Blue Bird Sells Its 2,500th Gasoline-Powered School Bus
April 10 2018 - 4:21PM
Business Wire
School districts choose Blue Bird Vision
Gasoline bus for ease of maintenance, cost savings
Blue Bird recently celebrated its 2,500th gasoline school bus
sale. Over the past two years, sales of Blue Bird’s gasoline school
buses have grown substantially due to their low upfront costs,
maintenance savings, cold weather startup, heating capabilities and
public fueling accessibility.
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Gasoline-Powered Blue Bird Vision.
(Photo: Business Wire)
Frederick County Public Schools in Virginia was the recipient of
the 2500th Blue Bird Vision Gasoline school
bus. “Our transportation department is always assessing our
operations in an effort to identify ways in which we can
incrementally improve. The decision to purchase gasoline buses was
based on the cost savings they offer, the fact that they can be
more easily maintained than diesel buses and the opportunity to be
more environmentally friendly,” said John Grubbs, transportation
director for the school district. “Thus far, we've been very
pleased with their performance.”
Gasoline school buses were common decades ago, but since 2000,
they were phased out in favor of diesel. Blue Bird reintroduced the
Blue Bird Vision Gasoline bus, powered by the proven Ford 6.8L
engine in September of 2016.
“School districts must work within their operational budgets.
After 30 years, gasoline school buses are making a comeback, thanks
to the Blue Bird Vision Gasoline,” said Mark Terry, chief
commercial officer of Blue Bird. “With a gasoline bus, there are no
additional emission filters and exhaust fluid or other complex
after-treatment devices needed. Combine that with a lower
acquisition price, and customers experience immediate savings and
low total ownership costs.”
More than 800 school districts across North America have
purchased the Blue Bird Vision Gasoline school bus. In addition to
cost benefits, the districts have cited the buses’ power, reduced
noise and reduction of parts due to the lack of special technology
required to meet emissions standards. Many customers zero-in on
gasoline’s simplicity: these buses are easier to maintain, with
gasoline technicians often more readily available and typically
less expensive to hire than diesel mechanics.
“The Blue Bird Vision Gasoline has offered us a more
eco-friendly bus than diesel, with easier and more cost-effective
maintenance as well as a quiet and pleasurable drive,” said Brian
Gibson, director of transportation with New Braunfels Independent
School District in Texas. “Our mechanics love the Blue Bird Vision
Gasoline buses. We have not encountered any issues, and it’s a cost
savings for our preventive maintenance compared with our diesel
buses. EGRs, DEF and DPF are just some of the expenses that we can
now eliminate.”
The Blue Bird Vision Gasoline bus, equipped with its exclusive
Ford 6.8L V10 engine, is certified to the EPA standard of 0.20
g/bhp-hr nitrogen oxide emissions.
About Blue Bird Corporation: Blue Bird (NASDAQ: BLBD) is the
leading independent designer and manufacturer of school buses, with
more than 550,000 buses sold since its formation in 1927 and
approximately 180,000 buses in operation today. Blue Bird’s
longevity and reputation in the school bus industry have made it an
iconic American brand. Blue Bird distinguishes itself from its
principal competitors by its singular focus on the design,
engineering, manufacture and sale of school buses and related
parts. As the only manufacturer of chassis and body production
specifically designed for school bus applications, Blue Bird is
recognized as an industry leader for school bus innovation, safety,
product quality/reliability/durability, operating costs and
drivability. In addition, Blue Bird is the market leader in
alternative fuel applications with its propane-powered, electric
and compressed natural gas-powered school buses. Blue Bird
manufactures school buses at two facilities in Fort Valley,
Georgia. Its Micro Bird joint venture operates a manufacturing
facility in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. Service and after-market
parts are distributed from Blue Bird’s parts distribution center
located in Delaware, Ohio. For more information on Blue Bird’s
complete line of buses, visit www.blue-bird.com.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180410006595/en/
TSN CommunicationsGregg Voss,
224-542-9530gvoss@tsncommunications.com
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