September 2013 • 21
(Marion, Kentucky) chose the Blue Bird
Vision type C bus, which is equipped with
the Roush Clean Tech Ford 6.8L dedicated
propane autogas engine.
The Northeast region is moving rapidly
to propane autogas in a number of markets,
and there is a tremendous amount of interest,
which is growing almost daily. Requests to
demonstrate, educate and participate are
coming in at a very high rate. Within the last
year, sales of Blue Bird and Collins school
buses, Roush Ford E and F series products
and after-market conversion systems have
increased in most Northeast states.
O&E: Please profile the current adopters.
Are they mostly localized fleets?
MT:
The typical propane autogas cus-
tomer today is a centralized fleet with small
to medium class vehicles and locations
throughout the U.S. Return on investment
and profitability are two key objectives,
and fleet managers definitely understand
the need to reduce petroleum use, reduce
expenses and increase profits. Also, this
customer typically utilizes centralized
fueling, which is a perfect scenario for dem-
onstrating and proving propane autogas’
affordable infrastructure, portability and
scalability. One of our major markets is
school transportation, and this platform is
allowing us to expand our outreach to the
American public exponentially.
O&E: How is autogas acceptance
in the school bus market?
MT:
School transportation sales have
exceeded PERC’s expectations. While we
have enjoyed success in this market in the
past with loyal customers like Portland
Public Schools and its contractor, First
Student, we did not anticipate that our tech-
nology would be embraced and deployed at
the rate we are experiencing today. In 2013,
propane autogas will account for one out of
every ten type C school buses sold in the US
and 30 percent of a major manufacturer’s
production. That’s three out of every ten
school buses that Blue Bird Corp. will
manufacture this year.
Our partnership with Roush Clean Tech
and the investment in the research and
development of propane autogas systems
that utilize today’s automotive electronic
fuel injection technology has allowed our
fuel to impact the school transportation
market in just 18 short months. I can’t wait
to see what happens in the near future.
O&E: How significant is Ford’s decision to
market an autogas-capable F-150? Also,
FCCC’s development of the S2G chassis?
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MT:
The F-150 is the most popular work
truck in the U.S., and this decision may
expand PERC’s portfolio of propane autogas
powered vehicles but not in the obvious
application. For clarification purposes, the
F-150 will be produced at the factory with
an OEM gaseous fuel prep package which
will allow PERC supplier partners like
IMPCO, ICOM and Clean Fuels USA to
install EPA and CARB certified systems on
the popular truck, as a bi-fuel application.
Ford Motor Company will not offer the
propane-powered option as an assembly
line vehicle.
In 2012, PERC Council approved a
project to fund the Ford Transit van, which
is equipped with the same 3.7L engine, but
it’s doubtful that the longevity of the power
train in the F-150 truck will have an impact
at the OEM and Qualified Vehicle Modifier
(QVM) dedicated engine level. It appears to
be a logical inclusion of this engine into the
F-150 product platform, but time require-
ments for EPA and CARB certification will
most likely force us to miss the dedicated
fuel opportunity.
Today Roush Clean Tech dedicated
propane autogas systems are offered in three
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