As many fleet managers interested in alternative fuels have probably learned, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) didn’t exactly make things easy on vehicle conversion equipment providers in the past. Autogas conversion partnerships like Alliance AutoGas provide fleets with a solution that takes the logistical intricacies of switching to an alternative fuel off of the fleet manager’s to-do list. However, conversion system providers like Alliance had the onus for getting any given conversion system EPA-approved every year for the same vehicle make, model, and model year. No matter the age of the vehicle, no matter if the conversion system components stayed the same from one year to the next.

This meant a brand new 2010 Ford F-150 would have the same certification rules that applied to a much older model year vehicle, and both would have to jump through the same hoops every year. This struck many people as, well, kind of unnecessary.

Getting to the point, since alternative fuel conversion system certifications for “new” (2010 and after) vehicle models is needed only once now, what does this mean for the autogas industry going forward? More choices, more solutions, and most importantly, more clean-burning autogas vehicles on the road. We’d expect increased competition in the autogas industry and the after-market vehicle conversion sector as a whole – which isn’t a bad thing.

The EPA’s rule changes reduce the hurdles for getting certifications, which in turn increases availability of alternative fuel conversion systems. This, along with growing demand among fleets for alternative fuels due to higher gasoline and diesel prices, points to one probable conclusion: sure, any one company or solution provider might have to fight to keep their slice of the alternative fuel pie, but that pie is set to get a lot whole lot bigger for everyone.

• Alliance AutoGas, Roush CleanTech, and other autogas industry leaders showed off their wares at the Washington D.C. Auto Show. Politics and cars galore…and don’t forget about Snooki!
• Roush CleanTech is negotiating with chip giant Frito-Lay to convert up to 2000 of their fleet vehicles to run on autogas.
• Blue Star Gas opened Medford, Ore.’s first 24 hour, 7 days a week propane autogas station, meaning area fleets don’t have any more reasons for not saving up to 35% on their fuel costs by switching to autogas.
• PBS Show “MotorWeek” featured autogas vehicles on its program back in January. Watch the clip here.
• German engineering shows off autogas’ sexier side by creating the world’s fastest autogas vehicle in BMW’s Hurricane M5 GS.

The acquisition fits in with the Mississippi-based propane retailer’s goal of creating an autogas corridor along the southeastern coastal states up to the Washington D.C. area. The company was awarded $8.6 million in federal funds to spearhead the conversion of traditionally-fueled vehicles to propane autogas and to build a broader autogas fueling infrastructure across the region.

Blossman’s acquisition of this relatively small dealer with high growth potential not only demonstrates the company’s expansion, but the use of autogas in the region as well. David Reynolds, Blossman’s chief operations officer, said that he sees fleets of the Alexander City area as ready to make the switch to alternative fuels like autogas.

Read the Sun Herald’s full coverage of the acquisition here.

Last month, the company finalized plans to extend its line of Chevy Express and GMC Savanna full-sized vans to include LPG and CNG-powered options.

“We recognize the value in providing our fleet and commercial customers with a range of fuel saving and alternative fuel technologies,” said Joyce Mattman, director of commercial product and specialty vehicles, GM Fleet and Commercial Operations.

An important development for fleets interested in a propane Autogas solution, GM’s investment into the technology puts the company back into the class of automotive trendsetters once again.

“The CNG and LPG additions are part of GM’s expanding alternative fuel portfolio,” said Mattman of the new additions.

It seems that market forces are finally catching up to the available technology that uses more efficient fuels.

Mattman agrees, commenting that “this is an exciting new territory to be working in because today’s technology is allowing us to provide our customers with more services than ever before.”

The models are expected to be available starting in 2011.

See the full article here