• Experts from Alliance AutoGas and ROUSH CleanTech recently spoke with a couple Georgia city and county governments about the benefits of running vehicles on propane autogas.

• The Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition is teaming up once again with the team from the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program to present a propane autogas roadshow June 20 in Montgomery.

• How is FedEx reducing its fuel use and emissions?

• A GE Capital Fleet Services survey finds that driver safety is a number one concern among fleet managers.

• Propane autogas vehicle technology was in the spotlight at last week’s Police Fleet Expo in Fort Worth, Texas. Operating on autogas can save law enforcement fleets thousands on fuel costs annually, in addition to the increased vehicle range offered with bi-fuel autogas systems.

• A California transit fleet has introduced new hybrid diesel electric buses to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.

• A city in Alabama is switching to biodiesel fuel to power heavy equipment, and expects to save $10k per year in tax credits for using alternative fuel.

• Meanwhile, the Wilmington International Airport has saved about 8 percent on energy costs by greening its operations, including running mowers on clean propane.

• An alternative fuel roadshow is headed to Georgia from 9 a.m.-noon June 13 at Savannah Technical College.

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Sheriff Van Duncan accepted the Clean Air Excellence award during a WNCRAQA board meeting May 14 at the agency’s office in Asheville. The sheriff’s fleet is saving more than $13k annually and displacing 20 tons of greenhouse gas emissions running 10 cruisers on propane autogas since February 2012.

Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan accepts the Clean Air Excellence Award, along with Steve Whaley from Alliance AutoGas.

Buncombe County considered the reduction in the fleet’s overall carbon footprint as well as fuel cost savings and vehicle performance when it came to choosing an alternative fuel. Switching to propane autogas was an ideal choice to support the sheriff office’s mission to clean up the community and create a better environment for future generations. Autogas is significantly cleaner than gasoline or diesel, and U.S. fleets currently save upwards of $2 per gallon filling up with autogas versus gasoline.

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“By using American-made clean fuels for transportation, we can reduce the supply disruption and price volatility that come with reliance on foreign oil,” says Stuart Weidie, founder of Autogas for America and president of Alliance AutoGas. “Improving national security and stabilizing the cost of transportation is a critical next step for America’s growth. Propane autogas is a proven fuel that can help to meet our country’s transportation needs. It’s American made, cost $1.50 less per gallon than gasoline, and it’s immensely practical for America’s transportation sector–all while reducing harmful emissions by 30 percent compared to gasoline.”

Check out the full video below, and be sure to visit the Alliance AutoGas YouTube channel to learn more about propane autogas for fleets.

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• Alliance AutoGas welcomed Ohio-based Arrick’s Propane, which will provide clean propane autogas fueling and conversions to fleets in three states.

• A dry cleaners in Georgia is the first in the Columbus area to go green with propane-powered service vehicles.

• Mississippi’s governor signed several energy bills this week, some of which are related to alternative fuel vehicles.

• The UPS fleet’s shift to more natural gas vehicles will impact regional automotive and clean fuel businesses as well.

• Metro magazine has an update on a Kansas government fleet’s conversion to autogas.

• Rutgers held an alternative fuel conference this week for industry experts to discuss the use of clean fuels to help reduce pollution and save energy.

• Colorado vehicle fleets are now required to purchase alternative fuel vehicles as part of their usual vehicle replacement programs.

• The federal government plans to double its hybrid vehicle fleet.

• The Appling County Board of Education in Georgia announced it has obtained two Blue Bird propane autogas-fueled school buses, which should save the school district around $51,000 in fuel costs over the lifetime of the vehicles.

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• The Polk County Police Department converted 10 cruisers to propane autogas through Alliance AutoGas, saving the fleet $47,000 in fuel costs annually.

• The general manager of Olympic Pool Plastering in Georgia discusses how running his fleet vehicles on autogas helps his company promote clean air and save on fuel costs.

• Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in northern Michigan is deploying two propane autogas pick-up trucks and three Chevrolet Volt plug-in electric vehicles, and will also install on-site charging and fueling stations for the vehicles.

• A city in Ohio is converting 12 vehicles to propane autogas. The city fleet has more than 300 vehicles in its fleet; and if the process of converting vehicles to autogas is successful, they plan to add more kits to other vehicles in the future.

• ROUSH CleanTech will begin production on the new multipurpose Ford F-650 propane autogas fuel system this October.

• LP Gas Magazine offers highlights from last weekend’s Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo.

• The Propane Education and Research Council discussed clean propane autogas technology at the convention and expo in Atlanta.

• Auto dealers in the U.S. have “issues” with a proposed alternative fuel vehicle tax credit.

• The Motley Fool takes a look at which states are the most “alternative fuel-friendly.”

• Tax credits for alternative fuel vehicles head to the Colorado Senate.

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The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office converted 10 Ford Crown Victorias to run on autogas with funding through the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program, which administered by Virginia Clean Cities. The new clean vehicles will not only displace 20 tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, they will also save the county more than $13,000 annually on fuel costs. Each year, the sheriff’s cruisers travel an average of almost 25,000 miles and will use around 17,000 gallons of propane autogas.

