CONCORD, N.C. – A Green Bus Summit panel during STN EXPO East discussed real-world examples and implementation tips for propane autogas in a school bus operation.
Blue Bird’s Steven Whaley, alternative fuels manager for the school bus manufacturer, first reviewed the company’s diesel, gasoline, propane and electric school bus options as well as deployment numbers, pricing comparison and clean energy statistics.
Propane, he said during Sunday’s Lunch and Learn session, has a low carbon intensity footprint, is safe enough to use for cooking and is domestically produced. Blue Bird’s propane bus, he specified, was certified to an ultra-low NOx emissions level. He added that propane buses are suited for both rural and urban settings, plus their quiet operation means students arrive at school calmer.
“The [propane] fuel system itself is very simple, integrates seamlessly just like your diesel technology does,” explained Tom Hopkins, a former Detroit-area fleet manager and current business development manager for Blue Bird’s propane school bus powertrain partner ROUSH CleanTech.
He reviewed the technical specifications of the Ford 7.3L engine powering Blue Bird’s Type C Vision bus and the complimentary training offered to operators.
Bibb County School District in Georgia started using propane school buses in 2014. Transportation Director Anthony Jackson said he was initially skeptical. Seventy percent of his 213 buses are now powered by propane, and he reported savings both at the fuel pump and maintenance costs. Propane saves him a combined 50 cents per mile over diesel, he added.
That equals a savings of $1 million dollars per year, Whaley pointed out. “These are numbers that folks just can’t ignore anymore,” he said.
Declared Jackson, “I can’t see myself venturing back to the diesel side of this because of what I’ve been able to see and what we’ve been able to realize with the propane application.”
He said once his drivers were trained on fueling, they readily accepted propane, which performs better during colder weather than diesel. Additionally, he verified that his mechanics are “ecstatic” that the propane buses are cleaner and easier to work with.
“We will do everything as a propane industry that we can … to set up your fueling for you,” confirmed Monte McLeod, account manager for Sharp Energy and representative for session sponsor Southeast Propane Alliance.
Temporary propane fueling options include a delivery driver who individually fuels the buses, or mobile trailer units parked on site. McLeod reviewed permanent fuel infrastructure where setup, permits and training are generally free to the district.
McLeod said personal protective equipment is not needed when drivers fuel propane school buses since it is “a clean, simple operation that anyone can do.” Whaley noted that the EPA does not even regulate propane seepage since it is not carcinogenic and simply evaporates into the air, in contrast to soil contamination that occurs with diesel leaks.
“There’s a number of redundant systems in place to make sure that this is the safest fuel that you can possibly put in your bus,” McLeod stated.
When school buses are on the road, Whaley noted, they can use an alternative fuel station locator via an app provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Jackson shared that his diesel prices doubled due to the Iran war, but his propane price recently fell. “The more you use, the less it is,” McLeod agreed.
“Get behind the wheel and drive it,” Jackson advised in response to an attendee question on staff buy-in before implementation.
Hopkins pointed out that there were several transportation leaders in attendance from school districts currently running propane buses. He suggested districts considering propane should “get their raw unfiltered feedback.”
