Collins Bus Corp., which markets buses in North America under the Collins, Mid Bus, NEXBUS and Corbeil brands, has formed an agreement with natural gas vehicle provider BAF to develop a Type-A school bus powered by compressed natural gas (CNG).
Collins, which has a distribution network of more than 50 dealers in the U.S. and Canada, currently markets both propane-fueled and hybrid-electric buses. The company says it plans on offering the CNG system as an option on several of its models beginning in the spring.
‘The key factor in any alternative engine option is weight,’ says Kent Tyler, president of Collins. ‘Just landing on a new concept won't cut it if you can't achieve a practical range with the passenger capacity you need. We're happy that we can get both with this option from BAF.’
