LISLE, Ill. — School bus contractor Cook-Illinois Corp. recently took delivery of two IC Bus propane-powered school buses.

The CE Series with a Power Solutions International 8.8-liter propane engine is designed to provide diesel-like performance with higher torque at lower engine speeds, according to IC Bus.

“As a leader in developing alternative powertrain solutions for the school bus industry, we are excited to introduce our propane-powered CE Series school buses to the Cook-Illinois Corp. fleet of nearly 2,700 vehicles,” said Trish Reed, vice president and general manager of IC Bus. “Cook-Illinois Corp. is a prominent school bus operator that has moved from diesel-powered school buses to focus on providing greener transportation services to its customers.”

"We are a pioneer in ‘green fleet’ efforts in the state of Illinois,” said John Benish Jr., president and chief operating officer of Cook-Illinois Corp. “We are pleased to add these IC Buses with propane engines and equipped with hydraulic brakes to our fleet to help our customers transport their students to school safely, on time, and ready to learn."

Last year, Cook-Illinois Corp. added 79 propane school buses to its fleet through its contract with Orland School District 135. The company is ranked No. 5 on School Bus Fleet’s 2017 Top 50 Contractors list, which is based on fleet size.

In other recent news, IC Bus unveiled its new IC Electric Bus ChargE, a concept school bus, at the National Association for Pupil Transportation trade show in Columbus, Ohio, last week.