BLUE BIRD PROVEN PROPANE POWERTRAIN A heritage of looking ahead.
Proven Partnerships. Proven Powertrain At Blue Bird, we choose to work with partners that deliver the best results. That s why our Propane Autogas solution is simply the best available. With powerful partners like ROUSH CleanTech and Ford, our propane buses deliver the power and efficiency you need, while maintaining the lowest total cost of ownership of any alternative fuel bus in the market. A Purpose Built Engine - Not a Conversion! The Ford 6.8L V10 engine was purpose-designed and tested to be gaseous fuel capable, resulting in a purpose-built engine product that fully meets both ROUSH CleanTech and Blue-Bird s propane-powered Vision operating requirements, as demonstrated with a 5-year / unlimited mileage warranty. The Ford 6.8L V10 is manufactured at the Ford Windsor Engine Plant, using Ford s quality and manufacturing operating systems, and designed to operate using gaseous fuels, including Propane Autogas, with no engine conversion or rebuild necessary.
Powertrain Matching The performance of the engine is coupled to the transmission it works with. This is why Blue Bird has partners with Ford: offering the pairing of their 6.8L V10 engine with their reliable 6R140 Ford transmission. The result is a matched powertrain with extensive stored product development optimizations to deliver both power and fuel economy. The 6R140: The Perfect Powertrain Partner Ford s 6R140 transmission was designed specifically to work in unison with Ford engines, creating a superior propane powertrain for Blue Bird buses. Proven, Reliable Engine Technology Ford has produced over 1.3 million of these engines since introduction, a testament to their quality and reliability. Paired with the Ford 6R140 transmission and ROUSH CleanTech fuel system, the 6.8L V10 engine from Ford is the perfect fit for a school bus application. Over 7,000 Blue Bird Propane Buses With over 7,000 Blue Bird Propane Buses built over the past 8 years, Blue Bird is the number one producer of propane buses in the industry. In fact, Blue Bird has produced over 20 times more propane buses than all of our competitors combined! Over 58 Million Miles Driven Blue Bird s propane-powered buses have travelled over 58,000,000 miles - enough miles to go around the world over 2,300 times! Our buses can go the distance, and are built to last through the rigorous years of student transport they endure.
Proven Technology The Ford 6R140 Transmission The Ford 6.8L V10 Engine The Ford 6R140 Transmission design is capable of increasing torque demand in many vehicle applications. This ensures best possible fuel economy is delivered to all customers. It is purpose-built to exact application torque requirements while achieving minimum frictional losses. Structure capable of up to 900 ft lbs of engine torque Torque converter features a longtravel, high-capacity turbine damper optimized for the 6.8L engine and resulting in seamless, refined power delivery Built on proven architecture used on other Ford 6-speed rear wheel drive applications The bellhousing is incorporated into the transmission case/body, resulting in best-in-class powertrain structural stiffness The Ford 6.8L V10 Engine has been utilized in over two decades worth of Ford products, certifying their durability and reliability in the truck market. It comes with a 5-year, unlimited mile warranty, and a network of service centers throughout the United States and Canada to allow for quick turnaround on service. 362 Horsepower and 460 ft-lbs of torque Overhead cam valve train design is state-of-the-art for the current industry: many OEMs no longer manufacture pushrod architecture engines Best emission certification of any alternative fueled engine in school buses today Cold weather start performance validated for over two decades No engine pre-heating or fuel additives Significantly quieter than a diesel engine - noise vibration and harshness (NVH) minimized by Ford The Propane Powertrain and Fuel System Includes a 5-year, Unlimited Mile Warranty: The Industry s Best!* *2015 year models and beyond
Calibration Options YOUR CHOICE OF FUEL ECONOMY OR PERFORMANCE The ROUSH CleanTech fuel system in our Vision Propane buses can be calibrated to fit your needs. Our Blue Bird EconoShift option allows for improved fuel economy, while our Blue Bird PowerShift option is best suited for operating conditions that require more power. Customers have the flexibility to determine their requirements and select a desired transmission shift calibration. Increase fuel economy by 5-6%* Best option for urban driving conditions and flat terrain Better acceleration than a diesel bus** The power you expect from a Blue Bird Propane bus Quickest acceleration onto highways and best for highaltitude driving conditions Currently the standard on all Ford/ROUSH Propane bus models*** ARE YOU A CURRENT OWNER? If you currently own a Blue Bird Propane Vision bus powered by Ford and ROUSH CleanTech technology, you can have your bus re-flashed with Blue Bird EconoShift by your local Bue Bird Dealer! Find a Blue Bird dealer or service center in your area with our interactive map. Visit www. blue-bird.com/find-a-dealer or scan the QR code to access on your smart phone. *Fuel economy increase may vary based on driving conditions and bus driver habits **Blue Bird EconoShift vs Blue Bird diesel bus ***Blue Bird PowerShift is the standard calibration on all current ROUSH Clean Tech and Ford propane bus models
Powertrain Matching Matters Power. Safety. Fuel Economy. Reliability. These are just a few qualities that are on your mind when deciding on a bus purchase. Blue Bird s propane powered Vision and Micro Bird deliver best-in-class results with a reliable powertrain that delivers all the qualities that are sought after in a bus. With over 1 million Ford 6.8L engines and 6R140 transmissions working together on the road today, there s no question that Ford s powertrain match is perfect for a propane bus application. Find a Blue Bird dealer or service center in your area with our interactive map. Visit www.blue-bird.com/find-a-dealer or scan the QR code below. CONNECT WITH US! www.blue-bird.com Specifications, features, illustrations and equipment shown in this brochure are based upon the latest available information at the time of printing. Although descriptions are believed to be correct, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Blue Bird Body Company reserves the right to make changes at any time without notice. Some features mentioned herein are not available in all models. Please see your Blue Bird Dealer for details. Blue Bird Body Company does not represent or warrant that its products are fit for a particular purpose. Purchaser must independently determine the suitability of the Blue Bird products for their particular application. All images contained herein are either owned by Blue Bird Body Company or used under a valid license. Some options contained in this brochure may be contracted through a third party. All trademarks used herein are registered trademarks of Blue Bird Body Company. It is a violation of federal law to reproduce these images without express written permission from Blue Bird Body Company. SB- PROPANEPTBROCHURE-0715 2015 Blue Bird Corporation