WHAT S YOUR VISION A LOOK AT PROPANE POWERED

WHAT’S YOUR VISION? A LOOK AT PROPANE POWERED SCHOOL BUSES PRESENTED BY: GEORGE C. MILLAR DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

AGENDA • Welcome • Opening Remarks • Overview of project • • What was the decision process Major issues to consider Data Analysis Recommendations • Project Implementation • Questions

THE LPI FUEL TANK

MAJOR ISSUES TO CONSIDER • Pilot a cutting edge program • Wanted to try an alternate fuel to be a part of the Green Initiative • Pending new regulations, additives etc. were changing for 2010 • Battery powered electric too expensive • Clean burning fuel o Minimal impact to the environment • EPA requirements for emissions were met with Propane power • Capacity size was not affected • Quiet ride

Planning for Propane • Decided to look at 3 types of Routes to measure efficiency. o. Bus 1 - Long Distance Route to neighboring County – Few stops o. Bus 2 - Inter-city run. Congested traffic/Frequent stops o. Bus 3 - A 1 A Corridor / Long Run – Moderate to Frequent stops • Found that buses would need to refuel daily as each could travel for approximately 1 ½ days on a tank of fuel. • Results were satisfactory overall, with the exception of miles per gallon. • Fuel for buses is significantly less expensive.

DATA ANALYSIS AN OVERVIEW OF DIESEL POWER / PROPANE POWER AVERAGE MILES PER GALLON 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2 3 1 0 BUS 1 6. 32 BUS 2 5. 92 DIESEL BUS 3 6. 53 BUS 1 4. 73 BUS 2 3. 36 PROPANE BUS 3 4. 18

COST OF FUEL PER GALLON 2010/2011 DIESEL PROPANE • AVERAGE COST PER GALLON 1/1/2010 – 12/31/2010 $2. 71 • AVERAGE COST PER GALLON 1/1/2010 – 12/31/2010 $1. 87 • COST PER GALLON AS OF 2/4/2011 OPIS COST PER GALLON: $2. 8563 ROAD TAXES: $. 31861 TOTAL: $3. 17491 HATTIESBURG AVG-LP GAS AS OF 2/4/2011 COST PER GALLON: $1. 4935 VENDOR SURCHARGE: $. 47 TOTAL: $1. 9635

MPG DIESEL 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 CAT C-7 MERCEDES CUMMINS BUS 1 BUS 2 BUS 3 BEG MILEAGE 105661 42113 16700 END MILEAGE 127877 64335 38819 TOTAL MILES 22216 22222 22119 TOTAL GALLONS 3514. 7 3748. 3 3386. 3 AVERAGE MPG 6. 32 5. 92 6. 53 BUS 1 BUS 2 BUS 3 AVG FUEL COST PER GAL BEG MILEAGE 10699. 3 10937. 1 10346. 8 $1. 87 END MILEAGE 45161. 5 25451. 1 31607. 6 TOTAL MILES 34462. 2 14514. 0 21260. 8 TOTAL GALLONS 7282. 1 4309. 4 5075. 3 AVERAGE MPG 4. 73 3. 36 4. 18 DIESEL OVER LP AVG MPG 1. 59 MPG 2. 56 MPG 2. 35 MPG PROPANE AVG FUEL COST PER GAL $2. 71

COST PER MILE 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 CAT C-7 MERCEDES CUMMINS DIESEL BUS 1 BUS 2 AVG COST PER MILE 0. 4287974 0. 4577702 COST PER MILE 2/4/2011 BUS 3 OVERALL AVG COST PER MILE PROJECTED SAVINGS OVER LIQUID PEOPANE AVG FUEL COST PER GAL 0. 4150076 $0. 433859 $0. 0325626 $2. 71 PROJECTED SAVINGS $0. 00 BUS 1 AVG COST PER MILE BUS 2 BUS 3 OVERALL AVG COST PER MILE 0. 5023591 0. 5363023 0. 4862036 $0. 508306 $3. 17491

COST PER MILE PROPANE 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 BUS 1 BUS 2 BUS 3 AVG FUEL COST PER GALLON 0. 3953488 0. 5565476 0. 4473684 $1. 87 BOBTAIL AVERAGE COST PER MILE BOBTAIL 0. 4664216 COST ABOVE DIESEL PER MILE BOBTAIL 0. 0325626 0. 2858851 $1. 19 TANK AVERAGE COST PER MILE TANK 0. 2980608 PROJECTED SAVINGS TANK 0. 1357982 COST PER MILE-BOBTAIL COST PER MILE-TANK COST PER MILE 0. 2526427 0. 3556547 2/4/2011 BUS 2 BUS 3 AVG FUEL COST PER GALLON 0. 4151162 0. 5843751 0. 4697368 $1. 9635 BOBTAIL AVERAGE COST PER MILE BOBTAIL 0. 4897426 PROJECTED SAVINGS BOBTAIL 0. 0185634 0. 3082535 $1. 2885 TANK AVERAGE COST PER MILE TANK 0. 3213819 PROJECTED SAVINGS TANK 0. 1869241 COST PER MILE-BOBTAIL COST PER MILE-TANK 0. 2724101 0. 3834821

PROS AND CONS OF PROPANE ENGINES • • • PROS LOWER FUEL COST NO ROAD TAXES LESS EMISSIONS SMALLER CARBON FOOT PRINT LESS GREEN HOUSE GASES POSSIBLE GRANT MONEY AVAILABLE PROJECTING LONGER BRAKE LIFE DUE TO LESS WEIGHT EXCEEDS EPA REGULATIONS WITH NO CHANGE NO SHELF LIFE WITH PROPANE TAX REBATES ON EACH BUS PURCHASED FUEL TANK REBATES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT $. 50/GALLON OF LP MINIMAL INFRASTRUCTURE COST AND SET UP • • • CONS DISTANCE BUS CAN TRAVEL BETWEEN FILL-UPS LOWER MILES PER GALLON OF FUEL OPTION CHARGE FROM MANUFACTURER (MAY BE RETURNED AS A TAX CREDIT)

Propane Fuel Rebates • Congress Has Authorized an Alternative Fuel Rebate of $. 50 per Gallon for Propane if Facility Has Their Own Fueling Station • Must Register with IRS – Form 637 • File IRS Form 4136 Annually

Comparison of Engine Related Repairs and Maintenance SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED WITH: • Sixteen 2009 Bluebird “Vision” buses • All were 71 passenger capacity • Comparison was done after 17 months of service • 13 buses were powered by Cummins Diesel Engines • 3 buses were powered by General Motors Propane Engines SURVEY RESULTS ON ENGINE RELATED ISSUES: • Average cost per bus (includes oil and filter) • Diesel Powered: $118. 95 • Propane Powered: $102. 58 Number of Road Service Calls • Diesel Powered: 4 • Propane Powered: 0

For Additional Information Please Contact: Mr. George C. Millar Director of Transportation School District of Indian River County george. millar@indianriverschools. org 772 -978 -8816 or 772 -978 -8810 Office 772 -978 -8824 Fax 5235 41 st Street, Vero Beach, Fl 32967