A recent study found school bus fires in the U.S. occur slightly more than daily. Diesel is significantly less volatile and combustible than alternative fuels such as propane, CNG, and gasoline. Diesel fuel provides the safest student-passenger environment for full size school buses.
Today’s diesel engine is 90% cleaner at the tailpipe than 10 years ago. The Cummins ISB and new Detroit DD5 engines emit 5x and 10x less particulate matter than required by the EPA standards and are well below the EPA’s nitrogen oxide requirements. Most people don’t realize Diesel burning engines actually introduce less carbon monoxide emissions than propane, CNG, or gasoline into the environment. Clean diesel offers the lowest carbon footprint over operational lifetime.
Diesel will put more money back in your fleet’s budget. Diesel bus acquisition, fueling, and maintenance costs are lower than their alternative fuel counterparts. Sure, some alternative fuels may cost less per gallon, but with lower mpg, you’ll be filling the tanks much more frequently, adding up costs and hassle. Alternative fuel buses also require additional fueling infrastructure and training investments that diesel does not.
While other manufacturers have been focusing on “alternative fuels,” new diesel technology has lead to increased fuel efficiency, durability, reliability, and serviceability. The Cummins ISB 6.7 and the new Detroit DD5 boast 8-10 mpg. compared to other fuels with only 3-5 mpg. New technology, such as Cummins uninterrupted regeneration process and single modular after-treatment device with larger ash containment and Thomas’ stay-warm feature, have nearly eliminated the after-treatment headaches that have plagued diesel engines in the past.
There’s a reason 93% of all school buses purchased in the U.S. and Canada still use diesel despite recent alternative fuel hype. No other fuel can compare to diesel’s performance in medium- and heavy-duty use. The long-term durability of a diesel engine is unmatched, boasting a 15 to 20 year life cycle. Alternative fuel engines have yet to stand the test of time.