ASHEVILLE, N.C. — With the first day of school around the corner, everyone involved is bracing for the challenges ahead. School transportation is no exception to those challenges, as many school districts will be seeking cost-effective solutions to achieve maximum comfort and safety for their riders, whenever buses begin operation again.
While schools plan for the future, many Southeast school systems currently benefit from the financial, environmental, and operational benefits of using alternative fuel in their school bus fleets. With the school year upon on us bringing difficult challenges both financially and operationally, autogas school buses can provide needed solutions for school districts.
Henry County Schools, near Atlanta, Georgia, selected Blossman Gas to provide the fuel needed for their autogas bus fleet. Blossman Gas, along with partner Superior Energy Systems, provided the county with refueling infrastructure to ensure the school district had the capability of refueling on-site. “We are excited about the 33 propane buses now in the fleet, all of which have completed the annual inspection and are ready for the opportunity to transport our students to school when that time comes,” said Cliff Shearouse, executive director of transportation for Henry County Schools.
The autogas buses have proven to have a lower cost of ownership as the maintenance and fuel costs are less to operate compared to our diesel buses. Our district will save approximately $60,000.00 this year by operating the 33 propane-fueled buses rather than the equivalent diesel buses. These savings will help offset the costs associated with our required COVID-19 cleaning procedures as well as the budget reductions, which stem from the expected economic effects of the pandemic,” said Shearouse.
Autogas is less expensive than conventional gasoline and diesel, with average savings between 30 to 50 percent, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The price volatility of gasoline and diesel can make it challenging to predict a budget cost for school administrators. With additional funds now needed in school districts for sanitization materials, providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to both students and school employees, and having to possibly increase both custodial employees and school nurses, cost-effective solutions such as autogas can be a ready solution for school systems.
Additionally, when compared to gasoline or diesel, autogas substantially reduces greenhouse gases (GHG) such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide (NOx). This is substantial because NOx emissions are a known accelerator for issues like asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems students may be facing. According to EPA calculations, the 84,000 gallons of autogas used by Henry County Schools has displaced 2,615 barrels of oil, and 2,072 short tons of GHG emissions.
When looking at operational benefits, propane autogas has an edge over other alternative fueled vehicles, such as electric buses. Autogas buses don’t have the range restrictions of electricity, which could require buses to return to recharge in the middle of a route. This could be a key factor in this upcoming school year, as routes may change from day to day depending on potential new student schedules.
While schools were out of session due to COVID-19, Phillips Energy, partner of Alliance AutoGas, a nationwide network providing autogas vehicles equipment and infrastructure, helped ensure school-aged children were delivered meals while not being able to attend school. Newport News Public Schools, a customer of Phillips Energy, used propane-powered buses to deliver meals for students daily while school was out of session due to the COVID-19 shutdown. The bus drivers and staff members were able to practice social distancing, while also providing a small degree of normalcy for students who experienced disruptions in their education. Brian Hanna, a teacher for Newport News Public Schools, said “With the shut-down of public schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic, The City of Newport News used propane-powered buses to deliver meals for students daily. We used propane buses because they are more reliable and do not require diesel to operate.”
School districts are all looking for certainty from their fleet of buses, and autogas can provide that certainty. As of last year, more than one million students across 48 states ride propane autogas buses to school. Providing financial, operational, and sustainable solutions across the board, autogas buses provide benefits for school districts that are readily available to be utilized.
About Blossman Gas
Blossman Gas, Inc. has been providing comfort to families throughout the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic for more than 65 years. Serving customers in 16 states from over 70 branches, the family-and employee owned company delivers propane and efficient propane appliances to their 170,000+ customers. Showrooms provide demonstrations and expertise on most national manufacturers of ranges, cooktops, water heaters, outdoor living products, generators, gas grills and gas logs. Leading the industry in technician training, Blossman is a full-service company that provides everything from propane delivery to appliance sales, installation and service. For more information, call 1.888.Blossman or visit www.blossmangas.com.
About Alliance AutoGas
Alliance AutoGas (AAG) www.allianceautogas.com is an international network providing a comprehensive propane autogas solution to light, medium and heavy-duty fleets. Alliance AutoGas is managed by its parent company Blossman Gas, Inc., the largest privately-owned propane company in the United States. Alliance AutoGas is comprised of more than 120 independent propane marketers and authorized conversion centers throughout North America. Alliance’s partners are aligned to provide EPA certified propane and propane autogas systems to vehicle fleets and lawn care companies, including the sale of, installation, and ongoing service to keep these systems on the road.
