San Diego transit system deploys propane-powered bus fleet

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System purchased 31 minibuses and 46 paratransit buses fueled by propane. Photo courtesy of Roush CleanTech.

The San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) rolled out a fleet of 77 buses fueled by propane autogas.

The San Diego MTS purchased 31 minibuses and 46 paratransit buses fueled by propane. The minibuses are built on the Ford F-550 chassis, and the paratransit buses are built on the Ford E-450 chassis. Each model features a Ford 6.8-liter V10 engine with a Roush CleanTech autogas fuel system. According to Roush CleanTech, the alternatively fueled buses help the agency reduce its operating costs and will reduce emissions by 2 million pounds per year.

“MTS is doing its part to reduce harmful emissions around the San Diego community by implementing buses fueled by propane autogas,” says Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing at Roush CleanTech. “Propane autogas is a cleaner burning, domestically produced alternative fuel that also lowers total ownership costs.”

Historically, autogas costs 40 percent less than gasoline and up to 50 percent less than diesel, says Roush CleanTech. In addition, the current gasoline price MTS pays is $1.99 per gallon while the propane price is $1.39 per gallon.

“This is a great example of how MTS is realizing cost savings and helping communities reduce emissions,” says Paul Jablonski. MTS CEO. “MTS will save about $5.8 million over the five- to seven-year life cycle of the vehicles and reduce the carbon intensity by 71 percent.”

The propane-fueled buses will be stationed at the agency’s Copley Park Division in Kearny Mesa, California.

Roush CleanTech designs, engineers, manufactures and installs autogas fuel system technology for medium-duty Ford commercial vehicles, as well as Type A and Type C Blue Bird school buses. It has deployed almost 14,000 autogas vehicles to fleets across the United States.