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School Transportation News and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory judged 18 nominations submitted in April and selected winners in four categories for fleets over 100 buses and fleets under 100. Winning the large private fleet award with 30 percent of its fleet powered by propane is Pacific Western Transportation (PWT), a contractor that operates in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Over 60 percent of the 856 propane buses are operated by subsidiary Southland Transportation at its Calgary and Halifax, Nova Scotia locations.

While electricity is dominating industry conversations for its zero emissions and low maintenance costs, propane has already proven its reliability as a less expensive option to diesel while still providing low emissions. Not to mention the upfront cost of the vehicle is significantly less than when compared to electric.

TransNet’s long-term sustainability plan to reduce its impact on the planet is evident in its paratransit fleet. In 2019, the municipal transport service began operating shuttles on propane LPG, a clean and low-carbon fuel. By operating vehicles from its propane fleet, TransNet eliminates more than 3.1 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the life of the shuttles. In addition, the organization will emit fewer greenhouse gases, virtually eliminate coals that produce smog, and particulate emissions compared to comparable gasoline-powered models.

Livonia’s Roush CleanTech and New Jersey’s First Priority Group have announced a partnership to create electric emergency and specialty vehicles. The companies plan on deploying a pilot in 2022 with commercial production scheduled to begin in 2023.

Hi Pro Inc. is adding five Class 6 straight box propane autogas delivery trucks to its fleet. The company, a nationwide mail logistics contractor, has more than 40 years of service history with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The vehicles are part of a $1 million research pilot project funded through the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. The project, “Delivering Clean Air in Denver: Propane Trucks and Infrastructure in Mail Delivery Application,” will fund the purchase and deployment for Hi Pro Inc.’s fleet in Denver.

In a partnership that may speed up the inevitable implementation of electrified emergency specialty vehicles, Flanders-based First Priority Group will announce Monday that it is partnering with ROUSH CleanTech on a pilot program that will produce a half-dozen such vehicles in 2022, ROI-NJ has learned.

Of 25 total vehicles owned by Eatran, the Eaton County-based transit agency, 10 are fueled by propane (both Ford F-550s and E-450s) with plans to go 100 percent by the end of the year. For all three years of their use, the cost savings have been funneled back into the upkeep of their facility.