Did you
(Ga.) and Colorado Springs (Colo.). Tey say this new system is almost like a luxury vehicle compared to the earlier version,” said Tompson. “Tey’ve been very excited about it, they’re happy with the price point, and happy with the performance.” Taylor said the safety of propane fuel is supported
by its growing popularity in both Europe and America. “Te fact that ROUSH and Blue Bird meet all EPA,
CARB, FMVSS and CMVSS requirements should in- dicate to everyone that it is a safe fuel,” said Taylor, who previously spent four years at Heritage Pro- pane and 22 years with Blue Bird. “Propane autogas offers so many advantages. It is nontoxic. It has the lowest flammability range of all alternative motor fuels. Propane fuel tanks are 20 times more punc- ture-resistant than gas or diesel tanks.” Cost savings are a key benefit of choosing clean-
er-burning propane autogas, said Tompson. For example, he said propane was selling for about $2 a gallon in Southern California, as compared to $3.75 a gallon for gas in July. He added that operators na- tionwide seeking propane solutions can generally expect to pay half the price of diesel. In June, First Student took delivery of 86 next-gen- eration, propane-powered Visions for use in Portland
(Ore.) Public Schools, and the company estimates it will save from $500,000 to $700,000 in fuel and main- tenance costs next school year. Te Portland school district’s fleet now has a roughly 50-50 split between propane- and gasoline-powered buses. “It’s a win-win for us,” said Matt Shelby of Port-
land Public Schools. “Using propane‐powered buses keeps our fuel costs down and reduces our overall emissions. It really is a no-brainer.” Denton Independent School District operates
the fourth-largest propane school bus fleet in Texas, where this alternative fuel has gained in popularity largely because of funding support from the Texas Railroad Commission. Transportation Director Gene Holloway, who presented his district’s program at the 2008 STN EXPO, said future growth in his fleet of 139 buses will only be propane-fueled. Currently, the fleet is 52 percent propane, and
the other buses run on either biodiesel blends or regular diesel. So far, Denton ISD has realized an annual savings of $692,000 by using 240,000 gal- lons of propane instead of diesel. “We practice what we teach,” Holloway said, add-
ing that cleaner and greener is keeping his budget healthier as well as the environment. n
know? • Propane fuel tanks are 20 times more punc- ture-resistant than gas or diesel tanks.
• Vehicles that use propane produce 17 percent to 25 percent fewer greenhouse emissions.
• Roughly 17 million vehicles worldwide run on propane, the third most widely used fuel.
Source: ROUSH CleanTech
Advancing School Bus Seating Technology
WE SAVED YOU A SEAT
Providing Safe & Secure Arrivals
www.m2kseat.com (866) 931-SEAT
200 Swathmore avenue • high Point, nC 27263 46 School Transportation News Magazine August 2012
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