FRISCO, Texas — Attendees heard about the health, monetary and operational benefits of propane autogas school buses in a Friday session during the Transporting Students with Special Needs and Disabilities Conference.

“What did you do differently, and how did you do it?” This was the question asked of Diana Mikelski, director of transportation for District 211 in Illinois, after she transported students with special needs to school in a propane-powered school bus rather than a diesel one. During the Friday session, sponsored by Blue Bird and the Propane Education & Research Council, she shared that educators were impressed with how calm, quiet and ready to learn the students were when they arrived at school.

She shared that her drivers also benefit from the cleaner air when loading and unloading students. Furthermore, both drivers and aides can hear and speak to students onboard without shouting. When the special needs propane bus was replaced with a diesel one during repairs, a parent noted that his child much preferred the quieter propane.

Steven Whaley, a Blue Bird alternative fuels manager, noted that noise and temperature considerations may be part of some students’ Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Mikelski confirmed that both aspects could be much better managed on a propane bus.

In addition to students on special needs routes, those on general education routes also profit from the quiet, clean propane buses, Mikelski added. “I’m glad they can all enjoy these benefits,” she said.

“It’s also helping staff as well,” she said. Now her drivers prefer driving the propane buses, with some noticing fewer health symptoms. The rumbling noises and fuel smells are missing with propane buses as well, leading to community approval.

Mikelski said she had good buy-in with her mechanics due to all the work involved with diesel buses. “It’s a learning curve but once they knew it, they loved it,” she declared. The district doesn’t go through parts as fast and her budget has improved, she shared.

“We are constantly saving with propane,” she said.

Implementing Propane

Whaley reviewed Blue Bird’s current offerings of diesel, gasoline, propane and electric school buses as well as how they measure up to the continuously tightening California Air Resources Board and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency emissions standards.

For those districts that may struggle with electrification, he proposed propane solutions as that fuel is safe, clean, easily accessible and good in cold weather. He shared stats from Anthony Jackson, transportation director for Bibb County School District in Georgia, showing that propane is about the same as diesel in cost per mile.

Tom Hopkins, business development manager for Blue Bird energy partner ROUSH CleanTech, explained that despite the current abundance of EV funding, districts should consider whether they can acquire, run, and train staff to operate those buses if said funding should wane.

Considering everything required of a school bus operation, Hopkins said that propane provided a relatively easy and cost-effective option to swap to. He noted that propane buses are about half as noisy as diesel buses, providing a “cleaner, healthier, safer ride to school.”

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Brian Raygor, national autogas business manager for propane provider Ferrellgas, addressed the scalability of propane autogas refueling infrastructure. There are permanent, temporary and mobile configurations.

He reviewed some options that the School District of Philadelphia had taken advantage of when it added 38 propane-powered school buses to its fleet on October 24.

“We can build the stations to meet your needs,” he declared.

Regarding contingencies, Raygor reviewed a rapid repair and mobile fueling solution that was put in place to assist Kansas City Schools when a school bus propane pump went down. Whaley advised districts to utilize the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fueling Station Locator so they will have fuel when needed.

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PHILADELPHIA, Pa.– The School District of Philadelphia has taken a significant step toward a cleaner and healthier future for its students by adding 38 propane-powered school buses to its fleet. In a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the Shallcross School Bus Garage, district officials, industry leaders, and community members gathered to celebrate this move to the near-zero emissions buses that offer students a safer, quieter ride. As the eighth largest school district in the nation, serving just under 200,000 students every day, the move to clean propane autogas buses positions the district as a national leader in clean student transportation.

“We are excited to be leading the way here in Philadelphia as we grow our low-emission school bus fleet and create a healthier environment for our students, drivers, and the community-at-large,” said Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., School District of Philadelphia. “We are pleased to work with our top partner organizations to bring our very first propane-powered bus fleet to fruition. Together, we continue to turn our compelling vision of clean student transportation into reality.”

The district’s propane-powered buses, developed by Blue Bird Corporation and powered by ROUSH CleanTech engines, are projected to reduce emissions significantly compared to their diesel counterparts. In real-world testing, ROUSH CleanTech’s ultra-low nitrogen oxide (NOx) engines produced 96% fewer NOx emissions than clean diesel alternatives and virtually eliminated particulate matter. According to the EPA, these pollutants can worsen respiratory conditions like asthma and bronchitis and can cause children to miss school.

“Congratulations to the School District of Philadelphia for its commitment to reducing emissions with cost-cutting propane school buses,” said Todd Mouw, executive vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech. “Propane autogas is an affordable, abundant American fuel that allows school districts to reduce their operating costs while helping to preserve the environment.”

Propane-powered school buses provide districts with the lowest total cost of ownership. According to Blue Bird Corporation, school districts benefit from fuel and maintenance cost savings of up to $3,700 per bus annually compared with diesel buses. Thus, SDP’s propane-powered bus fleet could save the district more than $2.1 million over the 15-year life of its vehicles. The district can reinvest those savings into classroom initiatives and student resources.

