Atlantic officials join CPA in visit to ROUSH CleanTech’s propane school bus facilities

Atlantic Canada representatives responsible for the procurement of school buses learned firsthand about the advantages of propane-powered buses during their visit to ROUSH CleanTech facilities in Livonia, Michigan.

 

On August 1, Rolland Gallant (NB) and Gordon Barbour (NL), representatives from the Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training joined CPA’s Director, Government Relations for Atlantic Canada Jean-Francois Duguay to tour the ROUSH facilities as well as ABC Student Transportation Inc. in Detroit that runs a fleet of 214 propane Blue Bird school buses.

 

The ABC Transportation demonstration provided the education and training representatives with the opportunity to listen to the propane motor, discuss the motor technology, manufacturing and maintenance requirements, as well as observe the fuelling of the school buses and take a test drive.

 

Mr. Gallant and Mr. Barbour indicated that the visit provided important information and they will report back to the full CAMET committee on their experience. The visit was a follow up to a presentation made to CAMET earlier this year in Halifax by Roush CleanTech and Blue Bird Corporation and is part of CPA’s efforts to educate procurement officials about the advantages of propane school buses and to ensure that they are considered when school bus procurement decisions are being made in each of the Atlantic provinces.

 

The CPA is hopeful that propane school buses will be part of the procurement activities in the respective Atlantic provinces in 2019 and will be following up with members of CAMET in the coming weeks.