SAE International to Host Free Online School Bus Powertrain Innovation Symposium

WARRENDALE, Pa., March 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SAE International will hold its first-ever School Bus Powertrain Innovation Symposium, March 19-21; the event is free and will be held online, via webcasts.

The SAE 2012 School Bus Powertrain Innovation Symposium focuses on reducing fuel and maintenance costs using propane, compressed natural gas, and hybrid electric technology. This event is designed to help attendees make properly informed decisions about the pros and cons of converting their buses to either hybrid electric, propane, or compressed natural gas technology. OEM, Supplier and peer-to-peer presentations and panel discussions, along with a grant writing workshops are integral parts of this program.

SAE International has created the first-of-its kind program to help anyone involved in school bus fleet operations learn about the most current and innovative activities about alternative fuel options from school bus OEM, supplier and peer-to-peer presentations, panel discussions, along with an extremely valuable grant writing workshop.

Keynote speaker for the event will be Mark S. Smith, Vehicle Technologies Deployment Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Clean Cities. Smith will speak at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 19.

OEM speakers will include Nathan Ediger, Director of Autogas and National Sales, Ferrellgas; and Brian Carney, Director of Marketing, ROUSH CleanTech; these presentations will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, March 19.

Peer-to-peer discussions on Tuesday, March 20, will feature school bus fleet managers and school officials who will present how they have made, or are making, the conversion to hybrid electric, propane or CNG. Wednesday, March 21, will feature a grant writing workshop led by U.S. Department of Energy and Clean Cities representatives.

For a complete schedule of events for the SAE 2012 School Bus Powertrain Innovation Symposium, visit http://www.sae.org/events/sbpi/. For media credentials to take part in the symposium, email [email protected] or call 1-724-772-8522.

SAE International is a global association of more than 134,000 engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive and commercial-vehicle industries. SAE International's core competencies are life-long learning and voluntary consensus standards development. SAE International's charitable arm is the SAE Foundation, which supports many programs, including A World In Motion® and the Collegiate Design Series.

Contact: Shawn Andreassi of SAE International, 1-724-772-8522 or [email protected]

SOURCE SAE International