“We are thrilled to supply the School District of Philadelphia, one of the largest in the nation, with our industry-leading, ultra-low-emission propane school buses,” said Albert Burleigh, vice president of North America bus sales at Blue Bird Corporation. “SDP already operates five Blue Bird electric, zero-emission school buses. Utilizing electric and propane-powered school buses, the school district combines the most technologically advanced clean school buses in its fleet leading the way to creating sustainable student transportation.”

As part of this initiative, the district has also invested in new propane refueling infrastructure at the Shallcross School Bus Garage as part of a partnership with propane supplier, Ferrellgas. An 18,000-gallon propane tank has been installed to allow for efficient and convenient on-site refueling. This not only reduces downtime for refueling but further supports the district’s efforts to lower operational costs compared to diesel.

“Propane is a low-carbon energy source that produces up to 96% less toxic emissions than diesel school buses while also offering a lower total cost of ownership,” said Michelle Bimson Maggi, vice president corporate for Ferrellgas. “Ferrellgas is proud to add the School District of Philadelphia to our growing list of customers nationwide who have transformed their fleet by making the switch to propane autogas. Their decision to add clean-burning alternative fuel buses into their fleet will benefit students and local taxpayers for many years to come.”

With this adoption, there are now more than 1,000 propane autogas school buses operating in Pennsylvania every school day. In total, there are more than 22,000 propane-powered school buses transporting 1.3 million students across the United States.

“At the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC), we believe that every child deserves a safe, clean, healthy ride to school. The School District of Philadelphia is showing true leadership by choosing propane as a clean energy solution and providing that ideal ride,” said Bridget Kidd, COO of PERC. “They are not just investing in buses; they are investing in the future of their students and the well-being of the community. By adopting this innovative technology, the district is setting an example for others across the country.”

This clean energy initiative was made possible through a partnership between the School District of Philadelphia, the Propane Education & Research Council, Ferrellgas, ROUSH CleanTech, and Blue Bird Corporation, all of whom are committed to advancing sustainable transportation solutions for schools.

About The School District of Philadelphia: The eighth largest school district in the country currently serves just under 200,000 students guided by our five-year strategic plan, Accelerate Philly. Our students are accelerating academic achievement. We prioritize the social-emotional well-being, mental health, intellectual and physical safety of all students and staff. We also align our resources, trainings and accountability structures to a limited number of innovative and research-based priorities. visit philasd.org.

About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.

About Blue Bird Corporation: Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is recognized as a technology leader and innovator of school buses since its founding in 1927. Our dedicated team members design, engineer and manufacture school buses with a singular focus on safety, reliability, and durability. School buses carry the most precious cargo in the world – 25 million children twice a day – making them the most trusted mode of student transportation. The company is the proven leader in low- and zero-emission school buses with more than 20,000 propane, natural gas, and electric powered buses in operation today. Blue Bird is transforming the student transportation industry through cleaner energy solutions. For more information on Blue Bird’s complete product and service portfolio, visit www.blue-bird.com.

About ROUSH CleanTech: ROUSH CleanTech, an industry leader of advanced clean transportation solutions, is a division of the global engineering company Roush Enterprises. ROUSH CleanTech develops propane autogas technology for medium-duty Ford commercial vehicles and school buses. With more than 50,000 vehicles on the road, the Livonia, Michigan-based company delivers economical, emissions-reducing options for fleets across North America. Learn more at ROUSHcleantech.com or by calling 800.59.ROUSH.

About Ferrellgas: Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., through its operating partnership, Ferrellgas, L.P., and subsidiaries, serves propane customers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Its Blue Rhino propane exchange brand is sold at over 68,000 locations nationwide. Ferrellgas employees indirectly own 1.1 million Class A Units of the partnership, through an employee stock ownership plan. Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. filed an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2024, with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2024. Investors can request a hard copy of this filing free of charge and obtain more information about the partnership online at www.ferrellgas.com

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RICHMOND, Va. — The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is proud to announce the third annual National Propane Day on October 7, 2024 an opportunity to celebrate propane’s essential role in powering the everyday lives of Americans nationwide. The celebration also honors the hardworking men and women of the propane industry who ensure our lives are powered safely and efficiently with clean, affordable energy.

“Propane is more than just an energy source; it’s a critical component in keeping businesses, homes, and essential services running smoothly, safely, and efficiently,” said Tucker Perkins, president and CEO of PERC. “This is especially true for fleet owners who rely on propane autogas for everything from transporting students safely to and from school, to ensuring goods are delivered on time, to providing essential public transportation options for communities across the nation.”

