The Propane Education & Research Council unveiled a new online interactive map that displays the number of active school buses in each state that are powered by propane autogas fuel.
Over 700 public and private operators in 47 states currently operate the alternative-fuel school buses, according to the map. A PERC spokesman said there are over 12,500 propane school buses in operation nationwide at this report, though a breakdown by region provided on the website inidicated 11,653 total vehices. Only districts in Hawaii, Mississippi, South Dakota and the District of Columbia have yet to add propane school buses to their fleets.
So far, Texas leads all states in propane adoption with 2,600 school buses operating out of 47 school districts. Those figures equate to about 4.5 percent of all the Lone Star State’s public school districts, though it remains unclear the exact number of those districts that provide school bus service, and nearly 6.5 percent of the 40,600 school buses operating in Texas for route service.
California is currently is in second place with 1,369 propane school buses in operation. The top 10 list is rounded out with Oregon at 849 propane buses in 34 districts, Pennsylvania with 782 buses in 54 districts; Illinois with 568 in 46 districts; Florida with 508 in 15 districts; Minnesota with 495 buses in 36 districts; Ohio with 485 buses in 28 districts; Nebraska with 474 at four districts; and New York with 467 in 92 districts.
The map provides a downloadable infographic that provides the total updated number of propane school buses in each state and the number of districts operating them. PERC also provides five regional fact sheets that offer information on cost savings, emissions reductions, and maintenance benefits attributed to propane school buses as well as school district success stories with the fuel.
Michael Taylor, director of autogas business development for PERC, said in a statement that U.S. map highlights the rate at which propane is increasing nationwide as a fuel choice for school districts.
“More transportation directors are finding value with propane autogas school buses, because of their lower total cost-of-ownership, cleaner and quieter operation, and better maintenance experience,” he added. “The interactive map highlights how widespread the adoption of propane autogas school buses has become and we think a lot of transportation directors will be surprised at how many school districts are having success with propane autogas.”
A PERC spokesman added that the the map will be updated two times per year as new vehicle registration data is received from states and also based upon new sales announcements.
