Cooling System Suppliers Expand School Bus Offerings
Equipment options ranging from three-unit air-conditioning systems to roof-mount and electric applications are designed to enhance reliability and cooling efficiency for school bus fleets.
Sadiah Thompson・Assistant Editor
June 19, 2019
4 min to read
Photo courtesy Bergstrom Inc.
As more technology and new features are being added to school buses, the more air-conditioning manufacturers are designing their systems and equipment with reliability and maintenance in mind.
With several options available for pupil transportation, including traditional ceiling mount systems and bulkhead or in-wall evaporators, many air-conditioning systems and equipment suppliers are noting roof-mount systems as a popular choice for school bus fleets.
Ad Loading...
Forrest Fields, the director of aftermarket bus air-conditioning systems for Bergstrom Inc., says that customers will often request rooftop condensers and complete rooftop systems for their buses.
“Locating the air-conditioning system on the roof simplifies the air-conditioning piping and wiring while allowing the system to use cooler, cleaner air through heat exchangers,” says Dave Oberdorff, the vice president of sales for Proair.
Additionally, some of the more recent developments for air-conditioning systems in school buses have included options for electric buses.
“Electrification of all components, including the HVAC, is the leading trend across all segments, and school bus fleets will be affected by legislation in leading markets like California,” says Steve Johnson, Thermo King’s product marketing manager for bus HVAC. “While not necessarily new requests, fleets continue to demand improvements in operating costs, efficiency, and safety … and electrification of buses and components are key enablers.”
As the school bus market continues to shift and more features become available, the following systems and equipment options are designed to enhance reliability and cooling efficiency for multiple pupil transportation applications.
Ad Loading...
Three-Unit Air-Conditioning System
Bergstrom Inc. recently introduced its Cool Zone system, designed for school bus fleets. The system consists of front and rear bulkhead units and a midship unit with two three-fan condensers and two compressors. The Cool Zone features accessible filters for cleaning or replacing, and allows easy access to the skirt condenser for cleaning the coils, according to the company. The system’s receiver driers are also equipped with a sight glass to ensure there is no moisture in the system.
Each Cool Zone system is customizable and can consist of any combination of bus HVAC systems. Factors that determine the different types of packages vary by each application, including the size of the school bus, state regulations, and average weather temperatures in the region.
With the integration of American Cooling Technology and Bus Air Manufacturing into Proair LLC, the company continues to expand its school bus air-conditioning product line. With Proair’s release of the new Pro Series EV-70 and EV-96 evaporators, it now offers in-wall systems available in a capacity range from 35,000 Btu/hr to 96,000 Btu/hr per evaporator.
The EV-70 is designed to fit into both the front and rear of the school bus bulkhead, and is available with a durable ABS cover using fixed or adjustable louvers. The EV-70 also features a 12- or 24-volt motor, and has accessible air filters to reduce maintenance time.
Ad Loading...
In addition, Proair recently expanded its rooftop product line to include the CR-9 rooftop condenser and RTS-290 complete rooftop system.
Thermo King’s SLR Series features a low-profile, one-piece roof mount application designed with the company’s ComforTEK air delivery system. The low-profile design is 6 inches above the roofline on the exterior, and provides maximum headroom clearance for the interior walk aisle. The condenser features micro-channel coils, a structural foam ABS chassis, and a protective wireframe grille for the coils and fans. The SLR Series also has up to 20-feet reduction in hose lengths, and offers three controller options, including Thermo King’s IntelligAire advanced microprocessor.
This year, Trans/Air is celebrating its 40th year in the bus air-conditioning industry. The company’s latest offering, the RT170, is a heavy-duty rooftop climate control system designed for rear-engine school buses. The system, which can accommodate buses up to 42 feet in length, can offer up to 170,000 Btu/hr cooling, and is also available with heating. The RT170 includes a fully integrated control panel and provisions for added dash air capacity, if that option is selected by the user. The RT170, and a full line of other Trans/Air systems, are also available in electric models for hybrid or all-electric buses.
Valeo’s REVO family of air-conditioning systems are designed with composite panels for a lightweight casing design. Nearly all of the systems’ refrigerant-carrying components are made of aluminum to help decrease the weight and increase the reliability of the system.
The modular REVO system is available in multiple versions, with the REVO-E and REVO-E Global being the new roof-mounted systems for hybrid and electric buses. Both REVO-E models offer a heat pump and optional battery cooling. In addition, both REVO air-conditioning systems require minimal maintenance, reducing the long term cost of ownership, according to the company.
What does it take to bring a transportation marketplace into K-12? Hear firsthand what CharterUP has learned about the unique needs of schools and bus operators.
The platform provides school districts with real-time trip tracking, student transportation scheduling tools, and pickup and drop-off management capabilities.
School bus buying is up, fuel choices are shifting, and driver shortages persist. This and more in the latest K-12 public school survey, plus the largest fleets in the U.S.
Which public K-12 school districts are the largest in the nation in terms of bus fleet size? Here are the new standings of the top 100 district fleets.
As diesel prices hit record highs, the largest alternative transportation provider says a 10% route consolidation could save a 120-route district more than $78,000 a year in fuel alone.
Generate Private Credit has financed approximately $75 million in school bus deployments across three states, supporting more than 500 buses as Zum expands across the county.
After implementing a dean of students program in Oregon, North Clackamas is seeing positive improvements. Here’s how it worked. The Route is brought to you by IC Bus.
From federal updates and student behavior strategies to new school bus technology and industry awards, see highlights from NAPT ACTS 2026 in Louisville.
We caught up with Wa-Nee Community Schools' Annette Brown on site at SBFX, where she was named the 2026 School Bus Driver Hero Award winner. Hear about her reaction, what she loves most about being a school bus driver, and more!
