By Todd Mouw
With the U.S. producing a major portion of the more than 10 billion gallons of propane autogas every year, propane vehicles are gaining in popularity among the nation’s school districts. In fact, the Propane Education & Research Council estimates there are more than 25,000 propane school buses on U.S. roads transporting 1.9 million students in 2025.
Propane autogas, also known as LPG, is liquid petroleum gas used for on-road vehicles. It is a nontoxic, non-carcinogenic and non-corrosive fuel that’s American-made.
One of the reasons propane is so popular among U.S. fleets is that it has a robust, reliable and flexible infrastructure with decades of research and development behind it. Propane poses no groundwater, surface water or soil, so infrastructure can be installed in areas where other traditional and alternative fuels cannot. Because there are fewer financial and geographical constraints with propane infrastructure, school districts can easily integrate propane affordably, reduce costs and eliminate range anxiety. Propane also costs 40 – 50 percent less per gallon than conventional fuels like diesel or gasoline.
Propane Fueling Options
There are three main options for propane fueling infrastructure: onsite, mobile and public. It’s less expensive to install a propane station than to install a CNG, diesel, gasoline or electric station. There are thousands of propane suppliers across the country that specialize in helping fleets choose the right fueling option based on fleet size, routes, budget and facility space.
The most common option for school districts is onsite fueling. Propane suppliers offer a suite of services to help customers determine how to install onsite infrastructure, including the management of permitting and legal requirements.
“Permanent equipment is the most common application because there’s flexibility and room for growth,” said Bryan Raygor, national business manager for autogas at Ferrellgas, a nationwide propane supplier.
“The equipment can be expanded as needed depending on the size of the fleet,” he said. “As a fleet begins operating with autogas, it can start small, and then grow the propane fueling station equipment by adding additional tanks and dispensers.”
Funding and Support
When fleets work closely with a propane supplier, there are often additional benefits, including financial support for low- and no-cost infrastructure installation, equipment maintenance, training and more.
“We’ll do the training, the maintenance, the fuel management and the tracking,” said Raygor. “We want to be a part of that process.”
There are also many incentive programs to help fleets save on the upfront costs. More information can be found on the Propane Education & Research Council website.
Infrastructure Across America
There are more than 1,100 school districts across the U.S. that operate propane school buses, with 51 percent of the largest 100 school districts integrating propane into their fleet.
Bonny Eagle School District installed one of the largest onsite propane tanks in the state of Maine. The 17,000-gallon tank can fill up its 30 propane buses for a month before needing a refill from its supplier. Through the supplier, the district was able to try renewable propane without making any changes to its onsite infrastructure. Bonny Eagle has saved more than $75,000 using propane compared to diesel.
Located in the Atlanta suburbs, Henry County Schools operates 23 propane buses to support its 300 daily routes. With a limited number of public stations nearby, the district opted to build a propane fueling station at its onsite transportation facility. The supplier provided the district’s fuel infrastructure which included two propane autogas dispensers and an 18,000-gallon skidded tank that could accommodate a 10-year growth plan.
Sutton Bus & Truck Company, which provides transportation services to districts in Delaware, loves the “reliability of onsite management, efficiency and purchasing power,” said owner Dave Sutton. Sutton Bus installed two 19,000-gallon tanks at no cost, and developed an onsite maintenance and delivery schedule that works for the company.
Want More Information?
The Energy Department’s Alternative Fuels Data Center breaks down information about locations of public dispensers, dispensers and nozzles, codes and safety, and costs.
Todd Mouw is executive vice president for ROUSH CleanTech, an industry leader of alternative fuel vehicle technology. Mouw has served as president of the NTEA Green Truck Association. To learn more, call 800.59.ROUSH or visit ROUSHcleantech.com.