Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Secretary Jennifer Cohan, along with other officials, marked the opening of Delaware Transit Corporation’s (DTC) new propane fuel station in New Castle.
The state is part of the agency’s plans to increase its fleet of propane-powered DAST paratransit buses. DTC will operate 130 of these alternative-fuel vehicles for its DART paratransit service in coming years.
“I’m pleased that DART is scaling up its use of low emissions technologies to power its bus fleet,” said Gov. Jack Markell. “The use of cleaner-burning fuels is a sound investment that saves energy costs, reduces harmful emissions, and improves public health and our environment.”
After a two-year pilot program testing five propane autogas paratransit buses, the transit agency purchased 50 more this year, and will purchase an additional 75 by 2018.
That will bring the total number of propane autogas-fueled vehicles in DART’s paratransit fleet to 130 – almost half the fleet. Each of these vehicles is built on the Ford E-450 chassis with 6.8L V10 engine, and equipped with a ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas fuel system.
“Our first five propane-fueled buses collectively traveled 450,000 miles with no fuel system-related failures, and saved $15,000 in fuel costs alone,” said John T. Sisson, chief executive officer of Delaware Transit Corporation. “That, combined with the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, made it an easy decision to expand the propane program with our new private fuel stations and 130 buses by 2018.”
Currently, DTC pays $.78 per gallon for propane autogas compared with $1.75 per gallon for gasoline.”By 2018, paratransit buses, and this propane fueling station, and one in Georgetown, will be essential to daily operations,” said Cohan. “I am pleased to be here today as we take another step toward reducing the greenhouses gases that poison our atmosphere and contribute to global warming. In this area, DelDOT expects to be a leader, embracing innovations that improve health and safety for all Delawareans.”
Each of the propane autogas paratransit buses will reduce more than 91,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over its lifetime compared to gasoline models. Propane autogas is a low-carbon alternative fuel that reduces greenhouse gases by up to 25 percent, 60 percent less carbon monoxide and fewer particulate emissions versus gasoline.
ROUSH CleanTech has deployed almost 11,000 propane autogas vehicles to fleets across America. Of those, about 800 operate in the transit industry.
Sharp Energy, a subsidiary of Dover-based Chesapeake Utilities Corporation, will provide the fuel supply for the DART paratransit buses along with providing technical and maintenance support for DART’s vehicles and fueling stations.
“Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is committed to investing in sustainable clean energy and improving our overall air quality. Cleaner alternative fuels like Sharp Energy’s propane autogas help reduce emissions,” said Bob Zola, president of Sharp Energy. “As we expand our autogas fueling station infrastructure, we can provide greater access to this low-cost, domestically produced fuel.”
Delaware Transit provides just over 10.6 million rides per year, including about 1 million passenger trips through its DART paratransit service. These buses will be used for shared ride, advanced reservation trips for persons with disabilities who are unable to use regular fixed route public transportation.
