CleanFUEL USA will partner with Thomas parent company Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation to build and certify a multi-purpose 8-liter General Motors propane engine.
The new engine will feature CleanFUEL’s new 8L liquid propane injection system, which will initially be developed for use in delivery trucks and school buses. Freightliner plans to certify the propane fuel injection system to run on the Thomas Type C school bus.
“We’ve seen an industry-wide shift to becoming more environmentally conscious, and our customers are requesting more options for green-fleet vehicles,” said Jonathan Randall, director of sales and marketing for Freightliner, in a recent statement. “We look forward to collaborating on this project and keeping with our legacy of providing innovative technologies that benefit customers and the environment.”
According to the folks at CleanFUEL USA, the engine will be available for 2012 model-year vehicles, which will allow fleet operators to keep up with the stricter emission standards. CleanFUEL USA President and COO Tucker Perkins stated, “From a fleet standpoint, we see immense potential for this new 8L platform to stimulate additional interest and adoption in the market for propane-powered vehicles.”
Kits will also be made available to convert medium-duty gasoline vehicles to run on propane. Currently, Collins Bus is 
the only small school bus manufacturer with certified propane-powered school buses direct from the factory with vehicles in use nationwide. Blue Bird has a certified, propane-powered Type C Vision and in production with its own Type A propane Micro Bird.
