The Rapid Board of Directors voted unanimously to spend $8 million on eight compressed and renewable natural gas buses or CNG/RNG buses.
The purchase replaces The Rapid’s last three fixed-route diesel buses along with five diesel-electric hybrids aging out of use.
It’s paid for entirely through federal grants and state matching funds.
The Rapid fuels its CNG vehicles through a Clean Energy partnership, using compressed landfill gases to earn credits, saving an estimated $6 million annually in fuel costs compared to standard diesel.
The Rapids Chief Operating Officer Steve Schipper explains diesel bus fuel can cost from $2.55 to $4.60 a gallon with fluctuations that are difficult to predict.
“Compressed natural gas has been very stable for us, more predictable, and has had much less fluctuation. It’s currently at 51 cents a gallon, but it hasn't been much higher than about a dollar-five per gallon. So, very easy for us to manage that in our budget.”
The move is part of the city’s 2017 goal to achieve a zero-emission fleet by 2048 while saving millions in operating costs.
The new buses are expected to be delivered next summer.
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