A Philadelphia district is expanding its fleet with brand-new buses featuring its first use of an alternative fuel. 

Today, Blue Bird Corporation announced the delivery of 38 propane-powered buses to the School District of Philadelphia (SDP), the largest school district in Pennsylvania. The OEM supplied the near-zero emission vehicles to help the district accelerate its shift to clean student transportation. SDP serves nearly 200,000 students in 218 schools.

The buses are Vision models and were sent SDP earlier this year. The Type C buses carry a maximum of 42 students for up to 300 miles on a single propane gas tank, generating 96% fewer harmful emissions than diesel.

SDP purchased its advanced propane-powered vehicles through Blue Bird’s authorized school bus dealer Brightbill Body Works in Lebanon, Pa.

In its news release, Blue Bird reminded that propane school buses lower the total cost of ownership of bus fleets, with districts benefiting from fuel and maintenance cost savings of up to $3,700 per bus annually compared to diesel. This could save SDP more than $2.1 million over the 15-year life of the vehicles.

“We are excited to be leading the way here in Philadelphia as we grow our low-emission school bus fleet and create a healthier environment for our students, drivers, and the community-at-large,” said Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., School District of Philadelphia. “We are pleased to work with Blue Bird, the leader in low- and zero-emission school buses, and various other top partner organizations to bring our very first propane-powered bus fleet to fruition. Together, we continue to turn our compelling vision of clean student transportation into reality.”

“We are thrilled to supply the School District of Philadelphia, one of the largest in the nation, with our industry-leading, ultra-low-emission propane school buses,” said Albert Burleigh, vice president of North America bus sales at Blue Bird Corporation. “SDP already operates five Blue Bird electric, zero-emission school buses. Utilizing electric and propane-powered school buses, the school district combines the most technologically advanced clean school buses in its fleet leading the way to creating sustainable student transportation.”

Starting in 2012, Blue Bird and ROUSH CleanTech have teamed up to build alternative-fuel powered vehicles. Since then, Blue Bird has deployed more than 20,000 propane-powered school buses. Blue Bird is the only school bus manufacturer in the United States to offer propane school buses.