Alternative fuel buses: the cleaner way to go back to school

August is officially here, and that means the beginning of the school year is mere weeks away. Waiting for that iconic yellow school bus is how many kids will start their day. In the past, those yellow school buses that are a cherished slice of Americana have run on dirty diesel, spilling harmful emissions into the air that children breathe. In light of new research that shows just how toxic diesel fumes can be, more and more school districts are turning to alternative fuel school buses to clean up their air.

Blue Bird Corp. is one of the most widely known manufacturer of alt fuel buses in the country. They work with schools across the country to implement  clean-burning propane autogas Type C yellow school buses into their fleet. For example, the state of Indiana recently announced the deployment of five Blue Bird propane-powered buses by the Tippecanoe School Corporation. While there will be some difference in fuel economy, as of May officials said they were paying $2 per gallon less for autogas versus diesel.

One key environmental advantage of propane autogas vehicles are the dramatic reductions in harmful pollutants like NOx, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter – the latter being the major cause of smog in metropolitan areas. By switching to cleaner fuels like propane autogas, school districts are not only saving money – but helping to clean up the air for future generations.