When schools adopt propane powered school buses, everyone — students, parents, and educators — win. The number of schools moving to propane powered school buses has rapidly increased in recent years. In fact, schools across 45 states now use more than 7000 propane autogas buses.
Uncompromised School Transport Safety
Propane autogas buses provide unmatched peace-of-mind for parents. Compared with diesel buses, propane autogas buses are noticeably quieter when operating. With significant noise on the bus eliminated, a driver can pay better attention to children in the rear of the bus, and the road ahead. Diesel cannot deliver a similar experience.
In addition to significantly quieter operation, all propane-autogas-powered buses meet rigorous U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and each is equipped with an automatic shut-off feature that prevents fuel flow to the engine when it’s not running.
Cleaner Transport for Students and Communities
The shorter height of younger students puts them face-to-face with a black cloud of diesel smoke every school day. With propane autogas buses, however, students aren’t exposed to the harmful particulate matter in diesel exhaust, which is known to aggravate asthma and worse — it’s a carcinogen identified by the World Health Organization.
Districts that choose propane autogas buses are making a smarter decision for students and the neighborhoods they live in.
School District Savings for What Counts
When a school district switches from diesel buses to propane autogas technology, they’re in a better position to afford what students need most:
- More teachers reduce class sizes for more individualized student attention. Officials from Omaha Public schools in Omaha, Nebraska, report their propane autogas bus fleet generates enough savings to hire up to five additional classroom teachers.
- Everyday classroom supplies — pencils, markers, notebooks — which teachers may otherwise need to buy out-of-pocket.
- Savings can be used to fund special education programs and hire specialist educators.
- Funding for more robust fine arts and athletic programs that increase students’ confidence and provide a well-rounded education.
With school budgets continually at risk of being slashed, parents and schools need to think outside the box to find extra savings. Adopting propane autogas buses is one big step toward improving schools. Not only is propane autogas fuel consistently less expensive than diesel, the buses themselves don’t require the same expensive repairs and replacement parts that today’s modern diesel buses demand.