green. With these buses, the Jefferson County Public Schools succeeded in cutting gasoline consumption by more than 30 percent -- when compared to the standard diesel-powered vehicles. Nay-sayers point to the cost of the buses when compared to the dollar value of the savings, and consider the progress too expensive to be truly feasible.

Raising the Bar

Georgia Tech and the Ford Motor Company have a different take on green school transportation. Their goal is the conversion of a standard school bus to a biofuel-guzzling hydraulic hybrid. The bus prototype is a donation from the Atlanta Public Schools.

There is no need for federal stimulus money here; Ford issued a generous cash donation of $50,000. Georgia Tech has the brain power in the form of a student-led project team. The goal is simple: pioneer a state of the art "Green Eco School Bus," which cuts greenhouse emissions while presenting a cost-effective conveyance that offers real savings at the pump.

Used cooking oil will be processed into biodiesel, which in turn will fuel this bus.

Is the Auto Industry Fight for Dominance On -- Again?

Just after the recession knocked the breath out of the car makers, General Motors and Chrysler had to go begging to lawmakers for taxpayer-funded handouts. Newsweek speculated in 2008 whether this might be Ford's moment to shine. Then again, the $8.7 billion loss that the company took did not put it into a good position.

Fast forwarding to today, it is clear that Ford has left this temporary hiccup in its revenues behind, and it is focusing on the future. This future, which the company apparently banks on with more than just words, features biofuel.

Then again, perhaps the "Green Eco School Bus" is just part and parcel of its Atlanta campaign, in an effort to generate marketable goodwill. As outlined in another Ford press release, the company commits to spending in excess of $1 million in and around Atlanta over the course of the next two years. Very telling is its statement that "Ford has contributed more money in more communities over its 107-year history than any other automaker."

If a useable blueprint for green technology through school bus conversions is a side effect of this goodwill campaign, Ford won't mind.

Sources

PR Newswire: "Ford and Georgia Tech Partner on "Green Eco School Bus" - Nation's First Hydraulic Hybrid School Bus Conversion"
WHAS 11: "JCPS gets hybrid buses in effort to go green"
Newsweek: "Can Ford Pull Ahead?"
PR Newswire: "Ford Motor Company Expands Local Support; Tops $1 Million to Atlanta Community Over 2 Years"