Alliance AutoGas, ROUSH Cleantech and Force 911 propane autogas trucks at the Chattanooga roadshow.

• The Tennessee Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow kicked off this week in Kingsport, and Alliance AutoGas and Force 911 were there to display clean propane autogas vehicles. Alliance’s own autogas expert Steve Whaley spoke with a local news reporter in Knoxville about the benefits of operating fleet vehicles on affordable, American-made autogas.

• A Georgia school district is enjoying the cost savings of operating on autogas.

• A town in New York state will test out propane autogas vehicles.

• A new propane autogas dispenser was unveiled at the Midwest Propane Gas Convention this week.

• Fleet Owner magazine questions what alternative fuel technologies have the “legs to last long-term.”

• In the battle of the plug-ins, GM is winning out over Nissan: the Chevy Volt outsold the Nissan Leaf last year.

• How the “fracking boom” could transform the U.S. transportation industry.

• The University of Iowa bus fleet has had to raise prices for its transit fares and passes for the first time in 15 years due to rising gasoline prices. Sounds like they could benefit from a switch to alternative fuel!

• Speaking of which, Alliance AutoGas welcomed an Iowa farmers co-op called Key Cooperative this week, to bring more propane autogas vehicles to the Midwest.

• The House Transportation Committee in Vermont is recommending a gasoline tax hike.

• The City of Trussville, Ala., is getting a new CNG fueling station this week–only the 5th CNG station in the state and one of only 566 nationwide.

• A new Advanced Technology Transportation Center at an Oregon college will train students to maintain alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, as well as to perform propane autogas and CNG vehicle conversions.

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Force 911 and Alliance AutoGas-branded propane autogas trucks

“The Department of Energy had $300 million that they funded projects all of the United States. We did a project of 1,200 vehicles and the city of Kingsport was part of that project,” says Steve Whaley with Alliance AutoGas, who outfitted the Kingsport fleet.

It was an effort at saving fuel costs for the city as well as the obvious environmental concerns. “As we’ve seen in the last few months the volatility of ten-cent everyday increases in gasoline at the pumps. Propane didn’t actually do that. So currently we’re paying $1.50 for propane and $3.01 for gasoline,” city fleet manager Steve Hightower said.

The fact is that these vehicles are known as bi-fuel. You have your choice: gas or propane. “These are bi-fuel systems so nothing changes on the existing gasoline-powered system. What we do is overlay an additional fueling system, the propane system. So you can literally push a button and run on propane or push a button and run on a gasoline system,” Whaley said.

Steve Whaley of Alliance AutoGas discusses propane autogas for fleets during the Knoxville alternative fuel vehicle roadshow.

Alliance AutoGas and vehicle conversion center partner Force 911 are participating in the TN roadshows to display autogas vehicle technology for fleets and discuss the benefits of running on this clean fuel. The roadshow is in Knoxville today and will stop in Chattanooga Thursday. Visit the official alt fuel roadshow website for a complete list of events and additional details, including registration.

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