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With nearly every school bus manufacturer now turning out vehicles either running on compressed natural gas (CNG), propane, or electric, making a decision on which fuel choice to pursue can be challenging. Meanwhile, diesel technology advances and the arrival of two new engine options from Detroit later this year add to the options. Diesel remains the best known and most efficient for about nine out of 10 transporters. Still, alternative fuels are becoming more viable solutions. But choosing which fuel to pursue is influenced by many factors: Geography, climate, and the availability and pric- es of competing alternative fuels in your area. Fuel security in light of natural disasters is also important, as was evident during this year’s major hurricanes in Texas and Florida that shut down roads, pipelines, and oil refineries. Using alternative fuel produced from American supplies of natural gas and propane reduce the nation’s dependence on foreign oil, and many districts pride themselves for relying on domestic sources of fuel for their bus fleets. Te availability of alternative fuels varies from state to state. According to the Alter-
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native Fuels Data Center, there are 5,442 alternative fuel locations in California alone, where the goal to reduce emissions by 100 percent is buoyed by the state’s cap-and-trade program. About 4,500 public and electric charging stations exist statewide, while drivers who need CNG have a total of 326 stations statewide to choose from. Propane is of- fered at 295 locations. Compare those numbers to Oklahoma, where out of the total of 350 alternative fuel stations, there are only 57 private or public electric charging stations but 120 CNG and 135 propane locations. One concern with using alternative fuels, especially electric school buses, is re-fueling or charging when out of town. Known as “range anxiety,” the issue of sending an alter- native fuel bus on a long trip will diminish as more stations offering alternative fuels are built. Te Federal Highway Administration is building alternative fuel corridors along the nation’s infrastructure.
Te cost of electric buses, which start at over $300,000, versus a new diesel is also a
factor. By comparison, according to Jenna Van Harpen, director of alternative fuels for Blue Bird, a propane bus costs around $7,000 more than a diesel, and a CNG bus costs approximately $25,000 more.
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An attendee at the NAPT Summit in November navigates the new Blue Bird All American Electric school bus through the city streets of Columbus, Ohio.
40 School Transportation News • JANUARY 2018
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