Propane autogas school bus fleet deploys in Indiana
Eleven propane autogas school buses will roll out this month for the Metropolitan School District of Warren Township, Ind. The fleet represents the largest deployment of propane autogas school buses in the state of Indiana.
The Blue Bird Propane Vision buses were purchased through MacAllister Transportation and include 10 78-passenger models, with one bus including a wheelchair lift. These buses replace the older diesel models. Roush CleanTech propane autogas fuel systems power each bus.
“Better cold-weather starts, lower maintenance and fuel cost, quieter buses, as well as better air quality for students, the bus driver and our community were the reasons we chose propane autogas,” says Steve Smith, director of transportation for the school district, in a press release. “With the fuel’s clean operation, we anticipate longer maintenance intervals and lower periodic maintenance cost.”
According to Roush, propane autogas costs about 50 percent less than diesel per gallon and reduces maintenance costs due to its clean-operating properties. The school district installed two onsite autogas stations to fuel its buses.