Starting in the 2015/16 school year, the DeKalb County Central United School District in Indiana will be operating three new school buses fueled by propane autogas. The district is replacing 12-year-old diesel vehicles with new Blue Bird Propane Vision buses.
The district purchased the Type C school buses from MacAllister Bus Sales, Indiana's Blue Bird dealer. Each Vision bus is equipped with a ROUSH CleanTech autogas fuel system. Two of the district's autogas buses are on site, with the third vehicle slated for delivery soon.
The school district cites a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, a cleaner riding environment for students and reduced maintenance costs as reasons for the purchase of the autogas buses.
“Encouraging intentional innovation is one of our key priority areas of our district's strategic plan. In a time of diminishing resources, we strive to be as innovative and energy efficient as possible,” says DeKalb County Central Superintendent Sherry Grate. “After researching the data regarding the incorporation of propane-autogas-fueled school buses into our fleet, a very deliberate decision was made to pursue this opportunity.”
Trey Jenkins, vice president of alternative fuels for Blue Bird Corp., adds the bus manufacturer is “committed to providing school districts with a reliable, innovative and proven technology that is favorable to a district's bottom line.”
Blue Bird says that although DeKalb County Central United is the first school district in its area to purchase autogas buses, hundreds of thousands of students are transported daily throughout the U.S. in buses operating on the alternative fuel.
Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech, says the school district is “blazing the trail in Indiana with its commitment.”
