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The first standard electric school bus conversion was accomplished by the San Dimas School District, bus repair shop, San Dimas, California, in 1994. A 50 passenger Crown Coach School Bus, tandem rear axel, was converted to an all wheel electric drive by replacing the GM pancake 300 horse power diesel motor, drive lines, transmission, and fuel tank. The four electric hub wheel motors where developed for the US Army as a DARPA project. Currently Solomon Technologies, the company that developed the wheel motor is producing improved units for sail boat ancillary drives. The converted school bus was certified by the California Highway Patrol for use as a school bus. An electric stepper motor was used to support the bus airbrake system. A battery tray was developed so that a quick change out could be accomplished by lifting the bus and removing and replacing the battery tray. A small stand by diesel generator was available if the battery charge dropped. The Electric Wheel device greatly reduces the complexity and number of parts in a self-contained motor/transmission device while providing redundancy and energy regeneration capabilities. The Electric Wheel is a ring/planetary/sun gear assembly that can be utilized as an infinitely variable transmission, eliminating the need for gear shifting, and greatly reducing the complexity and number of parts needed to construct a transmission. Coupled with two electric motors the device has high efficiency, can overcome dead loads, produce soft-starts and can regenerate energy thru unused torque. The Electric Wheel may be constructed with one electric motor power input device and the second power input device being any suitable power input device, such as an internal combustion engine (I.C.E.). The Electric Wheel can be incorporated into a wheel hub assembly or coupled to a drive shaft for vehicular applications. It can also be used in myriads of other applications where overcoming dead loads and soft-start capabilities are required. The Electric Wheel is a proven device that also provides redundancy and energy regeneration. Paul Conley

The use of hub motors on automobiles, electric hub motors, on all four wheels, was developed and produced by Doctor Fernando Porsche in 1898. The car was called a Matilda, four wheel drive, electric hub motors, and battery power on board. The automobile was produced in Vienna, Austria, and was very popular with the public. Paul Conley