The Evansville Vanderburgh Board of School Trustees learned tonight (6-4-12) about the Office of Operations investigation into the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to fuel EVSC vehicles. This work is taking place through the EVSC’s commitment toward continuous improvement and operational excellence.
In order to perform the research to determine if there is a financial benefit, EVSC mechanics will install conversion kits on one bus, one conforming vehicle (CV), and one maintenance vehicle. The EVSC will collect data around fuel efficiency and power ratio for the vehicles, as well as the miles per gallon realized — and then perform cost-benefit analysis to determine any savings.
Rick Cameron, chief operating officer for the EVSC, said this research is part of a larger initiative within the EVSC’s Operational Excellence program, to look at costs that are controllable and determine creatively how they might be lowered. EVSC’s more than 200 buses travel approximately 2.5 million miles each year at a cost of about $2.9 million. Any savings found could eventually direct more money into EVSC’s general fund, with the ultimate goal of supporting the corporation’s core – the classroom and student programs.
Cameron said that while no school corporations that he knows of currently use Compressed Natural Gas as fuel for vehicles, the cost of CNG is continuing to drop because of the abundance of supply. He noted numerous fracking operations taking place in the United States. Cameron said the buses will also be able to run on CNG, diesel fuel, or a combination of CNG and diesel.
The EVSC is also interested in CNG as an environmentally friendly fuel alternative. CNG costs 60% less and emits 90% fewer emissions than gas or diesel fuels.
Other vehicle-related savings currently being investigated through the EVSC’s Operational Excellence Program include satellite fueling stations (rather than the one current station behind the Administration Building); how to make the buses more efficient; and how bus transportation routes the more than 18,000 students who use the service each school day.
This is HUGE news since other School Systems in the Nation are thinking about or already going to CNG use on their Buses. Add a Fueling Station later when you convert more buses. Good Luck! a very wise decision. I like Eletric, but, with Trucks, Buses, Trash Vehicles, CNG is the Trend and we will be less dependent on using other expensive methods for Fuel.
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