What Happened?
At just $1.60 per gallon, propane is becoming the choice of school bus fleets. Omaha, NE, recently deployed the largest single propane-powered school bus fleet in the country, putting 435 new buses into use. The city expects up to $300,000 savings in the first year.
The Goal
A Propane Road Tour aims to show the public how propane autogas technology can be used to power school buses and other fleets as effectively as diesel fuel, while using cleaner energy at a lower price. Propane industry representatives will be on the tour, stopping at major cities from Georgia to Nebraska to answer any questions from school district officials and community members.
The goal of the Propane Road Tour is to educate public school districts on how they can partner with private propane enterprises to enhance transportation systems, reduce spending and enhance green energy initiatives. Because 90 percent of propane is domestically sourced and distributed, it can be sold at a lower cost than other energy sources which allows school districts to spend money on other educational projects and enhancements.
Benefits of Propane
According to Blue Bird representatives, the average school bus propane autogas fuel system offers:
- 362 horsepower
- 457 pounds of torque
- 40%-50% fuel cost savings compared to diesel systems
- Reduced maintenance costs due to cleaner burning of energy in engines
- Lower carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon emissions than diesel systems
- 50% noise reduction on the buses
- Up to $3,500 in fuel savings annually
- Estimated $50,000 in total savings per bus
- 50 cent per gallon excise tax credit on propane offered in the United States
- 20 times more puncture resistant fuel tanks than diesel systems
The propane autogas technology is certified by the Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board.
Portland On Board
The Portland Public School District has also adopted propane powered school buses, converting 94 percent of its buses to the alternative energy source. The school buses’ 25-gallon propane tanks now last longer than when operating on diesel fuel. The vehicles enjoy up to 90 percent of gasoline’s miles per gallon, 54 percent of methanol’s and 70 percent of ethanol’s. In addition to propane costing less than gasoline, the district has access to hundreds of public and private fueling stations in the region.
In Portland, the buses average 11.14 gallons of propane fuel consumption daily. The school buses can be refueled from a 2,800-gallon truck mounted tank, or at a refueling station nearby. Because propane stations were already established throughout the city, the school district did not have to pay for the installation of new refueling infrastructure. Besides the cost of each vehicle, the school district only covered the salary of a full-time fueling attendant, certification and licenses fees.
Fleet Alterations
Gov1 has also reported on how many school districts are outsourcing their school bus fleets to save money, as well as privatizing food and maintenance staff.