>Back To School: Made Possible By Clean Diesel School Buses

The modern yellow school bus powered by today's diesel engines is the right choice for student transportation, and clean diesel will continue to make school transportation safe and reliable as federal clean-air rules tighten and advanced technologies are utilized.

Millions of school children benefit from safe, reliable and energy-efficient transportation to and from school every day in America.

Emissions

Today's diesel school bus engines are significantly cleaner than engines built in 1988. Advances in diesel engine technology have virtually eliminated the old smoke and smell many of us remember from yesterday’s engines. New school buses using clean ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel are able to reduce particulate matter (PM) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions to levels equal to or lower than comparable natural gas buses.

Safety

Diesel provides the safest and least combustible power for transporting children to and from school on the majority of the nation's school buses.

Fuel Efficiency

Diesel is the most efficient and cost-effective fuel for school buses – providing better fuel economy over comparable natural gas buses.

Retrofitting

In addition to new, cleaner engines, cost effective retrofit technology is helping school transportation officials cut emissions from many of the older school buses still in service.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean School Bus USA and voluntary diesel retrofit program are encouraging this effort. EPA, as well as some state and local governments, now offer economic incentives to retrofit diesel school buses.

The Diesel Technology Forum represents the leading manufacturers of clean diesel technology for school buses including: