For school districts, every transportation dollar matters. And right now, the math behind propane school buses is especially compelling.
With today’s fuel prices, we’re seeing school districts save an average of $.50 per mile by operating propane buses. That means if a school bus operates 15,000 miles per year, that one bus is saving $7,500 in fuel costs alone that year.
The price of diesel keeps going up to record levels, putting a strain on school districts that need the fuel to keep their school buses running.
AAA reports this month, diesel fuel in the Cincinnati area hit its highest average price on record: $6.79 per gallon. This time last year, a gallon of diesel was around $3.70. This has increased the cost of doing business in many industries, including local agriculture. For school districts that operate their own fleet, this can lead to dramatic changes in spending.
Hear how the North Scott District, who bought propane-powered school busses around 10 years ago, is seeing the choice payoff big time.
9.17.26 – Mountain Line Transit Authority, a public transportation provider in Morgantown, West Virginia, is showcasing its safe, clean, economical light duty buses fueled with propane autogas.
Rising diesel prices are straining fuel budgets at the Bend-La Pine School District, which relies on diesel to power roughly half its bus fleet.
The school year is underway, and transportation departments across the country are facing a tough reality: diesel prices are roughly 50% higher than they were this time last year. This is not a predictable way to start.
Henry County Schools says each propane-powered bus saves the district more than $80,000 over its lifetime. With 105 propane buses already in service, the district plans to buy more as it works to control fuel costs and protect taxpayer dollars.
The William Penn School District has paid tens of thousands of dollars in extra fuel costs due to the rising price of diesel fuel, which powers its fleet of school buses. The district has responded by cutting bus routes and may cancel some field trips to save on fuel. Meanwhile, the Council Rock School District has seen six-figure cost savings by switching to an alternative fuel for school buses: propane.
As students head back to school, Newport News Public Schools is running more than half of its bus fleet on propane — and saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.
It’s back-to-school season, and school districts across the country are still feeling financial pressure from high fuel costs. After a painful spring where diesel prices skyrocketed to more than $6.00 per gallon in some regions, many districts are grappling with how to keep budgets on track in the new school year.
