SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Wisconsin District Unveils First Propane School Buses

Through a partnership with contractor, Kobussen Buses, the district will operate 20 new Blue Bird Vision Propane buses.

A crowd stands behind a red ribbon being cut.

Dan Kobussen (center), owner of Kobussen Bus, cut the ribbon during the ceremony unveiling Seymour Community School District's new propane autogas buses.

Photo: Shado Rose LaCount-VanEyck

2 min to read


At a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony, Seymour Community School District unveiled a fleet of 20 Blue Bird Vision Propane school buses, contracted through Kobussen Buses, that will run entirely on clean-operating propane autogas.

“We are thrilled to introduce these new propane-powered buses to our district for the first time,” said Kellie Bohn, district administrator of Seymour Community School District. “This type of alternatively fueled bus reflects our commitment to providing safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly transportation for our students while also being mindful of our community’s future.”

Ad Loading...

The new 2025 Blue Bird Vision Propane 77-passenger school buses have a 7.3L V8 Ford engine with 335 hp and a ROUSH CleanTech propane fuel system. According to a release, the bus retains equivalent horsepower, torque, and warranty coverage as its gas and diesel counterparts.

“Blue Bird is proud to see Seymour Community School District, through its partnership with Kobussen Buses, transition to ultra-low emission propane buses,” said Steve Whaley, alternative fuels manager for Blue Bird Corporation. “These vehicles deliver exceptional performance while significantly reducing emissions, creating a healthier environment for students and the community.”

Up close view of the side of a propane autogas Blue Bird bus.

Blue Bird has more than 22,000 propane-powered school buses operating in over 1,100 districts across the United States.

Photo: Shado Rose LaCount-VanEyck

Kobussen Bus Adds Propane Fleet to Serve Seymour Schools

Purchased from Blue Bird’s authorized dealer, Wisconsin Bus Sales, the buses will be fueled at a recently installed propane station at Kobussen’s Seymour facility. Country Visions Cooperative will be the fuel provider for the first five years. For the 2025-26 school year, Kobussen has a locked-in rate of $1.20 per gallon of propane.

“Today’s event marked our commitment to Seymour Community School District as well as other Wisconsin school districts to provide reliable and safe school bus transportation that also reduces harmful emissions from our air,” said Dan Kobussen, owner of Kobussen Bus.

According to the release, near-zero emission propane vehicles reduce smog-producing emissions, eliminate particulate matter, and lower nitrogen oxides by 95% compared with diesel.

Ad Loading...
A person in a suit holding on to a fuel pump as it fuels a school bus.

Steve Whaley, alternative fuels manager for Blue Bird Corporation, demonstrates how to fuel one of the district’s new buses using the recently installed fueling station at Kobussen’s Seymour facility.

Photo: Shado Rose LaCount-VanEyck

“Propane autogas is a proven solution for school districts looking to lower their carbon footprint without compromising on performance or reliability,” said Todd Mouw, executive vice president of ROUSH CleanTech. “We’re excited to see Seymour Community School District, spearheaded by Kobussen Bus, lead the way in adopting this cleaner, cost-effective technology in Wisconsin.”

Blue Bird, a U.S.-owned and operated school bus manufacturer, has more than 22,000 propane school buses operating in over 1,100 districts across the country.

More Alternative Fuels

An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of electric Thomas Built Buses and text reading "Alt-Fuel Moves: Racking Up Miles & Scaling Up Fleets."
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesApril 27, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Racking Up Miles & Scaling Up Fleets

Electric school buses are hitting the road in greater numbers as fleets expand, infrastructure catches up, and mileage accumulates.

Read More →
Image of the outdoor vehicle expo at Virginia Clean Cities' Rally at Richmond event.
Alternative Fuelsby StaffApril 13, 2026

Virginia Clean Cities Celebrates 30 Years, Highlights Award Winners in School Bus Innovation

At its annual rally, the organization spotlighted propane and electric school bus advancements while recognizing leaders driving forward-looking student transportation.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of an electric IC Bus school bus and text reading "Funding & the Road to Electrification."
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesApril 8, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: Funding & the Road to Electrification

From federal oversight fixes to state funding milestones and district deployments, the transition to cleaner school transportation continues to advance.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A yellow school bus drives along a rural road surrounded by green grass and trees under a partly cloudy sky. Overlaid text reads “SAF-T-LINER C2 GASOLINE ARRIVES,” with the School Bus Fleet logo in the corner.

Thomas Built Buses Adds Gasoline Engine Option to Saf-T-Liner C2 School Bus Lineup

The gasoline-powered bus features the Cummins B6.7 Octane engine and industry-first compression brake, joining the OEM's C2 powertrain lineup for 2026.

Read More →
Row of yellow school buses with overlay text reading “The essential guide to school bus fleet maintenance: Maximizing safety and uptime” and the Geotab logo.
SponsoredApril 1, 2026

Data-Driven School Bus Maintenance Guide

Stop reacting to engine lights and start predicting them. This guide reveals how transitioning from a "break-fix" model to a data-driven maintenance strategy can drastically reduce fleet downtime and protect your district's budget. Learn how to transform your garage operations from a cost center into a reliability powerhouse.

Read More →
Graphic displaying InCharge Energy and Foreseeson logos over an aerial facility background, highlighting a partnership to expand EV charging infrastructure in Canada.

InCharge Energy Plugs Into Canada with New Key Partnerships

InCharge Energy has expanded into Canada through partnerships with RocketEV and Foreseeson, aiming to deliver end-to-end EV charging infrastructure and support for fleet and public-sector customers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic titled “Canada’s First Electric School Bus Report Card: 2026” with CESBA branding and an image of the report cover featuring a map of Canada

Report: Canada's Transition to Electric School Buses Lags Behind Goals

Canada’s first electric school bus report card finds that most provinces are failing the transition away from diesel buses used for student transportation.

Read More →
An orange and yellow graphic with a black and white image of Blue Bird propane school buses.
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesMarch 19, 2026

Alt-Fuel Moves: EV Charging Expansion & Fleet Deployments

From EV charging growth to V2G testing and new bus deployments, districts and providers advance alt-fuel goals amid challenges.

Read More →
Buyers Guide and Directory thumbnail
SponsoredMarch 13, 2026

2026 School Bus Fleet Vendor Directory & Buyer's Guide

Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Front view of an IC Bus next generation electric CE Series bus driving on a suburban street.
Alternative Fuelsby Elora HaynesFebruary 27, 2026

EPA Revamps Clean School Bus Program, 2024 Rebates Halted

The EPA will open a 45-day comment period and is planning a March 3 webinar as it reshapes Clean School Bus funding for 2026.

Read More →