From the article:

“We were looking at two main things when it came to switching to alternative fuel vehicles,” said Buncombe County Sheriff Van Duncan. “We wanted to boost our bottom line in terms of fuel cost savings and also have cleaner-burning cars on the road.”

Propane autogas was the practical fuel choice, he added, because it supports these goals and utilizes an American-made fuel. Plus, there isn’t a noticeable difference in vehicle performance other than the “motor runs a little quieter” on autogas.

Alliance AutoGas provides vehicle conversions and fueling for fleets in the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program. Sheriff Duncan is particularly pleased with the bi-fuel Prins VSI (Vapor Sequential Injection) autogas conversion systems, distributed by Alliance in the U.S.

“The ability to switch back to gasoline is a tremendous option for law enforcement fleets,” said Sheriff Duncan. “It’s just one button on the center of the dash and you’re back to running on gasoline.”

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office will be recognized with a Clean Air Excellence Award from the Western North Carolina Regional Air Quality Agency May 14 in Asheville, N.C.

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• Alliance AutoGas welcomed two new certified conversion centers to the growing network: Dave Jones, Inc. and the Fillback Family of Dealerships. Both based in Wisconsin, these companies will work with Alliance fuel provider Charter Fuels to help local fleets switch to autogas through vehicle conversions, fueling, fuel station installation, safety training and support.

• This article offers an update on the Springfield, Ill., fleet that’s converting to propane autogas.

• The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles will host its first public symposium about alternative fuels called “Why Alt Fuels Now” on April 18, 2013. The event will feature a showcase of clean fuel vehicles from 10:00a.m. to 5:00p.m.

• There’s a new bi-fuel compressed natural gas option on the market: AGA Systems announced it has received EPA certification for its DuraDrive bi-fuel CNG system.

• The city of Temple, Texas, is switching 11 more fleet vehicles to autogas.

• Alternative fuel trucks were on display last week in Alabama.

• According to the New York Times, new EPA emissions rules may be putting some alternative fuel vehicles “in a bind.”

• The program coordinator for the Greater Baton Rouge Clean Cities Coalition sat down for an interview with the Advocate about the future of alternative fuels in the region.

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• As we blogged about earlier this week, Alliance AutoGas launched a new video series to educate America’s fleets about the benefits of operating on clean, affordable propane autogas.

• President Obama has proposed diverting $2 billion in revenue from federal oil and gas royalties over the next decade to pay for advanced technology vehicle research.

• Things are heating up a bit in Oregon this week as the Senate hears arguments both for and against extending the “sunset clause” on the Clean Fuels Program.

• A Sustainable Energy Conference is coming to Raleigh, N.C. this April.

• Some see “short-term pain but long-term gain” in running fleets on natural gas.

• A new report from the EPA cites significant gains in fuel economy for 2012.

• The Denver Auto Show is being held this week. This article explores natural gas vehicle use by fleets vs. consumers.

• AAA will offer a roadside charging service for electric vehicles in Washington state.

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• Blue Star Gas helped a medical transit fleet in Salem switch five vans to run on clean, affordable propane autogas through the Alliance AutoGas program.

• As the provider of vehicle conversions and fueling for fleets in the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program (administered by the folks at Virginia Clean Cities), Alliance has also helped the Buncombe County Sheriff’s fleet save thousands on fuel costs with 10 autogas cruisers.

• The state of Virginia approved a new transportation plan this weekend, moving away from reliance on the gasoline tax.

• Brunswick County in North Carolina is testing out two autogas-powered buses to evaluate how they run and how much money they will save.

• Attention all fleets and drivers in Tennessee: there’s an alternative fuel vehicle roadshow coming your way March 12-26. Alliance AutoGas will be there showcasing clean propane autogas vehicle technology and answering questions.

• Chenango Forks Central School District in Binghamton, N.Y. just voted to add propane-powered buses to its fleet.

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Willamette Valley Transport vans travel around 25,000-30,000 miles each year serving patients throughout Marion, Polk and Yamhill counties in Oregon. Drivers take patients to doctors’ office visits and transport them home from the hospital. Owner Timothy McClain decided to begin switching his fleet to clean propane autogas because it’s a dependable clean fuel that will also save money at the pump.

“Our customers depend on us for reliable service for their medical transportation needs, so we wanted a fuel that offered high performance at a lower cost than gasoline,” says McClain.

Blue Star Gas is helping WVT make the switch through the Alliance AutoGas complete program of vehicle conversions, clean fueling, training and ongoing support. Running two Ford E-250s and three Chevy Express 3500s on propane autogas, WVT expects to save $18,000 on fuel costs annually, and an additional $8,400 in federal alternative fuel tax credits. McClain plans to switch a total of 10 vans to autogas; and once all are up and running, the fleet will save an estimated $36,000 annually on fuel costs and an extra $16,800 with the tax credit.

“Switching vans to propane autogas with the help of Blue Star Gas has been a great experience. We’re already reducing our fuel costs by running on autogas instead of gasoline, and expect even greater savings as we convert more fleet vehicles to this clean fuel.”

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