PHOTOS: First responders train on propane school buses

Blue Bird rallies in Fort Valley, ramps up business

Four years after consolidating large bus assembly at its central Georgia headquarters, Blue Bird has boosted efficiency and production capacity, and business is on the upswing. The company’s total sales have increased about 40% from 2012 to 2014, and its propane school bus sales have multiplied.

New propane fueling system offered for fleets

Features of Alliance AutoGas’ new T3MR Fleet Fuel Management System include a durable card reader system, data management, real-time communications and an ultra-low-emission fueling nozzle. Company officials say that the system will provide fleet managers with the ability to better monitor and control fuel inventories in real time.

Alt-fuel school bus options are growing

Manufacturers are meeting the demand for clean-burning, money-saving yellow buses by offering more powered by propane autogas and compressed natural gas, as well as all-electric units. Here’s a look at some of the school buses in development, on the market and in service at operations.

Ohio school district acquires 49 propane buses

Cleveland Metropolitan School District’s new Blue Bird Propane Vision school buses will replace 12- to-13-year-old diesel buses. The propane units will go into operation for the 2014-15 school year.

STA secures $10 million California contract

The school bus contractor will serve San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools beginning in January under the five and a half year agreement, and it will provide 133 new, ultra-low-emission vehicles and 31 propane autogas vehicles. STA also reports that all major contracts that were part of the acquisition of Atlantic Express’ California assets have been extended.

8.0L PIthon engine to power Thomas Built propane bus

Powertrain Integration (PI) names its 8.0L V8 propane autogas engine the PIthon. It has been selected as the engine platform for Thomas Built Buses' new propane-powered Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus.

STA wins 2 Pennsylvania contracts

The five-year agreements with both school districts — Hempfield School District and East Penn School District — will generate $10 million in new annualized revenue for the company starting next school year, officials say. STA will provide more than 200 new, clean-burning propane autogas vehicles under the contracts.

CleanFUEL USA unveils new propane fuel management system

Officials for the propane technology supplier say that with the new CleanFUEL eCONNECT system, fleet managers can economically monitor and control fuel inventories with real-time data insight, flexible report storage and remote access capabilities.

Florida district buys 98 propane buses

Broward County Public Schools’ move is being called the nation’s largest single order of propane autogas school buses by a school district. Broward officials say that they expect a six-month return on investment for the additional purchase price of the alternative-fuel buses due to fuel cost and maintenance savings.