Micro Bird, a U.S. company formed by Blue Bird and Girardin Minibus, has become the first to bring to the North American market a Type A Autogas school bus with low NOx. The company’s vehicle equipped with ROUSH CleanTech’s Gen 5 LPG fuel system is certified to California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) optional low NOx emissions standard of 0.05 grams per brake horsepower-hour (g/bhp-hr), making it 75% cleaner than federal U.S. emission standards.

“Every district wants to lessen students’ exposure to damaging exhaust that can have negative health effects on children,” said Steve Girardin, President of Micro Bird. “With the Micro Bird G5 Autogas bus’s new CARB certification, we help our customers lower their carbon footprint while also offering the most horsepower of any Type A bus.”

Micro Bird buses integrating ROUSH CleanTech’s Gen 5 system reduce NOx and greenhouse gas emissions, which helps optimise fuel efficiency. They also can operate on bioLPG to further reduce emissions and carbon intensity values. The system features the compact, 350-horsepower Ford 7.3L engine, and benefits from all of Ford’s performance and quality characteristics, such as horsepower, torque and towing, while maintaining the OEM factory warranty.

Autogas buses have become widespread among school districts. “There are more than 17,000 of school buses with our systems in operation due to the significant cost-effective, emissions-reducing benefits,” said Ryan Zic, vice president of school bus sales for ROUSH CleanTech.

In addition, more than 40 school districts across North America operate nearly 300 Micro Bird Type A LPG buses. Type A buses, made of a bus body constructed on a cutaway front-section vehicle, usually carry nine to 36 students. For more information, please visit this link.

31 March 2021