Alternative-fuel school buses are increasingly being used for pupil transportation. As a result, fueling and charging infrastructure suppliers are moving forward with equipment that has the potential to provide cost savings as well as reduce the consumption of power and fuel.

From propane buses to electric vehicles (EVs), student transportation providers need to assess which alternative-fueling equipment is the best fit for their operation. Here, propane fueling and EV infrastructure suppliers share insight on the various equipment options that are available, including customized fueling stations, fuel removal systems, and scheduled EV charging.

Customized Fueling

Most alternative-fueling equipment suppliers will provide school districts with the option to customize their fleet’s fueling and charging stations.

Propane autogas supplier Parafour Innovations offers fueling opportunities for both small and large school bus fleets.

“It really depends on where the district is going to locate the fueling station because some facilities don’t have enough room or space for multiple dispensers, so it would be more ideal for compact tank and dispenser packages,” says Robin Parsons, president of Parafour Innovations. “For newer facilities planning rapid fleet growth, dual-hose dispensers and 18,000 gallon tanks are a better option.”

For example, Parafour Innovations recently worked with Leander (Texas) Independent School District to install four new dual-hose dispensers to accommodate the district’s propane buses. The company also installed a leak detection system that sounds an alarm when the smell of gas reaches unsafe levels, typically 2% of the lower explosive limit, Parsons notes.

When specifying tank capacity for propane stations, he encourages school districts to order tanks that hold no less than about 2,000 gallons of propane, especially if the district has between five to 10 propane buses.

Propane Removal System

Propane fueling dispensers operate much like a gasoline pump, but with added safety features such as pull-away protection and heavy-duty steel construction.

Jim Bunsey, director of operations for Superior Energy Systems, says that “quick-connect” nozzles, which make the refueling process safer and easier, are now a standard offering, in which drivers are able to click in the nozzle, refuel, and go.

In addition to refueling equipment, if school districts are looking for more ways to service their propane-fueled vehicles, Superior Energy’s Propane Evacuation Machine helps fleets remove propane from buses for service and maintenance purposes.

The evacuation pump allows the propane that is removed from one vehicle tank to be transferred to that of another and/or to a separate propane storage tank. The unit, which is designed for use outside the school bus shop, also comes equipped with pneumatic wheels and a sight flow gauge that offers a visual of the propane transfer process.

Scheduled EV Charging

While propane and CNG suppliers offer time-fill or overnight fueling to optimize fleet costs, EV manufacturers are also providing scheduled charging services to compensate for the periods of time when school buses are inactive.

EV Connect, a supplier of EV charging infrastructure, offers both Level 2 (alternating current) and Level 3 (DC fast-charging) options for school buses.

David Hughes, the company’s vice president of government and sales, says Level 2 charging, which provides up to 16 kilowatt-hours of battery power, is the most common setup for school districts, along with scheduled charging to avoid utility demand charges.

Most electric school bus batteries can operate for about 120 miles, while the typical school bus route may be between 70 to 80 miles, Hughes says.

EV Connect uses a specific networked 70 amp charger that is designed for electric buses with routes of about 80 to 90 miles or less. Hughes says this type of charging infrastructure is relatively inexpensive compared to higher-powered DCFC chargers, and requires less complex electrical infrastructure.