ATLANTA — Fulton County School System has rolled out a brand-new fleet of 90 Blue Bird propane autogas-fueled school buses that are equipped with three-point seat belts. It’s the largest fleet of its kind in the state of Georgia.
The school district chose the buses for their safety, environmental and economic benefits.
“Our new Blue Bird propane buses with three-point seat belts meet our goal to provide the safest and most efficient transportation service for our community,” said Sam Ham, executive director of transportation for Fulton County Schools. “We are the first district in Georgia with three-point seat belts on a regular-route Type C bus. And with propane, we expect to save $3,500 in fuel and maintenance costs per bus per year—that’s $315,000 that can be allocated elsewhere, like back in the classrooms.”
The fleet also marks the 10,000th propane school bus manufactured by Georgia-based Blue Bird Corporation.
“This propane bus purchase is a milestone for Fulton County Schools as well as for Blue Bird, as we celebrate our 10,000th Blue Bird Vision Propane bus in operation,” said Phil Horlock, president and CEO of Blue Bird Corporation. “These propane school buses run on clean fuel, reduce emissions transmitted into the air and keep our students even safer with our newest feature, the NextGen Blue Bird Seat.”
Equipped with Ford Motor Company’s 6.8L V10 engine, each Blue Bird Vision Propane school bus is powered by its exclusive ROUSH CleanTech propane fuel system. The propane engine is certified to California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) optional low nitrogen oxide (NOx) level of .05 grams per brake horsepower per hour, making it 75 percent cleaner than the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) current emissions standard, and the cleanest propane school bus on the road.
“Fulton County Schools’ adoption of propane buses demonstrates its commitment to students, community and taxpayers through cleaner air and reduced spending,” said Brian Carney, executive director of school bus and customer success for ROUSH CleanTech. “Because of their low NOx status, propane buses like these will be eligible for funding from the Volkswagen Settlement’s Environmental Mitigation Trust, which will fund clean technology that reduces NOx emissions.”
The school district’s propane buses will lower NOx emissions by thousands of pounds each year compared with the number of diesel buses they replace. Buses fueled by propane emit 80 percent fewer smog-producing hydrocarbons and virtually eliminate particulate matter when compared with conventional diesel.
“Fulton County Schools is joining a growing trend of school districts in the region and across the country that are finding major benefits operating propane school bus fleets,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council. “Over 740 school districts are transporting more than 770,000 students to and from school each day, a trend that is only going to increase as more districts learn how clean, quiet and cost-effective it can be to fuel their school bus fleet with propane.”
At its transportation facilities in Alpharetta and Fairburn, Fulton County Schools installed two new propane stations to fuel the buses. Amerigas, the school district’s propane partner, installed two turnkey fueling stations at no up-front cost. Infrastructure costs were rolled into the district’s price per gallon for propane, which historically costs 40 to 50 percent less per gallon than diesel. The stations’ fueling capabilities will handle the district’s plans to convert its entire fleet of school buses to propane.
The 72-passenger propane buses will begin operation in the 2017-2018 school year.
About the Fulton County School System
The Fulton County School System is the fourth largest school system in Georgia. Approximately 96,500 students attend 105 schools in the cities of Alpharetta, Chattahoochee Hills, College Park, East Point, Fairburn, Hapeville, Johns Creek, Milton, Mountain Park, Palmetto, Roswell, Sandy Springs, South Fulton and Union City. The district also serves students in unincorporated Fulton County. www.fultonschools.org
About Blue Bird Corporation
Celebrating its 90th year in business, Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is the leading independent designer and manufacturer of school buses, with more than 550,000 buses sold since its formation in 1927 and approximately 180,000 buses in operation today. Blue Bird’s longevity and reputation in the school bus industry have made it an iconic American brand. Blue Bird distinguishes itself from its principal competitors by its singular focus on the design, engineering, manufacture and sale of school buses and related parts. As the only manufacturer of chassis and body production specifically designed for school bus applications, Blue Bird is recognized as an industry leader for school bus innovation, safety, product quality/reliability/durability, operating costs and drivability.
In addition, Blue Bird is the market leader in alternative fuel applications with its propane-powered and compressed natural gas-powered school buses. Blue Bird manufactures school buses at two facilities in Fort Valley, Georgia. Its Micro Bird joint venture operates a manufacturing facility in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. Service and after-market parts are distributed from Blue Bird’s parts distribution center located in Delaware, Ohio. www.blue-bird.com
About ROUSH CleanTech
ROUSH CleanTech, an industry leader of alternative fuel vehicle technology, is a division of ROUSH Enterprises based in Livonia, Michigan. ROUSH CleanTech designs, engineers, manufactures and installs propane autogas fuel system technology for medium-duty Ford commercial vehicles, and Type A and Type C Blue Bird school buses, and compressed natural gas fuel systems for Type C Blue Bird school buses. As a Ford QVM-certified alternative fuel vehicle manufacturer, ROUSH CleanTech delivers economical, clean and domestically produced fueling options for fleets across North America. ROUSHcleantech.com