As energy resiliency and sustainability remain top priorities for fleet owners, PERC encourages everyone to explore propane’s benefits as both a vehicle fuel and as an option to provide reliable, off-grid charging for electric fleets. Additionally, more fleet owners are tapping into renewable propane for their fleet’s energy source. Made from sustainable materials like vegetable oils, animal fats, and used cooking oil, renewable propane offers the same reliability as conventional propane, but with an even smaller carbon footprint.

Propane autogas-powered vehicles including school buses and commercial fleets reduce harmful emissions compared to other energy sources. There are thousands of propane autogas vehicles on the road from coast to coast. It is an ideal energy source for medium-duty (Class 3-7) vehicles that need a range of up to 400 miles per day and the ability to carry a heavier payload, all while significantly reducing emissions.

Today’s propane autogas engines are 90% cleaner than mandated EPA standards, with effectively zero particulate matter emissions and 96% fewer nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions than clean diesel engines. When these engines run on renewable propane, the emissions reductions move the industry even further down the path to zero.

“By adopting propane autogas vehicles and propane-powered EV charging, fleet owners are taking bold steps to significantly reduce their environmental impact and diversify the nation’s energy mix,” Perkins said. “By incorporating propane, Americans can reduce the strain on the electric grid while maintaining a cleaner and more resilient energy infrastructure.”

On October 7th, communities, businesses, and propane advocates across the country will join the Propane Council in celebrating National Propane Day. PERC invites fleet owners to learn more about how propane can provide them with a safe, resilient, and sustainable energy source at Propane.com/Fleet-Vehicles.

About PERC: The Propane Education & Research Council is a nonprofit that provides leading propane safety and training programs and invests in research and development of new propane-powered technologies. PERC is operated and funded by the propane industry. For more information, visit Propane.com.

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This content is brought to you by the Propane Education & Research Council. 

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency announced awards for round three of its clean school bus rebates. As with previous rounds, most of the funding went to electric school buses. To date, the EPA program has allocated more than $2.8 billion for 8,427 electric school buses and 440 low-emissions propane buses.

While the five-year program justifiably aims to replace the nation’s aging, dirty diesel buses, electric models should not be the default replacement of choice. Research shows that more affordable options can lead to lowering emissions faster.

School buses travel more than 3 billion miles each year, providing transportation to more than 25 million American children every day. The rebates, therefore, have the potential to make a huge impact on air quality and decarbonization by replacing existing school buses powered by diesel. EPA’s Clean School Bus Program allows applicants to request battery-electric, propane or compressed natural gas buses.

Eliminating diesel-powered buses is a vital goal. Diesel fuel has a high carbon intensity, and when burned, emits ground-level air pollution that is unhealthy to breathe. Electric vehicles address some of the problem, but don’t actually solve the climate change issues we face today.

Unfortunately, the U.S. electric grid is not as clean as most people think. While renewable energy is being added at a considerable pace, fossil fuels are still being used to meet peak energy demand. The average carbon intensity of the U.S. electric grid is roughly 137 grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule (gCO2eq/MJ). In comparison, conventional propane has a carbon intensity of 79 gCO2eq/MJ, and renewable propane made from the cover crop camelina has a carbon intensity of only 20 gCO2eq/MJ.

Leaving conventional diesel behind is a good move, and it can happen today with a combination of clean energy resources.

Rebate applicants and the EPA should also consider cost in their deliberations. At $375,000 each, electric buses with charging infrastructure cost about three times more than a propane-powered bus. The cost-prohibitive nature of electric models means school districts may only be able to convert a small portion of their fleets, especially in disadvantaged communities where budgets are often constrained. By choosing propane-powered buses, districts can replace three times the number of diesels to lower CO2, NOx, SOx and particulate matter.

School districts nationwide are realizing that converting traditional fleets to EV is no simple solution. The environmental benefits are less clear, and the grid is simply not ready to service the load. As journalist H.L. Menken once said, “For every complex problem, there’s a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong.”

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, about 60% of U.S. electricity still comes from fossil fuels. The cleanliness of the grid varies by state, so it’s important to understand how electricity is being produced regionally.

While major investments are being made in renewable energy, the transition is not happening at a fast enough pace to keep up with load growth. Transmission infrastructure delays and permitting requirements are two major challenges that must be overcome to accelerate grid decarbonization. Grid operators have announced concerns about being able to reliably serve demand due to the intermittent nature of renewables and the retirement of older, dirtier power plants.

Eliminating things like diesel fuel because clean, affordable alternatives are available is a responsible step. This is the wide path ahead — using a variety of ever-cleaner technologies to match the daunting energy-intensive challenge. We applaud EPA’s Clean School Bus Program and hope to see the agency’s awards embrace a holistic view.

Visit propane.com to learn why propane school buses are the smart choice for today’s student transportation needs.

The views expressed are those of the content sponsor and do not reflect those of School Transportation News.

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