Japan has nearly 300,000 autogas-fueled vehicles, and in some cities, the taxis are still able to cart their passengers around. Our fellow autogas experts over at propane.pro have written an illustrative article on the topic.

Autogas has been around a while in plenty of other countries, too. Turkey, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Mexico all have significant numbers of vehicles that are fueled by autogas. Worldwide, that number has surpassed 15 million vehicles, according to Autogas for America.

In the face of pollution that bogged down the city of Vienna, Austria mere decades ago, that country’s capital city decided to fuel its buses with autogas – and it has made all the difference, according to the World LP Gas Association. “With more than 500 buses from the Viennese public transport fleet running on LPG, our energy makes a significant contribution to this result,” boasts the organization.

The rest of Europe is no couch potato when it comes to autogas, either. Jem Aldridge of the UK autogas supplier Autogas Limited says that “advances are being made in electric vehicles, but these remain limiting in terms of range and their ability to travel long distances. For high mileage users, LPG is the most viable fuel compared to petrol or diesel.” And, it might surprise you that Europe has some 27,000 public autogas refueling stations around the region, adding to the clean-burning fuel’s viability as an alternative to gasoline.

So, you might be wondering, how many autogas vehicles are there in the U.S.? Only about 200,000, according to Alliance AutoGas President Stuart Weidie.

Oh, well. They say the latest trends always start in Japan anyways. Maybe policymakers and the alternative-fuel-conscious public in the U.S. will finally catch on to autogas someday.

Below are links to articles about some of the most recent projects going on across the U.S.

• In Georgia, Muscogee County Sheriff John Darr (it’s German in case you were wondering) is converting 20 of his cruisers to run on autogas. Read more.
• Buncombe County, NC’s public transportation system, Mountain Mobility (…because who wants to walk up a mountain), has converted a quarter of its vehicles to run on autogas.  Read more.
• Thyssenkrupp Elevator -the leader in elevated travel- has begun its own autogas program, unveiling one of their vehicles at the 2010 Green Fleet Conference. With autogas, the sky’s the limit (or at least the top floor). Read more.
• In Frederick County, VA more police vehicles are being converted. The article states that the department will be getting friendlier to the environment- not criminals- by using AutoGas (total ripoff). But how else could they be friendlier, I wonder? Tasers charged by renewable sources. Non-Toxic mace. Biodegradable bullet casings. Make it happen! Read more.
• Recently, a father-daughter team completed a cross-country road trip powered solely by AutoGas, proving that AutoGas can provide an ill-advised, close quarters trip that starts of well and ends with regretful remarks about one another and a trash filled car just like gasoline or diesel. Read more.
• Greenville County, SC is converting 100 of its vehicles to run on autogas. The company converting the vehicles is called Light ‘N’ Up, which is coincidentally the feeling you get when you use autogas. Read more.
• Appropriately named Peninsula Propane of Florida along with Cobb (Salad) and (Lewis) Carroll counties of Georgia  are converting their vehicles to autogas. Read more.
• Portland, Ore. schools are converting their buses to propane because….think of the children! Read more.

What were you expecting me to say?

A story about the vehicles’ extended range – from its unique bi-fuel system using propane AutoGas – leading to an arrest after a 400 mile high-speed chase through streets of Atlanta before ending in a shootout with armed suspects carrying a weapons cache in their backseat of their vehicle – that ran out of gas- as the officers took refuge behind their extremely puncture resistant tank located inside the vehicle that still allowed them to drive the suspects back to the precinct after the day’s unbelievable circumstance because the clean-burning fuel ensured a healthy engine that can run long after its expected lifetime?

You can tell it's high-speed becuase it's blurry

Well, I’m sorry. I don’t have that for you. I want that too. But all I have is a story about how one Sheriff’s efforts and leadership will save thousands of dollars for the citizens in his county while simultaneously protecting their health…for now.

Until the great AutoGas chase occurs, read the full story about Sheriff Darr of Georgia and his department’s new vehicles here.

