ROUSH CleanTech has developed the first Autogas engine available in class 4-7 vehicles and Blue Bird Type C school buses certified to the optional low nitrogen oxide (NOx) level .05 g/bhp-hr. These new engines, already certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), are 75% cleaner than the current emissions standard.

“ROUSH CleanTech’s low NOx engine is a great step forward for the propane industry,” said Tucker Perkins, president of the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). “Autogas is well established as an economical, clean-burning and domestically produced alternative fuel ideal for fleets. Now it gets the biggest return on NOx reductions, too.”

Nitrogen oxides are a group of gases known as a primary contributor to acid rain, smog and other air quality issues. The EPA states that exposure to NOx can trigger health problems such as asthma and other respiratory issues. CARB has encouraged heavy-duty engine manufacturers to reduce levels below the current mandatory EPA standard of .2 grams per brake horsepower per hour (known as g/bhp-hr).

ROUSH CleanTech has begun installing the new low NOx engines in its Ford commercial vehicles and Blue Bird Vision Autogas school buses with 2017MY engines. “Developing the lowest NOx Autogas engine sends a message that this fuel is comparable to other alternative fuels from a standpoint of emissions. With our nation’s ample supply of LPG and the fuel’s favourable total cost of ownership, our engine is the perfect mix of environmental and economic sustainability,” said Todd Mouw, vice president of sales and marketing for ROUSH CleanTech.

Over the past year, NOx awareness has increased due to the Volkswagen emissions compliance issue. The Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust was created to fund actions with cleaner technology that reduce excess emissions of NOx. “Our .05g NOx engine certification will help our school bus and public transit customers target funds from the upcoming VW Environmental Mitigation Trust programme,” added Mouw. For more information, please visit this link.