New Jersey schools buses have received extra money to make their diesel emissions cleaner.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has completed an $180,000 project to reduce emissions for 184 school buses in the Vineland School District of New Jersey. Vehicles were fitted with diesel oxidation catalysts and crank case filters.

The improvements should reduce the amount of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and fine particles that the buses generate on the road. Anti-idling monitoring technologies have also been put in place to allow local officials to monitor how the vehicles are driven.

"The Vineland Board of Education has set a wonderful example for other New Jersey school districts as the first district to volunteer to reduce tailpipe emissions," said Alan J. Steinberg, regional administration for EPA.

Joseph Callavini, manager of school transportation at Vineland, added that he was pleased with the results of the EPA grant, which allowed him to continue providing good transport whilst "improve the quality of the air that we all breathe".

It is thought that high diesel emissions can lead to increased rates of asthma amongst children.

Several states in the US have become increasingly stringent in their treatment of diesel emissions, with the evolution of clean vehicle technology steadily gaining momentum.



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