Several ROUSH CleanTech customers were recognized for implementing propane autogas technology at the 2012 Green Fleet Conference and Expo in Schaumburg, Ill., including two school transportation directors who have realized cost savings by using this emergent alternative fuel.
Ronald Latko, director of transportation and fleet management with Mesa (Ariz.) Unified School District, was awarded for operating 27 school buses on propane autogas. The switch reduced his operating costs by more than 32 cents per mile, per bus. Mark Swackhamer, senior manager of fleet operations transportation services for Houston Independent School District, also took home an award for adopting 20 new propane autogas Ford E-350 vans, reducing the district’s diesel use by more than 70,000 gallons in the first year alone.
Ronald Bast, president of GO Riteway, a transportation company in Oak Creek, Wisc., offering charter and school bus service, was named one of the Sustainability All-Star honorees for transitioning 65 percent of its airport shuttle fleet to alternative fuels.
“We are excited to have so much happening at this year’s Green Fleet Conference,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech and a speaker at this year’s event. “Seven of our customers have been named Sustainability All-Stars for their commitment to lowering emissions and operating costs with propane autogas. They’ve shown people and businesses around the country that it really can pay off economically and environmentally to be an agent for change.”
Based in Livonia, Mich., ROUSH CleanTech provides dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel systems for various light- and medium-duty Ford vans and trucks and for the Blue Bird propane-powered Vision and Micro Bird G5 school buses.
Earlier this year the Mesa, Ariz., school district took delivery of 27 Blue Bird school buses through Canyon State Bus Sales and is fueling them using new hardware from Ferrellgas. In June, the Portland (Ore.) Public Schools made the largest order to date of propane school buses.
