Roush, Blue Bird collaborate on second propane school bus

Roush CleanTech and Blue Bird Corp. unveiled the Blue Bird Next Generation Propane-Powered Vision school bus at the School Transportation News (STN) Expo in Reno, Nev. Built on a Blue Bird chassis and powered by a Ford 6.8-liter V-10 engine with the Roush CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system, the Blue Bird Propane-Powered Vision offers 362 horsepower, 457 pounds of torque and fuel savings with cost reductions of 30 to 40 percent on average compared to diesel counterparts, the companies say. The bus meets Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification requirements. Developed in part with funding from the Propane Education & Research Council, the Type C school bus seats up to 77 passengers. This is the second Roush CleanTech collaboration with Blue Bird, which launched a Type A school bus offering fueled by propane autogas in September 2010, in partnership with Blue Bird and Micro Bird by Girardin. The Micro Bird G5, with seating for 25, also incorporates the Roush CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system.