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ROUSH CleanTech Factory Technician Workshops

ROUSH CleanTech Factory Technician Workshops provides two full days of hands-on training to service centers and customers at our Livonia, Michigan location.  During the training, technicians will:

• Learn about propane properties and shop safety
• Tour the manufacturing facility to learn how the fuel system is made
• Depressurize propane fuel systems and transfer fuel between tanks
• Remove and install fuel system components
• Learn how to use service information and diagnostic equipment
• Fix bugged vehicles with the skills they have learned

2023 Factory Technician Workshop Dates:

ROUSH CleanTech is working to revive the Factory Technician Workshops for 2023. Until then, please visit our online training resources to learn more about our fuel system.

To request access to our online training, please click here.

For any questions, please contact Jared Otto at jared.otto@roush.com , Alex Hommema at alex.hommema@roush.com, or Greg Johnson at gregory.johnson@roush.com.

Dealer Spotlight: Brightbill Body Works

Location: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Interviewee: Mason Hemphill

Title: Sales Representative

Q.  What has made you successful with alternative fuels?

A. In the ’80s we experimented with gasoline buses and non-OEM propane alternatives in Blue Bird school buses in my home state of Texas. We learned a lot in those days where propane worked, but the non-OEM vapor driven systems were costly for our customers. Once the abundance of propane was discovered in the large natural gas reserves, it became much more attractive as an alternative fuel. After exhausting (no pun intended) several years of EGR and SCR and related truck emission solutions, I was eager to see the ROUSH CleanTech system with liquefied injection and OEM quality in action.

The Roush team at the time was Todd Mouw and Chelsea Jenkins who quickly convinced me that this was to be the fastest and most exciting product to be introduced to our industry. I thoroughly and completely believe in this product and its further development in the alternative fuel, clean air transportation and energy independence revolution. This is the right thing to do for taxpayers, the environment and, most importantly, future generations.

At Brightbill, we’re very passionate about propane-fueled school buses because school districts and contractors experiencing negative aspects of diesel maintenance now have a practical solution. Propane-powered school buses not only are the right thing to do for the school district, but also for the environment and especially for our school children with developing respiratory systems.

Q.  What is your overall approach to selling propane-fueled buses?

A. I am grateful and humble every day with all the excitement about the Blue Bird Propane Vision. This does not happen overnight, and I am fortunate to have many wonderful people helping me along the way.

Short- and long-term planning / goal setting are vital to get the process started. I have a great staff and colleagues at Brightbill, ROUSH CleanTech, the Blue Bird team, key fuel suppliers and agencies, like the Pennsylvania Propane Gas Association and EP-ACT, PTAP and PSBA, who have helped me with opportunities to speak about the propane bus and its benefits. The benefits of clean air drive me and its why the school bus industry has such a bright, clean and abundant future with propane. The propane bus is interesting to people and the best built offering that I have ever had the privilege to sell.

Q.  How do you introduce propane-fueled buses to prospective customers?

A. We utilize propane gas associations, trade shows, transportation associations, trial programs, safety competitions and our local Clean Cities coalitions to help us get the word out. I have a great state gas association (PAPGA) that helps me maintain relationships with propane marketers. This has been vital to my success and are my experts for fueling infrastructure, safety and usage.

We are participating members of local transportation and school business associations who often invite me, ROUSH CleanTech and Blue Bird to speak about the success of the propane school bus in other areas of the country and our state. We develop presentations, drive demonstration buses and show them anywhere it is practical. We participate in state and local safety competitions in my area to show off the benefits of propane in the Blue Bird school bus. It’s a great way to introduce propane buses into the conversation and get key exposure.

Another component of success is the EP-ACT, which is a local agency that helps write grants and is in touch with incentives for our end-user schools. This helps get the word out and, while not completely necessary for a successful ROI, has assisted with great press and enthusiasm about the projects.

Q.  Have you received any feedback from school bus drivers?

A. Yes! Our success is vital from our drivers! If you speak to drivers at school districts, rarely do they have the knowledge about what they are driving. We would never attempt to describe the chemistry set solutions that are present in the modern-day diesel buses because it seems to work against them in the stop / start application of a school bus. We recognized that the drivers related to propane easily because it is quiet and fun to drive (compared to diesel buses). Now, I speak to school bus drivers every chance I get about what Blue Bird, ROUSH CleanTech and Ford are doing with the propane school bus. We want them to have a stake in this remarkable movement.

We teach driver orientation classes that include history, operating and safety procedures about the propane product. We demonstrate the propane school bus constantly and drive it thousands of miles around our area to show bus drivers, transportation management, owners, superintendents and even school boards the bus. Once drivers have a chance to drive their new propane-fueled buses, and understand the state-of-the-art investment that their school and / or contract company has supplied them, they never want to go back to a diesel-powered bus.

Older diesel buses often create fatigue from noise, vibration and fumes. This diminishes the energy and enthusiasm required to operate a school bus effectively. The Blue Bird Propane Vision eliminates these issues and ensures a quieter and more pleasant vehicle to transport children. Drivers can concentrate on the passengers and other dynamics of the school bus environment. Drivers love the fact that our bus heats up with distributed heat much faster, reduces idle time and is as much as 9 decibels quieter than a diesel.

So yes, I guess I would say that driver understanding and participation is critical to the success of this product. I enjoy showing it to drivers to help them understand that this is a win-win for the everyone involved.

Volkswagen Funding Update: Timeline Pushed Back

We continue to wait patiently for a VW funding Trustee to be determined. While many states have an idea of who their beneficiary will be, they won’t be officially named until the Trustee is determined, which could take as long as six months.

