School Bus Fleet, February 2021

40 WWW SCHOOLBUSFLEET COM SCHOOL BUS FLEET FEBRUARY 2021 By Todd Mouw and Crystelle Markley GUEST EDITORIAL Crystelle Markley is the marketing director for Superior Energy Systems There is growing interest in renewable propane due to its near zero emission levels reduced greenhouse gases and ability to help meet growing demand for cleaner products It can be used as a drop in replacement fuel because chemically it is nearly identical to conventional propane Since it is produced from renewable raw materials renewable propane has an even lower carbon intensity than conventional propane and is far cleaner than other energy sources The Propane Education and Research Council a nonprofit that provides propane safety and training programs is testing renewable propane including blends with conventional propane and standard development The organization has been informing OEMs of potential engine use and creating awareness of the fuel for producer seller transporter and end user Many companies around the globe are developing renewable propane production technology with some in commercial volume as a byproduct of renewable diesel plants Renewable propane is produced in several European and Asian countries and many U S refineries in California Texas and Louisiana have existing capacity to produce renewable propane as part of their renewable diesel production systems The pricing is on par with traditional propane As demand grows in places like California the renewable propane producers will begin to develop the infrastructure to efficiently distribute this fuel LATEST FUELING OPTIONS Fueling infrastructure has always been a substantial piece of the propane puzzle for fleets Propane fueling infrastructure costs less than any other transportation energy source conventional or alternative and companies continue to adapt fueling equipment to code advancements in propane technology mandated by the National Fire Protection Association NFPA 58 committee The NFPA code now requires the K 15 quick connect style refueling inlet on propane vehicles as an industry standard The K 15 nozzle allows for nearly zero escaped emissions at release and is extremely user friendly similar to Propane Industry Offering More Innovations for School Buses A cross the U S over 1000 school districts operate more than 20000 school buses fueled by propane autogas This tried and true domestically produced alternative fuel powers buses that carry 12 million students to school each day The U S has seen a 960 increase in propane powered school bus fleets since 2012 Meanwhile companies that develop new propane technology and fueling infrastructure for the school bus market keep sharing innovations NEW ENGINE TECHNOLOGY At the end of 2020 advanced clean transportation company Roush CleanTech introduced its new Gen 5 propane fuel system The companys propane technology brings the alternative fuels benefits to Fords new 73L V8 engine in Class 3 to 7 chassis including school buses Known as Godzilla Fords 73L engine is compact and designed to be durable and easy to maintain It is narrower than the previous 68L allowing it to fit into multiple vehicle chassis and be serviced with similar automotive parts across each chassis Innovations for the Gen 5 propane fuel system include stronger and lighter forged fuel rails and a support bracket that keeps the engine fuel distribution well organized For all of these reasons it is ideally suited for the school bus market Like its predecessors this engine is designed to meet current and future emissions requirements The Gen 5 is certified to the California Air Resources Boards optional low nitrogen oxide NOx emissions standard of 005 grams per brake horsepower hour g bhp hr All propane school buses reduce greenhouse gas emissions which helps optimize fuel efficiency and can operate on renewable propane which further reduces emissions and carbon intensity values RISING RENEWABLE Propane engines can be powered by renewable propane an up and coming transportation fuel Renewable propane is a non fossil fuel produced from 100 renewable raw materials such as waste residue and sustainably produced vegetable oils There is growing interest in renewable propane due to its near zero emission levels reduced greenhouse gases and ability to help meet growing demand for cleaner products It can be used as a dropin replacement fuel because chemically it is nearly identical to conventional propane Todd Mouw is the president of Roush CleanTech