In the September issue of Fleets and Fuel Industry Newsletter, the delivery of Thomas Built Buses Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles get noticed. Leon County is currently building the infrastructure to take full advantage of this emerging techonology while reaping the cost saving benefits of a renewable energy source.

A First for Florida
The first coordinated effort to bring compressed natural gas-fueled school buses to Florida has been executed successfully in Tallahassee, where Leon County has fielded eight Thomas Built CNG buses and expects to deploy six more before the end of this month. That’s nearly 10% of the organization’s fleet of 180 buses, says fleet chief Manny Joanos. His plan is to replace about ten diesel buses per year with CNG vehicles, while at the same time working to expand a new CNG station to serve university, state and other fleets, and eventually allow full public access.

Leon’s new station was built by Birmingham, Ala.-based Phoenix Energy with Ingersoll-Rand compressors and Tulsa Gas Technology dispensers. Matthews Buses, which supplied the Thomas Built HDX 84 vehicles with Cummins Westport ISL G engines, says fuel costs could be as low as half the cost for diesel, with dramatic emission reductions.

If you would like a copy of the Fleets and Fuels newsletter, please contact Pete Fenderson:

Matthews Buses (Orlando), Pete Fenderson,
407-219-3820, ext 427

pfenderson@matthewsbuses.com;
www.matthewsbuses.com