Case Study: Propane Transit Buses Help Rural Minnesota Indian Reservation Thrive
As White Earth Public Transit sought alternative fueling options to reduce fuel costs and improve the reliability of services, they began exploring propane autogas as a fuel source. “We have many propane suppliers in our area, so we did some research on the propane fuel option and thought we would try it,” said Kenneth Bakken, transit manager for White Earth Public Transit. “We tried conversions first.”
The transition to propane through conversions began nine years ago. But after a few months, the converted vehicles began to have maintenance issues, said Bakken. So, the transit agency went all-in on purchasing new propane vehicles through the support of grant programs.
Through on-the-ground partnerships and customized support and training, ROUSH CleanTech has helped over 100 transit agencies like White Earth Public Transit transition to propane autogas buses. After learning more about how the new, innovative technology powering today’s modern propane vehicles is similar to gasoline engines, the agency determined propane-powered vehicles were an excellent option for their community.
