North Kansas City Moves Ahead with Large Natural Gas School Bus Conversion

Thomas Built Buses has launched its Saf-T-Liner C2 CNG school bus with the purchase of 110 units by North Kansas City, Missouri School District. These units are the first Type C CNG school buses in the industry. North Kansas City also purchased 14 Type A Minoutour school buses to round out their fleet.

“We are excited to be the first school district in the country to incorporate Type C compressed natural gas school buses into our fleet,” said Lon Waterman, transportation director, North Kansas City, Missouri School District.  “We strongly believe in the benefits of compressed natural gas, and we look forward to running a cleaner, greener and more cost-effective fleet.”

The North Kansas City, Missouri School district is the nation’s largest school district to convert its buses to CNG.  The district expects to see a reduction of more than 5,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

Although some school districts receive subsidies for alternative fuel school buses, the overall purchase of these buses, including the capital costs for the school buses, infrastructure and shop improvements, is being financed through Daimler Truck Financial.  No grants or subsidies are being used for this conversion.

The new Saf-T-Liner C2 CNG school bus features the Cummins Westport ISB6.7 G 6.7L natural gas engine and an Allison 2000 series transmission. The new bus is CARB-certified and exceeds EPA 2013 emissions requirements.