Alabama school system improves fleet with 10 autogas buses

The Mobile County Public School System (MCPSS) in Alabama added 10 propane-powered school buses to its fleet for the 2019-20 school year.

The Mobile County Public School System says it hopes to have nearly 200 propane-powered school buses in its fleet by the end of the 2019-20 school year. Photo courtesy of Blossman Gas.

The school system says 30 more propane-powered school buses are being built with the goal of having 172 autogas buses in its fleet by the end of the school year. Each new propane-powered bus, MCPSS says, will displace about 40,000 gallons of diesel and eliminate 150,000 pounds of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

“Mobile County Public Schools have shown exceptional stewardship with its resources in choosing propane autogas to fuel its buses,” says Chad Chavers, the branch manager at Blossman Gas’ Mobile, Alabama, location. “They began with the need to increase the air quality for the 26,000 students being transported daily. Autogas met that requirement and lowered the operations cost of the buses. They are saving on maintenance versus diesel buses and saving on the cost of fuel.”

MCPSS transports about 26,000 students daily. Blossman Gas will provide the propane to fuel the buses.

“Our county school system and Blossman Gas has had a good partnership for quite some time,” says Pat Mitchell, director of transportation for MCPSS. “Blossman has been very accommodating to the needs of MCPSS.”