Mass Transit magazine features agency profiles, industry trends, management tips and new product information.
Issue link: https://masstransit.epubxp.com/i/385405
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2014 | MassTransitmag.com | Mass Transit | 87 Your riders want to know when the next bus will arrive. Tell them. For more information, visit us at www.nextbus.com or call (510) 995-3217. Come visit us at APTA Expo Booth #2115 for a live demonstration. For more information, visit www.MassTransitmag.com/10066470 motor to handle a number of tanks and dispensers without changing the electrical or site requirements, allowing infrastructure to grow as feets expand. A CNG refueling sta- tion requires a dryer to remove wa- ter or water vapor from the natural gas supply prior to compression, a compressor to compress natural gas to the appropriate pressure, storage and a dispenser. Te faster the refu- eling process needed, the larger the compressor needed, which can add up to be relatively costly. Propane autogas operates on a closed fuel system, adding another layer of security and peace of mind for feet managers. Te refueling nozzle is threaded and must be screwed into the fuel tank, creating a closed fuel system that is less sus- ceptible to thef and spillage. Still, it's recommended portable tanks be stored in a locked cage and access to refueling dispensers be protected. Ease of Refueling Propane autogas infrastructure can save feets both time and money at the pump. For example, Alvin Inde- pendent School District (Alvin ISD) in Texas recently used an $80,000 grant to upgrade to a higher volume pump and dispenser. Alvin ISD currently operates an 18,000-gallon tank with three dual dispensers, al- lowing the district to refuel up to six buses in the same time. For feets that need to refuel while en route, drivers can fnd pro- pane autogas refueling stations in every state, with many more public refueling stations opening every day. No other alternative fuel ofers the same convenience. For county feet managers like Melvin Rose, who op- erates a feet with more than 800 al- ternative fueled vehicles in Monroe County, New York, the nationwide availability of propane autogas in- frastructure was a deciding factor in his decision to add propane autogas vehicles to his feet. "We did some research and we can go from here in New York all the way to Florida on propane autogas alone by stopping at pro- pane-autogas-refueling stations along the way," Rose explained. Picking a Fuel Provider Planning for growth is an import- ant consideration when adopting an alternative fuel, and selecting the right fuel provider is a signif- cant part of that. Not only should feets plan for immediate needs today, but it's also important for feets to consider how adaptable their infrastructure is if they need to add more fueling stations or relocate existing stations in the future. Determining which fuel providers can handle everyday deliveries and grow with a feet's needs is critical. WHEN CONVERTING your fleet to propane fuel, make sure to educate your technicians to make sure they know all maintenance proceduces and safety precautions they should undertake.