CleanFUEL USA and Collins Bus Corporation Deliver More than 100 Propane Autogas-Powered Buses

pan>)--CleanFUEL USA and Collins Bus Corporation today announced the delivery
of 134 propane autogas school buses to First Student, Inc., the largest
provider of student transportation services in North America. The buses
will be used by First Student to provide bus service to Seattle Public
Schools and Portland Public Schools.
The purchase of the buses was made possible through a grant provided by
the Department of Energy (DOE) and the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA), as part of a national effort to establish
networks of propane autogas refueling stations and incentivize the use
of propane powered vehicles. Through this effort, the DOE estimates
millions of gallons of petroleum will be displaced annually, thereby
reducing the countrys dependence on imported petroleum products. First
Student received a grant of $890,000 toward the purchase of 89 buses
placed in service for Portland Public Schools and $450,000 for 45 buses
to be used in Seattle.
The Collins propane powered NEXBUS used by First Student is Collins
latest design, offering superior strength and safety through innovative
features such as high-strength tube steel roof bows and increased driver
visibility. The NEXBUS is Altoona tested and certified and meets or
exceeds all Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS)
certifications for school transportation, including the highest
standards for fuel system integrity. The bus is built on a dual
rear-wheel GM chassis, utilizing the GM 6.0 liter engine. It exhibits an
estimated range in excess of 300 miles and is available in capacities up
to 32 passengers. The propane autogas fuel system was developed in
partnership with CleanFUEL USA and has obtained certification from both
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air
Resources Board.
CleanFUEL USA, along with the DOE, Collins Bus Corporation and First
Student, will hold a check presentation and media event for the Portland
and Seattle Public Schools at Jefferson High School in Portland on
Thursday, November 15 at 10 a.m. PST. The event is open to the public.
Propane autogas is the third most widely used transportation fuel
globally, behind gasoline and diesel, and is proven to be a more
attractive option from an economic and environmental standpoint. As the
lowest greenhouse gas emitting fuel, propane autogas averages 40 to 50
percent less emissions than gasoline and diesel per gallon. There are
more than 52,000 propane autogas refueling stations and 17 million
propane-powered vehicles worldwide.
Quotes
Portland Public Schools has been committed to propane fuel since the
early 1980s. That commitment is now easier to maintain with
manufacturers like Collins Bus Corp and CleanFUEL USA allowing us to
purchase factory-built propane fueled buses directly from the
manufacturer.Using propane results in significant savings for the
district because it is less expensive than gasoline, plus it is burns
cleaner with lower maintenance costs. And because of the lower
greenhouse emissions; our students, community and the environment
benefit from cleaner air.Its clearly a win-win situation.
-- Teri Brady, Interim Director of Student Transportation, Portland
Public Schools
This grant was used by First Student to off-set the purchase price of
clean, propane powered buses for use under our contracts with Seattle
and Portland Public Schools. These buses greatly benefit the school
systems by providing lower operating costs and reduced emissions. First
Student is proud of our relationship with Seattle and Portland Public
Schools and we look forward to providing the best in school bus
services. As the largest operator of alternate fuel school buses, we
truly appreciate our partnership with Collins Bus and their efforts to
secure this grant through Clean FUEL USA.
-- Cal Hull, senior vice president for First Student
Were pleased to be delivering these propane buses to First Student and
applaud their efforts to embrace this environmentally friendly solution.
Clean Fuel USA helped us become the first Type A manufacturer to offer a
propane engine option over three years ago and we have delivered
hundreds of these advanced technology buses to progressive school
districts and contractors.
-- Kent Tyler, president of Collins Bus Corporation
The partnership between Clean FUEL USA, Collins and First Student is
one that will prove to be advantageous to the Portland and Seattle
school systems, as the autogas buses provide many benefits. Through the
use of these buses, the school districts will save thousands of dollars
on fuel and maintenance costs while reducing their environmental
footprint both of which also benefit the local communities.
-- Curtis Donaldson, founder and CEO of CleanFUEL USA
About CleanFUEL USA:
As a truly visionary company, CleanFUEL
USA was the first to develop liquid propane fuel injection systems
in the U.S. CleanFUEL also manufactures propane autogas dispensers and
fueling infrastructure and owns and franchises fueling locations across
the U.S. Established in 1993, CleanFUEL is headquartered in Georgetown,
Texas with vehicle engineering offices in Wixom, Michigan. CleanFUEL USA
provides the total alternative fuel solution with superior economic and
environmental advantages.
About Collins Bus Corporation:
Collins Bus Corporation, a subsidiary of Allied Specialty Vehicles, Inc.
(ASV), markets Type-A school buses and school activity buses throughout
North America under the brands of Collins, Mid Bus, and Corbeil. With
over 50 dealers in the United States and Canada, they lead the industry
in safety and advanced technologies such as alternative fuel solutions.
At Collins, every Type A bus is a Type A plus! Collins parent, ASV,
with revenues of $1Billion, is a market leader in multiple segments,
including ambulance, fire and rescue, recreational vehicles, terminal
trucks and street sweeper products. For more information please visit www.collinsbuscorp.com.
About First Student, Inc.:
First Student, Inc. - a division of Cincinnati, Ohio-based FirstGroup
America - is the largest provider of safe, reliable, sustainable student
transportation services in North America. The company safely transports
approximately 6 million students every day in the US and Canada, using a
fleet of more than 54,000 buses. The safety and security of its
passengers is the companys core value, and First Student marked 2011
2012 as its safest year ever, reducing the number of injuries and
incidents significantly. For more information on First Student, please
visit www.firststudentinc.com
or follow the company on Facebook (facebook.com/FirstStudent) and
Twitter (@FirstStudentInc).

Information Source: Business Wire