Problems worked out for CNG bus

Opens up options for Highway 50 corridor

by Mark Reaman

It appears that after several visits to the valley, engineers from engine manufacturer Cummins have solved the software issues with the compressed natural gas (CNG) bus and the vehicle has been running trouble free for about a week.

The CNG bus is part of the Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority (RTA) fleet that transports riders between Gunnison and Mt. Crested Butte. The CNG bus has been in the valley since May 2017 and was fueled for the first time in late July but had not operated without engine misfiring problems until November 16.

Engineers were worried that the fuel being used was a form of methane that was too pure, but after adjusting the software in the bus, the engine was able to accommodate the CNG. The RTA had been in contact with and was prepared to lease a diesel bus from the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) if the problems with the CNG bus could not be solved. But after a week of running up and down the valley, the issues appear to be in the past and no lease with RFTA will be necessary.

RTA executive director Scott Truex said the situation was not a simple fix. He said the RTA is very grateful for the teamwork that enabled this problem to get solved. Alpine Express led and coordinated much of the effort that included the county and the state along with the engineers, the fuel supplier (Trillium), and the bus manufacturer (MCI).

“It took a team to figure out the issue and solve it and everyone was dedicated to finding a solution,” Truex said. “Our partnership with Gunnison County and the state of Colorado to get this station up and running will now enable Highway 50 to be open to CNG traffic. This was part of the governor’s initiative on CNG and opening Highway 50 was a statewide goal. Up until now, I-70 was the only option to get across the state in a CNG vehicle and if it was closed, CNG traffic would have to wait for it to reopen. Now, there is an option.”

Truex said that ultimately converting the RTA fleet of buses from diesel to CNG would be a tremendous benefit to the local environment. “Each converted bus is the equivalent of 12 fewer cars on the road,” he said. “The fuel we are using is derived from 100 percent organic waste. Plus, one final benefit is that the RTA will now show substantial savings on the cost of fuel.”

The CNG bus is one of seven in the RTA fleet. It carries 57 passengers per trip. The overall plan is to replace four more of the diesel buses with CNG over the next three or four years. Ultimately, the RTA plan is to have five CNG and two diesel buses.