Over the last 30 years, propane autogas technology has advanced to the point that propane school bus emissions are near-zero. Today’ s propane school buses are 90 % cleaner than the Environmental Protection Agency’ s most stringent heavy-duty engine standard. Propane emits fewer greenhouse gases, smogproducing hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides and virtually eliminates particulate emissions compared with conventional fuels like diesel.
And propane school buses don’ t disrupt the power grid because they run on an affordable and abundant American-made fuel that isn’ t vulnerable to shifting geopolitical winds.
Like many, Jubb’ s Bus Services’ migration away from diesel was driven by persistent emissions-system complications that eroded efficiency and increased downtime. But rather than resolving a set of issues posed by diesel, electric buses would have presented the company with a whole new set of obstacles to overcome: infrastructure investment, battery degradation, range limitations and lifecycle cost volatility, among others.
Astronomical upfront costs are cited as one of the main inhibitors to electric bus adoption. Through this project, Potomac Edison will cover the cost difference between diesel and electric buses, along
with the cost of charging equipment and any required electrical upgrades during the installation process. That may be helpful for the smattering of districts participating in the pilot program, but this level of investment simply isn’ t feasible or sustainable for a majority of school districts to work through on their own.
Propane school buses cost only slightly more than their diesel counterparts, no new charging equipment or technology is required and propane infrastructure is about 85 % less expensive than electric.
With such a strong push, it seems as though we’ re asking school districts for an unfair trade-off that makes it difficult to focus on student learning: reduced emissions for increased risk, more complications and higher costs. Expanding school district fleets to include alternative fuels with a proven technology like propane autogas can, and should, be an intuitive progression rather than a forced endeavor.
Randall( Randy) Jubb, is president of Jubb’ s Bus Service, Inc. Todd Mouw serves as executive vice president for ROUSH CleanTech. Ryan Vance is president of the Mid-Atlantic Propane Gas Association and chief operating officer for Jacobs Petroleum Products.
18 | SCHOOL-BUSRIDE. COM | MAY 2026