Collins Bus Corp. has delivered the first four production units of its new NEXBUS compressed natural gas (CNG) Type A school bus.

The inaugural units went to Lower Merion School District in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. The district has more than half of its 117-vehicle fleet running on CNG.

Collins is a subsidiary of Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV).

“The Collins NEXBUS CNG model demonstrates ASV’s commitment to meeting customer demands for environmentally friendly vehicles powered by clean alternative fuel systems that reduce carbon emissions,” said John Walsh, vice president of sales for ASV Bus.

The four NEXBUS CNG models, purchased through Wolfington Body Co., are built on a Ford E-450 cutaway truck chassis equipped with a gaseous engine prep package. They feature the CNG Westport WiNG Power System, a dedicated natural gas fuel system for light-duty vehicles certified under the Ford Quality Vehicle Modifier program. This certification maintains the Ford factory three-year/36,000-mile chassis engine and powertrain warranty.

“Westport’s partnership with Collins is a natural one,” said Paul Shaffer, Westport vice president and managing director. “Each company brings a commitment to offering the best solution for fleet customers and delivering a quality product of superior performance.”

NEXBUS is a series of Collins models that feature technologies such as CNG and other alternative fuel systems. Collins has an exclusive agreement to provide the CNG Westport WiNG Power System for Type A school buses built on a Ford chassis.