Over the last few years, there has been a lot of discussion about NOx — or nitrogen oxides — and the negative impact it has on many levels within our society. The problem was brought to light in 2014 when West Virginia University released its report on Volkswagen diesel engines that significantly exceeded the allowable threshold for NOx.
Buyers and sellers of technologies that make fleets run cleaner and more efficiently gathered in Long Beach, Calif., April 30 through May 4 at the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo. This annual event featured five days of workshops, forums, sessions, and networking. Two days also included a trade show in which exhibitors showcased the latest transportation technologies, powertrains, and clean fuels. There were more than 3500 registered participants and more than 950 registered fleets.
The 2018 Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, California last month was electric with talk of all the clean energy vehicle solutions and funding opportunities that are currently available and those to come. The event also saw its largest school bus presence to date. The significance of the yellow bus to alternative fuel conversation was apparent by the packed room that showed up to hear School Transportation News Editor-in-Chief Ryan Gray host a roundtable discussion on effective school bus replacement strategies on the first full day of the Expo, just prior to the opening general session on May 1.
In February’s issue, I wrote an article pointing out the comparisons of new alternative fuel power plant emissions to pre-2010 diesel. I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of the propane engine supplier representatives as I viewed the comments made as a positive outcome and informative for you as readers to evaluate.
Prior to last month’s Advanced Clean Transportation Expo in Long Beach, Calif., ROUSH CleanTech was synonymous – at least in the school bus industry – with propane autogas fuel injection systems built for the Blue Bird Vision and the Micro Bird G5, as well as comparable CNG and gasoline systems. The alternative energy division of ROUSH Enterprises was still riding the high of last year, when it produced the first and only propane engine in the Class 4 through 7 market to achieve the optional 0.05 grams per brake horsepower per hour level of NOx.
Over the past few years, researchers have found links between diesel-fueled school bus emissions and an increased cancer risk in children. The Carmel Clay School District and others across the state are working to make their school buses safer for their students. Gabe Filipelli, a Department of Earth Sciences professor at IUPUI, says constantly being around diesel-fueled emissions is the equivalent of smoking nine packs of cigarettes a year.
Green is the new black! That’s the statement I made in my very first online blog post back in 2010. Now, as I write my 100th blog post, I realize green isn’t the “new” anything anymore. It’s become part of the mainstream for fleets.
ROUSH CleanTech, maker of alternative fuel systems and a division of Roush Enterprises Inc., Livonia, and Blue Bird Corp., Fort Valley, Ga., a school bus manufacturer, have extended an alternative-fueled school bus partnership through 2025. The contract started in 2012 and has resulted in 1,300 districts operating more than 16,000 propane, compressed natural gas and gasoline-powered school buses.
The last day of school was Thursday for Cassia County students and some rode home in style. The school district recently received three new propane-run buses. Jim Hamilton, the transportation supervisor for the school district, said they bought two in 2017. “We liked them so we bought three more this year. We just got them in last week,” Hamilton said. Out of 63 buses the school district has, they have five that run on propane.
A school district here added six propane school buses to its fleet for the 2017-18 school year, replacing some diesel buses, and has seen about $12,000 in savings so far. Since the School District of Holmen put the Blue Bird Vision propane buses into operation, it has saved over $2,000 per bus in maintenance and fueling costs, said Beth Hobbs, the transportation supervisor for the district.
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