When electric isn’t the right fit, at least not yet, school district leaders look toward other green fleet options. For Neosho School District in Missouri, located in the southwest corner of the state, propane has stood out as the winning choice for the past 10 years.
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit Spearfish, South Dakota, to enjoy the unveiling of the state’s first-ever propane buses. We celebrated not one, but two, transit agencies that have made the economical and environmentally responsible decision to integrate propane vehicles into their fleet.
5.30.24 – Two South Dakota transit agencies, People’s Transit in Huron and Prairie Hills Transit in Spearfish, unveiled their first orders of safe, clean and economical vehicles fueled with propane autogas.
Leading Public Fleet winner Beaverton School District near Portland operates the largest public fleet in Oregon as well as one of the cleanest bus fleets in the nation. Last year, it fully transitioned away from fossil fuels and operates its fleet of 310 school buses on renewable propane, renewable diesel and battery-electric.
This month we’re celebrating the renewal of an exclusive clean school bus contract between Blue Bird Corporation, Ford Component Sales and ROUSH CleanTech. After 12 years of collaboration, we’re thrilled to reaffirm that a successful, long-term partnership in the alternative fuel industry is more than possible — it’s preferred!
Early this year, Blue Bird Corp. expanded its alternative fuels team to build on the company’s offerings in electric and propane-powered student transportation. Blue Bird appointed Steve Whaley and Brad Beauchamp to alternative fuels managers.
When it comes to alternative fuels, there’s a myth that if school transportation directors want to lower emissions to meet sustainability goals, they’re going to have to pay more to do it. It’s often one of the reasons many districts are initially reluctant to consider energy sources besides gasoline or diesel.
For the past decade, school districts have been making changes to their fleets in an effort to provide a cleaner, safer transportation option. Investing in a change like that has required schools to make major decisions about budgets, ease-of-transition and total cost of ownership. The path to zero emissions is wide, but can often come with costs that most districts simply cannot afford.
5.1.24 – Blue Bird Corporation (Nasdaq: BLBD), the leader in electric and low-emission school buses, has extended its exclusive clean school bus collaboration with Ford Component Sales and ROUSH CleanTech to 2030. The agreement strengthens Blue Bird’s industry leadership in low- and zero-emission student transportation. Blue Bird is now the only school bus manufacturer in the United States to offer propane- and gasoline-powered school buses that will meet more stringent emission standards taking effect in 2027.
Autogas is a growing sector of the propane industry — one that’s important to stay informed about as the industry works harder and harder to get more fleets to implement the fuel. Ahead, Derek Rimko, vice president of operations for Superior Energy Systems, and Todd Mouw, executive vice president for ROUSH CleanTech, provide insights into refueling infrastructure, the best talking points in discussions with fleet management, and why this fuel stands out as the superior choice for propane marketers as well.
