Allegan County Transportation is beginning the transition to alternative fuels with the purchase of seven new buses operating on propane Autogas. The propane buses are $1.3 million purchased made with a combination of state and federal grants. Most notable, a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality grant providing dollars for local departments of transportation.
The county says the switch moves it closer to air quality attainment goals. The county says the buses run 90% cleaner than current EPA emissions standards and keeps the county one step ahead of stricter standards anticipated next year and in 2027.
Improving air quality and saving taxpayer dollars the county estimates the propane bus procurement will save 50% on fuel and 70% in maintenance costs.
Allegan County Transportation’s fleet is now 28 buses with a quarter of them now propane Autogas.
As ridership grows, it anticipates an increase in fuel consumption.
Whitney D. Ehresman is Allegan County Transportation Director, she tells us using propane will save the county a minimum of $2.30 per gallon.
“Hypothetically, if we had run ¼ of our fleet propane a year ago- which is now the current ratio with the arrival of the new buses – we would have saved at least $27,880 dollars based on the 2022 average cost per gallon.”
Allegan County Transportation is a reservation-based bus system providing accessible and barrier-free transportation for all residents in of Allegan County.