increased reliance comes at considerable upfront cost, Kissel reported. “The EV effort is far more involved and far more ex-
pensive than the transition to propane,” he said. To use propane, he leased two above-ground propane tanks from the fuel provider and added a dispenser to the fuel island. He also added that dispenser to the fuel management system. For the electric school bus infrastructure, Kissel said
he anticipates costs will vary depending on factors such as the size of chargers, the power available, and the distance from a power source. He added he believes the initial expense for electric implementation may be seven to eight times that for propane but is opting for maxi- mum capacity rather than cheaper options. “I am a huge proponent for having the most capable
chargers available,” he said. In comparing fuels, Kissel said it’s important to con-
sider all factors that can have an impact on range. “Understanding what range you will get on a full
charge, tank of diesel, or tank of propane will help you to have a better understanding of the cost of operation.”
Not Just Price In some cases, pricing takes something of a back seat to other factors. That’s been the case for Chicagoland school bus contractor Cook-Illinois Corporation, which has gained positive recognition for its use of biodiesel. The non-traditional fuel, derived primarily from veg- etable waste and animal fats, is proving efficient while reducing the environmental impact of the company’s approximately 700 buses. Until recently, this had meant using B11 (a blend of 11
percent biodiesel and 89 percent diesel). That has now been moved to B20, according to Karl Hamann, fleet manager for Cook-Illinois subsidiary Chicago Bus Sales. This percentage keeps it ahead of the new standard of 14 percent needed to qualify for tax breaks. “Pricewise, it’s pretty comparable, but where this really helps is in limiting particulates in the air,” he said. In addition, improvements in the fuel’s composition have extended the portion of the year in which biodiesel can be used before cold weather renders it impractical. “Because there are gelling properties to bio, we were running it from the first of October until the first of April
School districts don’t have unlimited budgets. Yet the pressure to decarbonize school buses is high. Control your EV budget with Volt Vault by eliminating demand and time-of-use charges. Plus, pay less per kWh compared to traditional infrastructure.
Learn more about our patent-pending natural gas supplied, EV charger.
*Per kWh. Calculated using national averages.
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