SAN JOSE, Calif. — Last week, SunPods Inc., a San Jose, Calif.-based manufacturer of modular, fully integrated and tested solar power generation systems, announced the industry’s first solar power-assist system for buses.

The Sun Bus Power System was created by San Francisco-based Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation, a provider of chauffeured green transportation, and developed in less than six weeks in collaboration with SunPods to enable the operator’s fleet to meet the strict anti-pollution standards of California.

The modular solar power assist system consists of four thin film solar panels that run the length of the bus and charge an onboard battery bank. When the bus engine is off, the batteries power the air-conditioning and wireless connectivity equipment, enabling transportation companies to meet anti-idling standards without compromising passenger comfort.

The system has been in operation on a Bauer IT bus, undergoing testing since January 2010. A prototype was displayed at the Cleantech Open National Launch in San Francisco on Feb. 26.

“We support the state’s strong commitment to reducing pollution. At the same time, as a transportation provider, we wanted to meet our customers’ requirements for comfort and connectivity,” said Gary Bauer, founder and owner of Bauer’s Intelligent Transportation. “SunPods was able to make our vision a reality in less than six weeks. We’ve been testing the bus for the past four weeks and we’re impressed with the reliable performance.”

In an effort to meet air pollution standards, California state law since 2008 has prohibited diesel vehicles from idling for more than five minutes. More than 25 states across the U.S. now have anti-idling laws.

“We are really pleased to collaborate with an innovative company like Bauer IT,” said Dan Jaeger, president and co-founder of SunPods. “As a company, our focus is on reducing installation costs to make solar power more cost-effective and, thereby, increase adoption. With Bauer IT’s support, we have created a solar power assist system for luxury buses across the U.S.”

For more information on SunPods, visit SunPods Inc. Web site.

For more information about the solar power-assisted bus, contact Lisa Schmidt, Director of Marketing, at lisa.schmidt@sunpods.com or (408) 689-2446.

Source: SunPods Inc.