1. (a) Alternative fuel school buses shall meet the following requirements:

   1. (1) The chassis shall meet all specifications previously mentioned in bus chassis specifications, 6 CAR § 335-104;
   2. (2) The chassis shall meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS); and
   3. (3) The fuel system integrity shall meet the specified leakage performance standards when impacted by a moving contoured barrier in accordance with test conditions specified in FMVSS No. 301, Fuel System Integrity, or FMVSS No. 303, Fuel System Integrity of Compressed Natural Gas Vehicles, as applicable.

2. (b)

   1. (1) Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and conversion systems using compressed natural gas (CNG) shall comply with National Fire Protection Association Specification 52-2013, Compressed Natural Gas Vehicular Fuel Systems.
   2. (2) Fuel systems using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shall comply with National Fire Protection Association Specification 58-2014, Liquefied Petroleum Gases Engine Fuel Systems.

3. (c)

   1. (1) A fuel tank or tanks for vehicles of less than fifty-four-passenger capacity powered by LPG or CNG shall have a minimum forty-gallon capacity.
   2. (2) A fuel tank or tanks for vehicles of fifty-four (54) or more passenger capacity powered by LPG or CNG shall have a minimum sixty-gallon capacity.

4. (d)

   1. (1) Natural gas-powered buses may be equipped with an interior/exterior gas detection system.
   2. (2) All natural gas-powered buses may be equipped with an automatic or manual fire detection and suppression system.
5. (e) All materials and assemblies used to transfer or store alternative fuels shall be installed outside the passenger/driver compartment.
6. (f) All Types C and D buses using alternative fuels shall meet the same base requirements of bus chassis specifications, 6 CAR § 335-104, for passenger load.
7. (g) The total weight shall not exceed the vehicle’s GVWR when loaded to rated capacity.
8. (h) The manufacturer supplying the alternative fuel equipment must provide the owner and operator with adequate training and certification in fueling procedures, scheduled maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of alternative fuel equipment.

9. (i) All fueling equipment shall be:

   1. (1) Designed specifically for fueling motor vehicles; and
   2. (2) Certified by the manufacturer as meeting all applicable federal, state, and industry standards.
10. (j) All on-board fuel supply containers shall meet all appropriate requirements of the American Society for Mechanical Engineering (ASME) code, United States Department of Transportation regulations or applicable FMVSSs and National Fire Protection Association standards.
11. (k) All fuel supply containers shall be securely mounted to withstand a static force of eight (8) times their weight in any direction.

12. (l)

    1. (1) All safety devices that discharge to the atmosphere shall be vented to the outside of the vehicle.
    2. (2) The discharge line from the safety relief valve on all school buses shall be located in a manner appropriate to the characteristics of the alternative fuel.
    3. (3) Discharge lines shall not pass through the passenger compartment.

13. (m)

    1. (1) CNG buses shall have a positive, quick-acting (one-fourth (1/4) turn) shut-off control valve installed in each gaseous fuel supply line, as close as possible to the fuel supply containers.
    2. (2) The valve controls shall be placed in a location easily operable from the exterior of the vehicle.
    3. (3) The location of the valve controls shall be clearly marked on the exterior surface of the bus.
14. (n) An electrical grounding system shall be required for grounding of the fuel system during maintenance-related venting.
15. (o) Fuel systems identified as compatible with biodiesel must be provided with components compatible with biodiesel conforming to the specifications of ASTM D6751, Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blendstock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels.

16. (p) High voltage-powered vehicles. Buses utilizing a high voltage propulsion system (more than forty-eight (48) nominal volts) shall meet the requirements of FMVSS 305, Electric Powered Vehicles: Electrolyte Spillage and Electrical Shock Protection, except for the following:

    1. (1) The propulsion power source (batteries, fuel cells, etc.) shall be located outside the passenger compartment.
    2. (2) The propulsion power source enclosure shall be constructed to conform to the power source manufacturer’s requirements and recommendations.
    3. (3) Due to the much larger size and quantities of the propulsion power sources on larger vehicles, buses over ten thousand pounds (10,000 lbs.) are permitted to exceed the five liter (5.0 L) spillage constraint of Section 5.1, electrolyte damage from propulsion batteries and the requirements to statically rotate the vehicle on its longitudinal axis post-test.

Codification Notes: “GVWR” means gross vehicle weight rating.