Propane-Powered Vehicles: Reliable in Michigan’s Coldest Weather
School districts and transit agencies’ propane fleets reliably transport thousands of students and residents during the Winter. Unlike other fuel-type fleets, propane engines start immediately and run efficiently throughout the day, regardless of outdoor temperatures.
Cold Weather Challenges for Other Fuel-Type Vehicles
Freezing temperatures pose challenges for diesel, gasoline, and electric vehicles. For example, diesel fuel thickens, requiring costly additives to prevent gelling. In addition, engines must be plugged in overnight to keep block heaters running, which consumes electricity and increases costs for school districts and paratransit companies (U.S. Department of Energy).
Moreover, electric school buses experience significant losses in battery efficiency in the cold, resulting in even lower driving ranges than the normal range (approximately 120 miles) on one charge for a Type C school bus. Charging them also takes longer. Consequently, electric buses require overnight charging, which increases the cost burden for EV school buses and paratransit (EPA, 2023).
While gasoline engines sometimes experience hard starts in low temperatures, they also face other cold-weather issues. Specifically, condensation can form inside fuel tanks in frigid temperatures. As a result, water can contaminate the gasoline, leading to declining engine performance and potential stalling.
Propane Vehicles: A Reliable Alternative
Propane-powered vehicles do not require engine block heaters or additional fuel additives to survive extreme cold. Notably, they start up quickly, even in subzero temperatures, and maintain consistent performance without additional maintenance costs. This is because propane’s vaporization process ensures smooth startup, and its lower carbon content enables cleaner combustion, reducing engine wear and tear (U.S. Department of Energy).
Wayne-Westland Community Schools in Wayne, Mich., operates over 20 propane buses. Chad Kundrick, Director of Transportation, attests to the reliability of propane buses in freezing conditions: “With propane buses, you know, they don’t require the block heater or anything to get started in the winter. Every time I’ve gone out to start a propane bus, when it’s zero degrees outside, it starts right up because the propane likes the cold.” Kundrick also mentioned in a recent interview with the Michigan Propane Gas Association, “From my experience driving these propane buses, they perform admirably in the wintertime. In fact, I would probably drive one of these over a diesel bus in the winter if I had my preference.”
Steven Clapp, Director of Fleet Maintenance at The Rapid, who operates one of Michigan’s largest paratransit fleets in Kent County, Mich., affirmed propane’s benefits in the cold. “Our buses immediately start in the freezing cold with no issues.” With over 65 propane-powered paratransit buses operating in greater Grand Rapids and six surrounding cities, The Rapid travels over 1.6 million miles annually, equating to over 215,000 paratransit trips. “We are saving more money on fuel costs, but we also save money on maintenance costs.”
Beyond reliability and cost-effectiveness, propane-powered vehicles offer quieter, more comfortable rides than diesel- or gasoline-powered vehicles. Propane engines deliver immediate torque, ensuring rapid acceleration, unlike diesel engines, which can be slow in cold weather. Additionally, propane vehicles emit fewer greenhouse gases and carbon emissions, improving air quality for drivers and passengers (U.S. Department of Energy).
As Michigan continues to experience extreme cold, propane-powered school buses and paratransit vehicles will continue to operate without disruption throughout the winter and year-round, saving money and reducing carbon emissions.
The Michigan Propane Gas Association offers up to $6,000 to purchase new propane vehicles to help transition your fleet to propane. Learn more about the rebate and more funding opportunities for propane-fleets: https://www.MIautogas.com/#rebate
