DRIVING THE INDUSTRY SINCE 1991
increasing in numbers daily, and it is very affordable to set up your own infrastructure. Most propane providers will install a fueling station onsite free of charge when a fuel contract is signed, and the installation takes no more than a day or so. In today’s market, where diesel and gasoline prices are high and volatile, propane has been the industry’s most popular alternative fuel choice. Another thing that has contributed to
our growth is Blue Bird’s strong partnership with Ford and Roush to provide a state- of-the art, highly efficient propane system. Our customers receive a purpose-built chassis and engine package that includes a standard-production Ford 6.8L V10 engine that is up-fitted for propane. It is not an aftermarket engine that other manufac- turers deploy. With over a million of the Ford 6.8L engines on the road today, it is a proven and durable workhorse that is easy to maintain. Roush and Ford’s stellar thir- ty-year partnership ensures that customers receive the best in technology and support from their purchase. Our customers also re- ceive peace of mind with a standard 5-year, 100,000-mile propane engine coverage plan, in addition to comprehensive training for their entire transportation team.
STN: How has alternative fuel technol-
ogy, in general, changed over the past five years? Ten? Horlock: Alternative-fuel technology is
continuously advancing, providing cus- tomers with greater efficiency and power. For example, 10 years ago most propane fuel was vapor, which is less effective from a power and cold-weather start standpoint than the current liquid propane offering. In the past five years, technology has become sharper, more reliable and more efficient. Diesel buses have also changed over the past 10 years. In 2013, all school bus manufacturers will utilize selective catalytic reduction (SCR) with diesel exhaust fuel (DEF) to meet 2010 and 2013 required EPA emission standards, without the use of emissions credits. In order to meet the required standards, manufacturers had to add additional technology and complexity to the engines. As an example of how tech- nology has advanced and simplified in the alternative fuel segment, our present Ford/ Roush propane engine offers less complex- ity in parts and maintenance than any 2013 EPA compliant diesel engine, and it has cleaner emissions. In order to stay competitive in the
alternative fuel segment, you have to be at the top of your game and provide the most cutting-edge technology. At Blue Bird, we’re committed to doing this.
STN: Te one alternative fuel Blue Bird
has yet to fully embrace is hybrid or electric technology? Why is this? Are there plans to go this route in the future? Horlock: Blue Bird is always looking to explore new facets of innovation — in product design, manufacturing and alter- native fuels. In fact, Blue Bird produced the industry’s first all-electric school bus during the early 1990s. It’s simply that we find propane and CNG technology to be far more efficient and affordable than today’s hybrid and electric school buses, which cost tens of thousands of dollars more, and this is borne out by the sales results. In today’s market, when fiscal pressures on school dis- tricts are intense, our focus is on providing green school buses that are affordable for our customers. With over twice as many alternative fuel buses on the road than all of
our competitors combined, we believe we have the right strategy in place and we will keep evolving and adapting.
STN: What milestones is the company
preparing for in 2013? Horlock: Blue Bird will be celebrating its 86th year in the school transportation industry, and we are looking forward to celebrating the fact that 550,000 Blue Birds will have rolled off the line by early 2013. We will start shipping our redesigned All American bus that we unveiled at NAPT at the end of October. Tis bus will help us maintain our leadership position in the Type D segment. We also have some new things coming on our propane-powered Vision and will be announcing these later this year. You can be sure that Blue Bird will continue to innovate and do whatever it takes to maintain our leadership position in the alternative fuels market. Our green offerings are good for the school districts, good for the environment and good for North America. l
TM
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