•  Aftermarket Business revealed this week how the internal combustion engine is giving the electric vehicle battery a run for its money through engines that run on propane autogas, natural gas or even organic energy.
• NineSigma, an open-innovation services provider, is working with the Propane Education & Research Council to develop several propane safety and education initiatives and new products fueled by propane autogas.
• A Colorado Springs school district is test driving a propane autogas-powered school bus. The bus, which district officials say has fewer emissions and is cheaper to refuel than diesel buses, was first used to transport students last Monday.
• Virginia businesses’ bottom lines are taking a hit in the face of rising gas prices. Luckily, businesses with high-mileage fleets have sustainable fueling alternatives.
• There’s less than two months till the start of the National Propane Gas Association’s (NPGA) Propane Centennial Celebration. The celebration kicks off April 14 with the 2012 NPGA Southeastern Convention & International Propane Expo in Atlanta, Ga., which will feature a parade of autogas vehicles through a city park, followed by ride and drives and product demos
• And finally, a Washington, D.C., fleet is going green with 10 new alternative fuel vehicles.

For more ongoing coverage of fleet and alternative fuel news, check out our Facebook page at facebook.com/allianceautogas and follow us on Twitter at @allianceautogas.

Blue Star Gas, the West Coast flagship fuel provider for Alliance AutoGas, displayed an autogas-powered Ford Expedition at the International Limousine, Charter & Tour (LCT) Show in Las Vegas.

• Gas 2.0 called autogas the “sleeping giant of alternative fuel” for its growing support as an energy source in America. The article underscores the important roles Alliance AutoGas and Autogas for America have played in encouraging the adoption of clean, economical autogas.
• Marc J. Rauch of The Cutting Edge criticized the latest CARB rules in California banning autogas and compressed natural gas conversions, noting that lifting the restrictions would improve the state’s economy and air quality.
• The upcoming NTEA Work Truck Show convention in March will feature a demonstration on how to refuel an autogas vehicle.
• The town of Riverhead, N.Y. is considering converting their fleet vehicles to run on propane autogas.
• Automotive Fleet traces how fleet vehicles selection has evolved over the years.
• An environment article on Take Part ponders whether electric cars are really better for the environment than gasoline vehicles.
• Congress will postpone voting on a controversial transportation and energy bill until after the recess scheduled for next week.

For more fleet and alternative fuel news, follow us on Twitter at @allianceautogas.

Photo: Green Fleet Magazine

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

CNG is a domestically produced fuel that’s cheaper and burns cleaner than gasoline. The lower per-gallon price of CNG makes it an attractive option for many fleets. However, CNG vehicles only achieve about 60 percent of the range of gasoline vehicles, meaning more fill-ups, more vehicle down-time and more money down the drain. Not to mention the high up-front cost of converting the vehicles in the first place, which ranges anywhere between $12,000—$18,000 for light-duty vehicles.

But it’s the fueling station cost that really puts CNG out of reach for many American fleets. According to the DOE, a small, fast-fill CNG station costs about $400,000. Need a medium or large CNG station for your fleet? That’s probably going to run you between $600,000 and a cool $1.7 mil.

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

The electric vehicle industry faces many challenges, from a questionable environmental record (*cough*coal*cough*) to fears that EVs could eventually overburden the electric grid. But one of the biggest strikes against EVs is their high price tag. Not only are the vehicles themselves prohibitively expensive, EV batteries remain one of the most expensive after-warranty parts of the vehicle to replace, with an estimated cost of anywhere from $8,000—$18,000. And with reduced driving range and limited carrying capacity, EV technology is simply impractical for American fleets.

Propane Autogas (You knew we’d get to it, right?)

Autogas is the most immediately available, affordable alternative fuel technology on the market today. Like CNG, autogas costs less per gallon than gasoline, significantly reduces emissions and 90 percent of the U.S. supply is made in America. The lower up-front cost for getting a fleet up and running on autogas is what really sets it apart as a more viable clean fuel. For the price of one CNG station, you can build 10 autogas fueling stations; and two light-duty propane autogas vehicles can be converted for the price of one natural gas-powered vehicle. The Alliance AutoGas complete program will even install a home-base autogas fuel station at no up-front cost, meaning fleets can start saving immediately after switching to autogas.

Visit www.autogasforamerica.org for a wealth of information (which we shamelessly mined for this post) on the benefits of running fleets on affordable, American-made propane autogas.

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.

It’s easy to find AutoGas vehicles in places like Europe and Asia. Car manufacturers have many models, even American car companies, but they remain unwilling to manufacture them here.There is just not enough demand for or knowledge of AutoGas vehicles here. Until then, America will likely not be seeing luxurious, clean AutoGas sports cars like the new Jaguar C-X75.

But you know who will see them? Germany, Poland, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, India, South Korea, Japan, Turkey, Italy… I’m not angry. Just disappointed.

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.

Then in 2010, almost two years after his first article, Antich comes back and writes The Cost of Operating a Fleet Will Increase. Reading this was a bit like watching Sean Connery in Thunderball….then in Never Say Never Again. Do you get what I am saying? They’re basically the same article.

However, like Sean Connery, it was never wrong. But these two articles merely mentioned alternative fuels without much else. Propane has massive potential to combat many of these increased prices and “trends.” Fuel, maintenance, and safety costs are all lowered when switching to AutoGas. There is no longer a need to purchase new vehicles when you can convert. On top of that since propane burns cleaner, the vehicles will last longer.

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.

The article provides just one example of how AutoGas can help a fleet financially, saving tens of thousands of dollars over the long run. Plus, with the environmental benefits of AutoGas you could say London PD is cleaning up the streets in more ways than one (badum cha!…whatever).

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.