The U.S. Energy Department’s Clean Cities hosted a one-hour webinar focused on school buses fueled by propane autogas. Hear from two transportation directors’ discussing their direct experience with propane buses; a funding expert and energy resource professional referencing various funding options; and industry experts reviewing total ownership costs, fueling, reduced emissions and more.
As the number of vehicles that operate on propane autogas increases, a “new” yet similar fuel that reaches near-zero-emissions is coming into play. That fuel is renewable propane. Many experts predict the entire worldwide demand can be met with renewable propane in 20 years.
It’s been a challenging year for school districts and transportation departments across the country. From the pandemic forcing schools to implement at-home learning with no preparation to the uncertainty of the current school year, it’s been crucial for those working in the school bus industry to use effective communication.
In a progressive, tech-focused city, Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) recognized an opportunity to reduce emissions and noise by replacing aging diesel school buses with propane autogas school buses. The district transports 9,100 students to 33 schools, two early learning schools and seven special programs via 141 routes each day. Operating in an urban area with narrow, hilly streets, the district needs to focus on school buses with a quiet ride and low emissions, while reducing fuel and maintenance costs.
Brunswick (Maine) School Department has added two new propane buses to its fleet. The Blue Bird Vision propane buses arrived at the district on Oct. 21 and hit the road for regular school routes on Oct. 30, Michelle Caron, Brunswick School Department’s director of transportation, told School Bus Fleet.
The saying, “one size does not fit all” has seen many adaptations over the years from student testing, to healthcare and in how we parent our kids, to name a few. When it comes to alternative fuels, the phrase doesn’t fit, either. As the pace of innovation in the world of transportation continues to quicken, the ability to leverage multiple energy solutions to solve our air quality issues, create American jobs and reduce operational costs in order to be more competitive have never been more critical.
For the first time ever, more than 20,000 propane autogas buses were at the ready in public and private school districts across the United States at the start of the school year in 2020, according to new figures from the Propane Education & Research Council. This is a 10 percent increase from 2019 vehicle numbers and it’s also the first full school year with propane autogas buses in use by more than 1,000 school districts or contractors.
At first glance, the difference might go unnoticed. They’re long and yellow, just like the rest of the buses in the Wilson School District’s fleet. The wheels and windows and mirrors are identical, the lights and doors are the same. But above that folding door, where a black bird normally sits, that’s where the tell is. That bird, on the seven new buses the district hopes to have in service by mid-January, will be green.
ROUSH CleanTech is providing Penske Truck Leasing with all-new Ford F-650 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) later this year for deployment across Southern California. “Penske has been expanding its battery-electric fleet for the past several years,” said Paul Rosa, senior vice president of procurement and fleet planning at Penske Truck Leasing.
Brunswick School Department’s fleet of yellow school buses just got a little bit greener. On Friday, the department rolled out two new Blue Bird Vision propane autogas buses that officials hope will help pave the way for a more sustainable future. The buses were purchased from the Volkswagen Clean Air Act Settlement, in which the auto company agreed to help replace diesel buses. The carmaker paid for $78,120, or 80% of the $105,000 price tag of each bus, Superintendent Philip Potenziano said, totaling $156,240.
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