BLUE SPRINGS, Mo. — A school district here has purchased 19  compressed natural gas (CNG) powered school buses from Thomas Built Buses in an effort to reduce fuel costs and emissions.

The purchase by Blue Springs R-IV School District of the Saf-T-Liner C2 CNG buses makes it the second district in the U.S. to incorporate Thomas Built Type C CNG school buses in its fleet, according to the school bus manufacturer. The first school district to introduce the buses into its fleet is North Kansas City School District, which purchased 110 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 CNG school buses.

Thomas Built Buses officially launched the Saf-T-Liner C2 CNG school bus in May.

“Over the past 13 years, our fuel costs have increased 213%,” said Steve Brown, transportation director for Blue Springs R-IV School District. “By incorporating compressed natural gas in our fleet, we hope not only to reduce fuel costs, but also to reduce our emissions. We could not be more excited to introduce CNG in our school district.”

Thomas Built Buses’ Saf-T-Liner C2 CNG utilizes the Cummins Westport ISB6.7 G 6.7 liter natural gas engine and an Allison 2000 series transmission. It is CARB-certified, meets ARB’s optional low oxides of nitrogen (NOx) standard of 0.1g/bhp-hr, and meets EPA 2016 emissions and 2017 EPA greenhouse gas (GHG) requirements, according to Thomas Built Buses.  

“We have had a lot of interest in our Saf-T-Liner C2 CNG school bus,” said Caley Edgerly, president and CEO of Thomas Built Buses. “Blue Springs is the second district in the United States and Canada to receive our Type C CNG buses, and we are very excited to see them on the road this school year.”

Thomas Built’s alt-fuel lineup includes the new Saf-T-Liner C2 CNG, the Saf-T-Liner C2 Propane, Saf-T-Liner HDX CNG, Minotour Propane, and Minotour CNG.

For more information about the Saf-T-Liner C2 CNG, customers can contact their local Thomas Built Buses dealer.