Every two years the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium (NAFTC) puts on Odyssey Day, a National Alternative Fuel Vehicle Day, educating the public on Alternative Fuel Vehicle technologies. The single day event is hosted at locations all across the nation, allowing for ultimate exposure.

Propane AutoGas will be just one of many AFV technologies showcased at this event. Visit the Odyssey Day website to learn more and find locations.

However, if you said that both signed contracts that would forever change the rest of the nation’s perception of Indiana, then…that’s a really good guess because you are correct.

Alliance AutoGas has been awarded a $3.2 million contract to create an AutoGas fueling infrastructure throughout the state while simultaneously converting vehicles from the Indiana state fleet. This will allow any propane vehicle to travel across the state without fear of the fuel gauge reaching empty while cutting fuel and vehicle costs for the state of Indiana.

This is just one of many alternative fuel vehicle programs that is taking place across the nation, and propane AutoGas is a major part. It’s already easier to travel around using AutoGas than any other alternative fuel,  and it’s only a matter of time until it is just as easy to travel on AutoGas as it is gasoline or diesel.

Click here to read Bruce Smith’s article about the Indiana propane AutoGas program in the Indianapolis Star.

Pretty pitiful, huh? Double! Where were we? America loves double. What do they know that we don’t? Could it be all of the benefits of simple, clean and cheap propane? Probably. This is why fleets are so important. Many of these numbers are due directly to fleets. Japan, although not included on the chart, requires all taxis to run on propane. These countries, like the U.S., have many credits and initiatives pushing alternative fuels and it’s working. Fleets will have the easiest experience switching and the most to gain.

The more people that use it, the more benefits there will be when the government sees it is working. Then we can continue to drive our cars free from high prices, pollution and dependence on foreign oil.

To learn more about these workshops and see webcasts from previous cities visit the Alternative Fuel Trade Alliance website. Visit www.autogasusa.org to learn about PERC and its efforts to spread AutoGas.

Read the original and other great posts at Fleet Daily.

The second certification comes from the California Air Resources Board (C.A.R.B.). C.A.R.B. certification tends to be a bit more elusive. They require more tests, data and I assume bureaucracy than EPA certification and can be stricter in some of their requirements. Other states are jumping on board, and they are adopting these regulations. I assume it’s because eventually everyone wants to seem cool, and let’s face it-California is cool. They have celebrities. Or maybe certain states looked at the picture below and decided, “If it works for them then it will probably work for us.” But I am not here to speculate on reasons (I know it’s because of celebrities). I am here to shed some light on this confusing world of alternative fuels.

California: They need everything they can get

I have compiled for your reading pleasure (but mostly so you don’t have to look it up) a list of states that have adopted C.A.R.B. regulations. If your state is listed below then you will need to check with any dealers or conversion centers about the laws and whether they have the right certifications.

The LIST:

Arizona

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Maine

Massachusetts

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Utah

Washington

There is no fuel out there that is perfect or releases zero emissions. Unless you have a motor vehicle that can run on wind power (we are so close) or happy thoughts, there will be emissions at least until we find that perfect fuel. However, that is no reason to give up or say it’s not worth it.

Alternative fuels such as propane provide a much cleaner experience not only saving you money but your health and the world around you. Lucky for you, I will keep the list of benefits very short to save you more reading.

• 28% reduction in Carbon Monoxide
• 35.6% reduction in Hydrocarbons
• 3.7% reduction in NOx
• 16% reduction in Carbon Dioxide

Propane is also non-toxic and insoluble in water. This way after you save money by converting to AutoGas, you can spend it on something other than an oxygen tank and hospital bills.

Carbon Dioxide

Finally, we come to the end of this depressing list.

Once again…

Where does it come from?

Basically everywhere- like breathing, which is why the new Federal car emission standards require you to hold your breath while you drive unless you convert to a cleaner fuel…just kidding…maybe.

In this instance Carbon Dioxide is a major component of vehicle exhaust.

Why is it bad?

While Carbon Dioxide is not deadly to humans to breathe, it is believed to be a contributor to global warming and climate change.

At least it's not as cold outside...