Some states already have a very good idea who their beneficiary will be and others are keeping the information very close to the vest or just don’t know yet. If you are wondering whether your state knows who the beneficiary is, please contact Chelsea Uphaus at chelsea.uphaus@roush.com or 734.466.6710.

This will affect the timing for the rest of the pieces that need to fall into place. At this rate, the delay means that the funds most likely won’t be available until 2018.

We are ready to act once a Trustee is chosen. Until then, please make sure that all your paperwork has been submitted. Please send in your template letter and then personally reach out to your potential beneficiary to discuss propane and school bus replacements. We still want to be top of mind even during this delay.

NEXT STEPS:

1. Send beneficiary letter. If you haven’t sent out all your initial letters yet, you can find the materials online here:

• Letter of support from dealership
• Letter of support from school district
• List of potential beneficiaries
• School bus talking points

2. Reach out to the beneficiary to discuss propane and school bus replacements.
3. Complete this Excel spreadsheet and email it to Chelsea Uphaus. We’re waiting on this information from you to move on to our next phase of outreach when we will distribute program outlines like the one here.

Thanks to those of you who’ve already sent in your spreadsheet. We’re continuing to work on program outlines. If you have any questions, contact Chelsea Uphaus at chelsea.uphaus@roush.com or 734.466.6710.

Press Event Features New Propane Bus Deployment in South Carolina

This month, we helped Blanchard Bus Centers organize a propane school bus event in South Carolina. The state operates one of the oldest school bus fleets in the country with buses averaging 15 years old — some dating back to the 1980s. Blanchard helped make a dent in replacing old diesel buses with new propane-fueled models. The event let the folks of South Carolina know that cost-saving, emissions-reducing buses are now transporting their children.

A couple months in advance, the Blanchard team coordinated with folks from Blue Bird corporate and ROUSH CleanTech to organize the event. The Blue Bird dealership was instrumental in determining the event’s date and location and reaching out to dignitaries to attend and speak at the event. Blue Bird and ROUSH CleanTech stepped in to get the word out and get the media to take notice.

A few days before the event, we distributed a media alert with details to entice local media to attend the school bus unveiling. Along with logistical details, the media alert provided a sneak peek about the event, including the buses’ significance, the list of speakers and the opportunity to take a ride in a propane bus.

We then personally reached out to reporters to explain why this event was important for them to cover. This outreach was instrumental in the success of the event. It was well attended by newspaper and television reporters — with cameras in tow. Before the event, we arranged a radio station interview that aired early in the morning, and a reporter for a local television station showed up at 4:30 a.m. at Blanchard to broadcast live pre-event coverage.

We then distributed a press release immediately following the event to reach trade publications and local media members who were unable to attend.

Here are just a few of the stories generated from this public relations campaign:

Post & Courier: http://www.postandcourier.com/news/new-lower-emission-school-buses-coming-to-dorchester-berkeley-counties/article_3be51194-eeee-11e6-a50e-03f749b1d4ae.html

Berkeley Independent: http://www.berkeleyind.com/news/new-propane-autogas-buses-to-be-added-to-dd-bcsd/article_eda06288-ef0e-11e6-9650-2bd0bf247221.html

WLTX: http://www.wltx.com/news/local/dept-of-education-debuts-school-buses-with-propane-tanks/406640517

Live 5: http://www.live5news.com/story/34463181/two-local-school-districts-set-to-receive-buses-fueled-by-propane

ABC News 4: http://abcnews4.com/news/education-news/new-buses-in-berkeley-dorchester-counties-run-on-propane-have-air-gps

Dealer Spotlight: Cardinal Bus Sales

Interviewee: Tony Rumer

Title: Dealer Principle

Q.  What has made you successful with alternative fuels?

A.  To make Cardinal Bus Sales successful with alternative school bus sales, we reach out to our customers and invite them for tours of ROUSH CleanTech and to attend ride and drive events throughout the state. By putting a fresh spin on our marketing events, current and potential customers experience the buses in an interactive and interesting way.

Q.  How do you approach your ride-and-drive events?

A.  Each year, we host a few ride and drives throughout the state. Our goal is to introduce propane- and gasoline-fueled buses to as many people as we can. We choose multiple locations throughout the state and schedule events. We invite local decision makers, such as school board members, school transportation directors and maintenance personnel. We give presentations on the alt fuel buses and allow the attendees the chance to ride in or even drive demo buses. This past year, every participant who drove a bus received a Cardinal pullover. Our recent event brought in more than 100 qualified customers and prospects over three days.

Q.  How do you attract such great attendance for ROUSH CleanTech facility tours?

A.  We drive current and potential customers to Livonia on a propane or gasoline bus. Recently, we brought 30 people in from 15 different school districts. Not only does this make our participants feel appreciated, it also gives them time to discuss their alt fuel school bus goals with other Cardinal customers during the drive up to Michigan. Those who are interested in alternative fuels can speak to their peers who already have direct experience.

Q.  What can a customer expect during a tour?

A.  Our attendees get to learn more about propane and gasoline school buses and also experience ROUSH — making the trip both educational and fun. We arrive in Michigan the evening before the tour. In the morning, we check out ROUSH CleanTech’s manufacturing floor to see firsthand the engines, fuel tanks and fuels rails that go into our buses. Our customers hear a presentation about the available school buses, learn about bus service and operations and see a fueling demonstration. Then, we head over to the ROUSH Museum to learn more about the company and to see Jack Roush’s really cool private collection of automobiles. We also get the opportunity to tour ROUSH Performance.

Q.  What is your opinion of alternative fuel buses in the future?

A.  I believe there will continue to be customers who will stay with the diesel product, however, with all the emission challenges associated with diesel, the outlook for alternative fuels buses looks very bright!