Autogas fleet successes from Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina

LP Gas reports details about vehicle fleets across the U.S. finding success by fueling with propane autogas.

Independence School District in Missouri runs 30 propane-fueled buses. (Photo: Roush CleanTech)

Charlevoix County Transit (Michigan)

Charlevoix County Transit in rural Boyne City, Michigan, runs a fleet of 13 Ford E-450 autogas cutaway buses, which comprise 89 percent of its total fleet.

Some facts about the transit agency’s propane buses:

• 47,625 gallons of propane used in fiscal year 2021, compared to just over 2,000 gallons of gasoline.
• 50 percent reduction in per-gallon fuel costs.

Independence School District (Missouri)

The Missouri Propane Education & Research Council presented the Independence School District with a $38,000 check for 19 new propane buses, adding to its 11 propane buses already in operation. The check was presented during a training session with Roush CleanTech and Blue Bird.

Some facts about Independence’s propane buses, based on the 11 it was operating:

• 10,000 to 12,000 miles traveled per bus per year.
• About 3,000 gallons of propane used per vehicle, per school year.
• $2,000 estimated annual reduction in fuel costs.

Carteret County Area Public Transportation (North Carolina)

The low emissions and low fuel and maintenance costs to operate propane-fueled transit vehicles make a lot of sense for Randy Cantor, transportation and fleet services director for Carteret County Area Public Transportation in North Carolina. Cantor shared his support for the propane vehicles at a special North Carolina Public Transportation Association event earlier this year at Roush Fenway Keselowski headquarters in Concord, North Carolina.

Some facts about the agency’s propane fleet:

• 16 propane autogas paratransit buses, with three on order.
• 84,000 gallons of propane used annually.
• The fleet will run almost completely on propane by 2023.
• In 2017, the agency installed a propane fueling station on its property and is preparing to increase its propane storage capability.