IC Bus Rolling Out Propane CE Series Models Next Year

School Bus manufacturer IC Bus (Lisle, Ill.) will introduce its CE Series with Power Solutions International’s (PSI; Wood Dale, Ill.) 8.8-liter propane engine next summer for the start of the 2015-2016 school year. With the launch, all three major U.S. school bus original equipment manufacturers will have propane offerings.

IC Bus will manufacture the new propane CE Series buses at its assembly plant in Tulsa, Okla. The CE Series with a PSI propane engine is designed to provide diesel-like performance with higher torque at lower engine speeds. The bus also integrates the Allison 2500 transmission with FuelSense to maximize fuel economy. The new bus will be on display at the National Association for Pupil Transportation Summit in Kansas City, Mo. in November.

“Our customers asked for a better propane fuel choice for the market, and we answered,” said John McKinney, president of IC Bus. “Our IC Bus CE Series with PSI’s 8.8-liter LP engine will be the first school bus specifically engineered to run on propane without sacrificing power, performance, or durability.”

With a rating of 565 lb-ft at 1500 rpm, the engine’s design enhances stop-and-start applications to allow rapid acceleration after stops and greater hill-climbing capability, improving stability while minimizing the noise, heat, and vibration associated with engine revving. In July, PSI said the Environmental Protection Agency had certified its 8.8-liter propane- and natural gas-fueled engine for on-highway applications. The engine suits various other applications besides school buses, including transit buses, delivery vehicles, recreational vehicles, and tow, utility, and refuse trucks.