New LED upgrade offered for school bus warning lights

UltraLED’s new H3X LED takes the place of an H3 halogen bulb, common to school bus eight-way warning lights. The LED upgrade uses the existing fixture for a direct interchange.

Virtual Tour: Collins Bus plant

15 Tips to Boost Efficiency

From the bus routes to the shop to the transportation office, there are numerous opportunities to enhance efficiency. Here, directors share innovative ways to run a more cost-effective operation.

Solar-powered solution extends school bus battery life

PulseTech Products’ SP-5 provides 5 watts of power in a solar panel, and offers renewable energy for vehicles that are unable to hook up to outlets, according to the company. The SP-5 also replaces power loss from electrical accessories that occurs even when the ignition is turned off, and its patented Pulse Technology removes damaging sulfate crystals from the battery plates, company officials said.

Ohio school district buys 3 new Lion buses

Bedford City School District becomes the first district in Ohio to purchase Type C school buses made by Lion Bus. According to Transportation Supervisor Patrick Carney, the vehicle “will result in substantial cost-savings over the lifespan of the bus.”

New school bus window among Blue Bird’s enhanced features

The manufacturer’s new E-Z Window, which is featured on the Vision and All American school buses, is said to feature a smoother, more ergonomic design. Blue Bird also launches enhanced features in luggage compartments, air conditioning and brakes for its buses.

Nebraska school’s propane bus investment pays off

Omaha Public Schools and Student Transportation Inc. (STI) collaborated on the district’s deployment of 435 Blue Bird Vision propane school buses last summer, which has saved approximately $200,000 versus diesel. In a new video released last week by the Propane Education & Research Council, school officials and the contractor explain the convenience of maintenance, cost savings, and performance of the buses in the state’s frigid winters.

Trends in school bus camera implementation

An analysis of recent school district contracts for bus video surveillance systems finds an average purchase of three cameras per bus. That and other dynamics are identified in this article by market analyst Paul Irby.

District sees lower costs, emissions with propane buses

A case study on Washingtonville (N.Y.) Central School District’s usage of Blue Bird buses equipped with ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel systems finds that the district spent about 30% less on maintenance for the autogas portion of its fleet and will eliminate about 120,000 lbs. of carbon dioxide per bus during the lifetime of the vehicles.

Trans Tech Bus adds 2 new dealers, Altoona-tests SST model

The Type A school bus manufacturer appoints two new dealers for the Canadian market and announces that its complete product line is now available in Canada. Meanwhile, Trans Tech’s SST school bus goes through Altoona STURAA testing, with results including an average miles per gallon of 9.60.