Propane autogas school bus visionaries honored at ceremony

Propane autogas school bus visionaries were honored during the Texas Propane School Bus Week Nov. 30-Dec. 4.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott proclaimed Nov. 30-Dec. 4 as Texas Propane School Bus Week because of the vital role propane autogas has in powering thousands of school buses in Texas.

Abbott and others honored nine propane autogas school bus visionaries at a ceremony at the Texas Education Agency in Austin, Texas, to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the initial meeting of those representatives.

According to Powertrain Integration Acquisition, that initial meeting prompted the development of the first OEM, factory-produced propane school bus.

Propane Education & Research Council President Roy Willis, CleanFuel USA President Curtis Donaldson and Powertrain Integration President Bob Pachla were among the nine visionaries recognized at the ceremony. These visionaries’ initiative to promote autogas to school bus manufacturers convinced all three major school bus manufacturers – Blue Bird, Thomas Built and IC – to offer autogas school buses today, Powertrain Integration adds.

“The state of Texas is commemorating a substantial milestone in propane autogas and student transportation,” Donaldson says. “It is amazing to look back and know that this group essentially paved the road for cleaner and more economical propane autogas school buses throughout the United States.”

According to the Texas Railroad Commission, there are more than 2,600 autogas-powered school buses in Texas today and more than 7,000 autogas-powered school buses across the United States.