South Carolina school districts receive 26 propane buses

Two South Carolina school districts receive Blue Bird Vision Propane school buses. Photo courtesy of Blue Bird

Two South Carolina school districts received 26 Blue Bird Vision propane school buses from the state.

South Carolina’s Department of Education purchased the buses to replace old diesel buses in Berkeley County Schools and Dorchester District Two schools. Berkeley County Schools will receive 15 of the buses and Dorchester District Two will receive 11 buses, according to a report from WCSC-TV in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Blue Bird Vision propane buses come equipped with Roush CleanTech propane fuel systems. The buses were purchased from Blanchard Bus Centers, Blue Bird’s newest dealership, Roush CleanTech says.

“While the South Carolina Department of Education is a low-bid state, we had heard about the propane technology that Blue Bird propane buses possess from various sources,” says Mike Bullman, director of maintenance at South Carolina’s Department of Education. “With aging diesel buses in our fleet, it was time to replace them and propane was the option we thought worked best financially and environmentally speaking over the long term.”

This purchase represents the largest order of alternative-fueled buses that the state has placed in the last 30 years, Roush CleanTech says. In addition, Blue Bird has seen an increase in the sale of its propane school buses. The company sold 33 percent more of its Vision propane bus option in 2016 compared with 2015.

“These buses clearly work to save districts money and are incredibly environmentally friendly,” says Mark Terry, Blue Bird’s chief commercial officer. “We are glad to see that South Carolina has added this amazing product to their fleet. We know they will not be disappointed.”