Debunking Misleading Claims About Propane School Buses

A recent Vox article by Rebecca Leber titled, “The Propane Industry’s Weird Obsession with School Buses Explained” has sparked debates over the propane sector’s role in school bus transportation. While critics claim that propane-powered buses are no different than diesel buses, the propane industry opposes electrification, and that propane-powered buses offer no substantial air quality benefits, proponents argue that these accusations are based on misleading claims.

The inaccurate comparison between propane and diesel buses has caused much confusion. According to the US Department of Energy’s National Lab, while propane buses may not significantly outperform post-2010 diesel buses in emissions, they offer substantial reductions in air pollutant emissions when replacing older diesel buses, especially since over a third of the nearly half a million diesel school buses on US roads are outdated, pre-2010 models. Alternative fuels like propane are key players in pursuing cost-effective solutions to replace these aging buses with low- or zero-emission options.

Regarding emissions, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges that propane buses produce lower levels of certain pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx). Modern propane bus engines adhere to strict NOx limits, ensuring reduced emissions compared to diesel. Leber also omitted that propane engines nearly eliminate particulate matter emissions, the health hazards that initially drove the replacement of older diesel buses.

Claims that the propane industry excessively targeted school transportation decision-makers are disputed. Additionally, allegations of being “anti-electrification” don’t align with the propane industry’s support for electrification, namely propane-powered electric vehicle charging.

In reality, the propane sector focuses on cost-effective emissions reductions through innovative technologies, such as ultra-low-carbon renewable propane and low NOx engines, to minimize the environmental impact. Rather than a peculiar obsession, this drive aims to deliver practical solutions for children and communities.

Propane and electric buses both have their merits in the quest for cleaner school transportation. Debating their worth should be rooted in accurate information rather than misleading narratives.