Remember racing out of school to a line of big yellow buses waiting patiently to wisk us all home?  Part of my memory of elementary school revolves around this moment of everyday that was filled with enthusiasm to get home…it’s also filled with that classic smell of diesel exhaust.  That memory brings my nose to life as I remember the distinct odor that always filled my nostrils as I clambored aboard my ride home.  I often wonder what my memories would be lilke without these memory-laden scents. Well, as far as school buses are concerned, someone may have discovered exactly that.

Wired’s new blog (well…new to me anyways) Autopia introduces a rather smart idea that is starting to rumble to life in certain parts of the country: plug-in hybrid school buses.  Right now the focus is just to build vehicles that have better emissions than the current stock.   

School buses are an appropriate platform for hybrid technology because they idle for lengthy periods while waiting for and picking up children. Instead of burning diesel while they are staying warm for the kids the buses can run the heating system off of the batteries. And of course diesel buses get better MPG than gasoline and opens up the door to using biodiesel fuel.

So instead of sucking on the fumes of a diesel bus that’s been idling for a good hour I can breath a bit easier (and cleaner).  Hat tip to Autotopia for picking this up…