Hybrid Bus Arrival

According to an article in the Express-Times (read it here) the hybrid bus that was purchased last year arrived just after Earth Day, making the NASD the second school district in the country with one (Bradenton, FL had two delivered).

The article notes that "Hybrid buses, which run on a combination of diesel power and a battery pack connected to an electric motor...[have] a 70 to 100 percent gain in fuel economy claimed by the manufacturer. The buses also run 90 percent cleaner."

When the vehicle was purchased NOC wrote about it (read the post here). Considering what was written then, to now, the delivery date was February, but more important, the cost of the bus was explained as follows:

A standard school bus costs $67,000, the hybrid costs $209,000. Jennings Transportation (which is the district bus contractor) will pay $67,000, the district will pay $14,000 and the state will pay $112,000. The balance will be paid by an electric company consortium.

With 70 to 100% fuel economy and no additional cost to purchase, I'd be excited if I was at Jennings. The question remains how long will the buses be purchased with $142,000 subsidies and how much in maintenance efficiency can be maintained with one electric and the balance of the fleet not?