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.
We just wrapped up an exciting, informative and action-packed weekend at the National Propane Gas Association’s 2024 Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo in Charlotte, North Carolina. There’s lots to share with you!
The upcoming school year could bring another step toward an all-green fleet for the North Penn School District.
School board members heard an update this week on the district transportation department’s budget for 2024-25, including another round of propane-fueled school buses that could be on the way.
A Sunday Green Bus Summit session invited districts with propane and electric school buses to compare the two and share how they are both being used to meet emissions goals.
David Walters, director of autogas business development for session sponsor the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), reviewed the cost and emissions savings that propane has brought districts but noted that many of today’s mandates require zero-emissions vehicles, which means electric school buses (ESBs).
