FORT VALLEY, Ga. — Blue Bird has launched a Propane Calculator that illustrates the savings available through utilizing propane technology versus traditional diesel fuel.

The propane calculator, tooled specifically for the bus market, evaluates variables such as the average cost of Blue Bird's Propane-Powered Vision school bus, annual mileage, and the cost of fuel against grants and tax incentives available with propane fuel. It also takes into account annual maintenance costs and loss from theft.

Currently, propane costs about $1.65 per gallon and offers a 50-cent per gallon tax rebate, while diesel currently costs approximately $2.62 per gallon on average and offers no rebates or incentives.

Also, the Propane-Powered Vision is 2010 EPA compliant and represents the industry's only large-bus propane offering.

The calculator is available at www.blue-bird.com/propanecalculator.