School transportation officials are in an opportune position to positively impact the students in their districts. Decisions made in the transportation department can cause a ripple effect experienced by students in every part of their school day, from the quality of their bus ride, to the amount of teachers in their school.
When it comes to deciding which bus fuel is best for students, more transportation officials are considering clean, American propane autogas. Around the country, schools are choosing propane autogas buses for better savings, noticeably quieter operation, and reduced emissions compared with diesel buses — benefits that directly impact students.
While it’s true that propane autogas is consistently less expensive than diesel, transportation directors interested in long-term savings need to think beyond the pump. Propane autogas edges out diesel by avoiding the incremental, additional costs over a vehicle’s lifetime.
First, diesel buses need more oil by volume compared with propane autogas, increasing preventative maintenance costs. In cold temperatures, diesel vehicles also require fuel conditioners (commonly known as “anti-gelling agents”) to prevent clogging of fuel filters and lines. Further increasing downtime and maintenance expenses, diesel particulate filters (DPF) in diesel buses must also be cleaned periodically. Finally, diesel buses may require a long list of repairs that drain budgets one problem at a time. Injectors, exhaust gas circulation valves and coolers, and turbochargers are just a few of the additional expenses associated with diesel. The likelihood of downtime for repairs is even greater considering the complexity that after-treatment systems add to a diesel engine.
Propane autogas buses offer a lower total cost-of-ownership compared with diesel. It allows school districts to save money, and those savings can be put back into the school where it matters most — the classroom.
“One of the reasons why we purchased the propane buses was to obviously cut costs,” said Pat Mitchell, director of transportation for Mobile County Public School System. “When we are able to save any kind of money, the budget department puts that money back in the classrooms to help out students.” This could equate to better teacher-student ratios, or classroom supplies that teachers may otherwise purchase out-of-pocket.
In addition to better savings for school districts, propane autogas buses operate noticeably quieter than diesel buses. This allows the bus driver to better concentrate on the passengers and the road ahead. According to Carol Patchen, a driver for St. Francis Independent School District 15 in Minnesota, “The kids aren’t so noisy, and they don’t have to talk so loud. And for me, now I can hear what’s on the outside of the bus, too.”
School districts also appreciate that with propane autogas, students aren’t exposed to the harmful particulate matter in diesel exhaust, which is a carcinogen identified by the World Health Organization. Peter Crossan, fleet and compliance manager at Boston Public Schools, reports this was a deciding factor in adopting propane autogas buses for his district. “Kids in wheelchairs all line up near the back of the bus, right by the tailpipe. To get lifted into the bus, they are directly exposed to diesel’s harmful emissions and smoke. I really wanted to eliminate that situation for kids.”
Lower total cost-of-ownership, noticeably quieter operation, and no more black smoke. Propane autogas school buses check all the boxes for school transportation officials seeking the best bus for students.
To learn more about propane autogas school buses, visit propane.com/on-road-fleets.
