Propane Autogas Buses Emit Cleaner Air Across America

MICHIGAN (June 7, 2011) — ROUSH CleanTech and National Bus Sales have partnered to offer public and private bus fleets an alternative to diesel and gasoline-fueled vehicles. A new paratransit bus fueled by propane autogas will be unveiled to public transportation professionals at the Community Transportation Association Expo, today through June 10 in Indianapolis, at booth No. 133 on the show floor.
With the help of Elkhart Coach, a division of Forest River, Inc., the first of these propane autogas specialty buses will hit the road this summer in Texas as part of the Capital Area Rural Transit (TX-CARTS) fleet to transport ambulatory and wheelchair passengers. An order for an additional eight shuttle buses is expected within the next 90 days.
TX-CARTS, a proponent of propane autogas technology, currently has 20 conventionally fueled buses in their fleet. This new bus design that they will add to their fleet will feature the frame of a Ford E-450 cutaway with the shuttle bus body added by Elkhart, which will include seating for 20 passengers and two wheelchairs, and the ROUSH CleanTech liquid propane autogas fuel system.
National Bus Sales will then take on the marketing and placement of the propane autogas buses nationwide, expecting to sell hundreds during the next year.
“This new venture has the potential to revolutionize the way governments, municipalities, and the public view the paratransit industry,” said Joe Thompson, president of ROUSH CleanTech. “No longer does the traditional image of dirty exhaust and compromised air quality from buses have to be the norm.”
Propane autogas, the world’s third-most widely used fuel, burns cleaner than gasoline or diesel. With thousands of propane autogas stations across the U.S., a nationwide fueling infrastructure is already in place.
“National Bus Sales has been searching for a high-quality propane autogas solution, and we are thrilled to be partnering with ROUSH CleanTech to bring dedicated liquid propane autogas technology to America's public and private bus fleets,” said John Walsh, president of National Bus Sales and Leasing, Inc. “In this time of high gas prices and the need for sustainability, this unequivocal product is guaranteed to lower harmful carbon emissions and operating costs.”
“Gas prices are currently strangling the life out of businesses offering any type of transportation service. Propane autogas offers relief,” said Todd Mouw, ROUSH CleanTech’s vice president of sales and marketing and a featured speaker at the Expo’s “Today and Tomorrow: Alternative Fuel Buses” workshop. “Now is the time to switch to clean, economical, domestically produced propane autogas.”
About ROUSH CleanTech: Based in Plymouth Township, Mich., ROUSH CleanTech offers dedicated liquid propane autogas fuel systems for a variety of light- and medium-duty Ford vehicles, including the F-150, F-250, F-350 pickup truck series; the F-450 and F-550 chassis cab truck series; the E-150, E-250, and E-350 van and wagon series; and the E-350 and E-450 cutaway van series. Currently offered through authorized Ford dealerships around the country, the ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas system delivers the same factory Ford performance characteristics and serviceability with a 5-year / 60,000-mile limited warranty. Customers can reduce operating costs significantly while reducing vehicle emissions. Complete details on ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas offerings can be found online at www.ROUSHcleantech.com or by calling 800-59-ROUSH.
About National Bus Sales and Leasing, Inc.: National Bus Sales & Leasing, Inc. was established in 1974 with a mission to distribute and service specialized transportation equipment primarily in Atlanta, Georgia. The corporate office of the company is now located in a state-of-the-art facility in Marietta, Georgia. National has four other regional offices in Texas, North Carolina, Mississippi, and Virginia. National employs more than 100 dedicated sales, technicians, and support staff to accommodate customer needs, from large fleet purchases to small businesses. For additional information visit www.nationalbussales.com or call 800-282-7981.