Visiting ROUSH CleanTech Helps to Seal the Deal

(September 2018) — There are plenty of statistics to demonstrate the inroads propane buses are making in transporting schoolchildren to and from school. Over 15,000 propane school buses are now on the road, nearly a million students ride a propane school bus daily, more than 800 school districts across the U.S. use propane buses, 530.4 million gallons of petroleum have been displaced by propane, and 400 service locations exist across the country.

ROUSH CleanTech (Livonia, Mich.) has been a key player in making those statistics a reality. “Propane is going to be the lead horse for the next decade,” said Todd Mouw, president of Roush CleanTech. “Propane is usually the best solution for school districts as well as many companies we talk to when it comes to reducing cost per mile as well as emissions.” On a recent visit to ROUSH CleanTech, Mouw and Chelsea Uphaus, director of marketing, gave BPN a firsthand look at the facility and described how many school district leaders also visit the facility to gain expertise before making the switch to propane school buses.

ROUSH CleanTech provides propane, gasoline, and CNG drivetrains for the Type C Vision school buses from Blue Bird, as well as propane and gasoline systems for the Type A G5 from Micro Bird. Building on its long partnership with Ford, ROUSH CleanTech recently unveiled a new electrified Class 4-6 truck with possible school bus applications. While Mouw sees propane as the leader in expanding market share, he notes that developments in battery technology and more resources and support for electric buses will increase the popularity of that drivetrain option over the coming decade. “While propane will remain the leader, I expect electric vehicles will gradually take over natural gas over the next decade.”

Uphaus described a visit to ROUSH CleanTech as anything but casual. “Invitations are sent that detail a full day of activities that will make attendees autogas experts,” Uphaus said. “We outline a full day of learning that helps school boards see the value in sending representatives to learn firsthand about what propane autogas can do for them.” The agenda begins at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 2:15 p.m. with a graduation where participants receive a certificate of completion from the Autogas Academy. Courses include The ROUSH Experience, Propane Autogas as an Automotive Fuel, How to Assemble an Autogas Fuel System, the Nuts and Bolts of Propane Autogas Maintenance, How Propane Autogas Can Help Your Bottom Line, and more. Before leaving, attendees take a look back in history at Jack Roush’s collection of race cars, previous-generation Mustangs, and classic cars. “The museum leaves attendees with an understanding of the foundation of how ROUSH Industries was created and the high standards that are required in every division,” Uphaus said. —Pat Thornton