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  • Safety
    The Foundation of Blue Bird Buses
  • Quality
    Separates our Buses from the Rest
  • TCO
    Your Total Cost of Ownership Solution

Compressed Natural Gas is a very safe alternative fuel.

Compressed Natural Gas or CNG, is a very safe alternative fuel - both for the environment and the children that ride in our CNG-powered school buses.
Click on the items below to learn more:

Compressed Natural Gas is a very safe alternative fuel. Blue Bird School Buses.

  • CNG costs less than Diesel.

    The gallon equivalent of Compressed Natural Gas costs up to 60 percent less than the cost of a gallon of Diesel fuel. That is a big savings right away!

  • CNG is better for the environment.

    According to the California Air Resources Board, natural gas can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20-23 percent when compared with diesel vehicles.

  • Nearly all of CNG in North America is domestically produced.

    Because it is released from a pressured container as a vapor, propane autogas can’t be ingested like gasoline or alcohol fuels. To put it simply, igniting propane gas in the air calls for very specific things to occur. The mixture of propane/air must contain 2.2 percent to 9.6 percent propane vapor. Any more, or any less than that, and the propane will not ignite. Plus, the source of ignition must reach 940 degrees Fahrenheit. In contrast, gasoline will ignite at only 430 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

  • Blue Bird's CNG buses deliver the same reliable performance and ease of maintenance as our diesel models.

    The quality and expertise of Blue Bird can be seen in our reliable buses, no matter what fuel type you choose. We have built these buses to be easy to maintain and to give you the best performance throughout the life of the vehicle. Plus, natural gas' low carbon content translates into longer oil change intervals, less engine wear and a longer engine life.

  • CNG stations are opening across the country.

    With the price of foreign oils on the rise, there has been an increase in alternative fuel stations across the country, including CNG stations. To find a station near you, as well as the prices of CNG in your area, visit CNGPrices.com.
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At Blue Bird, safety is built-in.

At Blue Bird, we don't cut corners when it comes to safety. We build our buses with safety as the number one priority- always.

Blue Bird's custom designed one-piece roof bow system ensures safe student transportation.
Safety is Built in at Blue Bird
Blue Bird buses are built to pass the industry's most trusted safety tests. This is standard with our buses, not an option.

Our options are designed with safety in mind.

We're always thinking ahead when it comes to safety. Check out these safety features- they really are remarkable!

Our exclusive Blue Bird NextGen Seats gives you the ability to convert to multiple seatbelt options, easily and affordable.
Blue Bird was the first to market with Electronic Stability Control, or ESC, for School Buses. You have to see it to believe it!
LEARN MORE

The All American CNG delivers exceptional quality.

The All America RE CNG delivers:

  • The functional objective of a minimum 250-mile range for fuel - assuring top deliverability
  • An octane level of 115 - providing for high power and pickup
  • An engine certified to 0.1 g/bhp-hr of nitrogen oxide
  • An engine that is 50% cleaner than federal emissions standards

Buses fueled by CNG start up quickly in temperatures as low as -40 F (without the use of starting aids) and reaches operating temperature for heaters in less than 12 minutes. 

The All American RE CNG bus even has two fill options:

  1. Time fill (standard) that allows the driver to connect and walk away, or
  2. optional fast fill that cuts fill time in half.

The Blue Bird All American RE CNG comes with a 5-year, 100,000-mile warranty from Cummins.

The CNG fuel system saves time and money, requiring a less expensive fuel, less tech training, less labor and less product inventory.

Calculating the Total Cost of Ownership, or (TCO), allows you to select a bus with confidence, because you will know you are getting the best return on your investment.

TCO is determined based on...
  • Initial purchase price, taking into account...
    • Fuel costs over time
    • Maintenance costs over time
    • Projected bus lifespan

With these factors in mind, the Blue Bird All American RE CNG bus offers a strong TCO message:

There are thousands of dollars in grants and incentives available for CNG infrastructure, making the addition of a CNG-powered bus a possibility for your fleet.

An uncomplicated engine makes it easier to find qualified techs at a reasonable rate.

CNG, on average, costs up to 60% less than the per gallon equivalent of diesel.

The All American RE CNG engine requires:

  • Less oil by volume than diesel
  • No additional diesel emission fluids
  • No extra valve adjustments

The All American RE CNG bus delivers economical training and easy maintenance that saves time because of:

  • Simplified emissions system
  • Proven performance 
  • Simple service strategy

To top it all off, the Blue Bird All American RE CNG comes with a
5-Year, 100,000-Mile Engine Warranty.

All American RE CNG’s Cummins ISL-G engine

The All American RE CNG’s Cummins ISL-G engine has a long history of success, durability, and reliability in the commercial truck market. It’s no wonder that the All American RE CNG engine comes with a 5-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the engine.

 

SPECIFICATIONS

Bus Specifications

Up to 84
32" Wide x 79" High/ Double electric outward opening (air optional)
96"
Emergency window standard
90 3/4"
Allison 3000 PTS - 5 & 6 speed automatic
Varies by floor plan
Cummins L9N 250-280 hp
19 3/4", 25 3/4"
77"
210, 240, 270 and 320 amps with 12 volts
122" - 128" excluding roof options
4-channel antilock brake system; Air drum and air disc brakes available
Soft ride front leaf spring suspension (Rating varies by capacity); Two-stage steel leaf rear spring suspension system (Rating varies by capacity); Air suspension available
189"/217"/245"/259"/273"
Tilt & telescoping steering column
Front: 95" with standard steel bumper; Rear: 122" with standard steel bumper
Front axle (Rating varies by capacity)
SAE Type III Composite wrapped aluminum located outboard of frame within wheelbase and inboard of frame in rear overhang; SCF @ 70F/3600PSI, 7692; DGE, 55 - GGE, 62
3 group 31 batteries, each battery is 12v, 700CCA (2100 CCA combined) 185 minutes of reserve capacity
Rear axle with hypoid, single reduction gears with broad range of ratios available to optimize powertrain performance (Rating varies by capacity)
50 Degrees
11R22.5 (G) all-position radials
Up to 36,200 lbs.