Most people don’t realize how clean-diesel now is or even why running an environmentally-friendly school bus fleet matters. Here’s why it matters and how much cleaner clean-diesel school bus engines are today.

When you think of diesel fuel, you may think of a black sooty cloud coming out of the tailpipe of your school buses. In reality, clean-diesel school bus emissions are now 90 percent cleaner at the tailpipe than they were in 2006.  Based on EPA-regulated emissions, clean-diesel is comparable to or even cleaner than other fuel types like propane, CNG and gasoline. Take a look for yourself.

Ultra-low-sulfur diesel, SCR and EGR technologies have cleaned up clean-diesel considerably, but most people don’t realize how clean diesel now is or even why running an environmentally-friendly school bus fleet matters.

Here’s why it matters and how much cleaner clean-diesel school bus engines are today.

• Particulate Matter (PM) – Particulate matter includes tiny solid and liquid particles that are suspended in the air we breathe.  Many of these particles can be hazardous to your health, or the health of your drivers and students, and can cause serious health issues including breathing problems, lung tissue damage and even cancer.  Across the board, Thomas Built buses have a near-zero PM rating.

• Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) – Nitrogen oxide is most commonly known for causing acid rain. But what you may not realize is that when it reacts with ammonia, moisture and other compounds in the air, nitrogen oxide creates microscopic particles that can cause emphysema or bronchitis and may aggravate heart disease.  New clean-diesel engines, like the Detroit™ DD5™, have extremely low PM levels and a NOx rating a quarter of the EPA standard.

• Carbon Monoxide (CO) – Carbon monoxide is a greenhouse gas. While not dangerous in small amounts, high levels can be absorbed into your red blood cells in place of oxygen, which may be lethal. While the standard is 15.5 grams per brake horsepower per hour, the upcoming  DD5 diesel engine’s CO rating is 0.4 (less than 4% of the limit).

• Nonmethane Hydrocarbons (NMHC) – Nonmethane hydrocarbons cause ground level 0³ (OZONE) and smog. With a new and improved aftertreatment system, new clean-diesel engines will run at about 10% of the

The reason for these dramatically- reduced emissions is the dedication of the EPA and school bus manufacturers like Thomas Built Buses, who make it a priority to clean up school buses across the country.

Thomas Built Buses is dedicated to investing in technologies and innovations that make school buses safer, more reliable, durable, more efficient and easier to maintain. With more than 480,000 school buses on the road every day, the impact of emissions can be great.  So Thomas Built Buses makes it a priority to ensure that their buses are the cleanest and safest they can be.  Thomas Built school buses not only meet EPA and GHG standards, but exceed them.

To learn more about the many benefits of clean-diesel school buses visit the Thomas Built Buses Facts About Fuels page.