GHG Emissions, Sourcing Renewables  -  October 25, 2024

Philadelphia Schools Add Propane Buses to Fleet

The School District of Philadelphia (SDP), the largest school district in Pennsylvania, added its first fleet of propane-powered buses.

Blue Bird,  an electric and low-emission school bus company, supplied 38 near-zero emission vehicles to help the district accelerate its shift to clean student transportation.

The School District of Philadelphia serves nearly 200,000 students in 218 schools.

Blue Bird delivered 38 Vision propane-powered school buses to the school district earlier this year. These Type C buses can carry a maximum of 42 students for up to 300 miles on a single tank of propane gas, and the company’s industry-leading propane buses generate 96% fewer harmful emissions than their diesel counterparts.

Propane-powered school buses lower the total cost of ownership of bus fleets, with school districts benefiting from fuel and maintenance cost savings of up to $3,700 per bus annually compared with diesel buses. The district’s propane-powered bus fleet could save the district more than $2.1 million over the 15-year life of its vehicles.

"We are excited to be leading the way here in Philadelphia as we grow our low-emission school bus fleet and create a healthier environment for our students, drivers, and the community-at-large,” said Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr., Ed.D., School District of Philadelphia, in a statement. “We are pleased to work with Blue Bird, the leader in low- and zero-emission school buses, and various other top partner organizations to bring our very first propane-powered bus fleet to fruition. Together, we continue to turn our compelling vision of clean student transportation into reality.”

Starting in 2012, Blue Bird teamed up with ROUSH CleanTech to build alternative-fuel powered vehicles. ROUSH CleanTech integrates a compact, durable and easy-to-maintain 7.3L engine into low-emission powertrain options for propane-powered school buses. Since then, Blue Bird has deployed more than 20,000 propane-powered school buses.

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