• An Oregon sheriff fleet expects to save thousands with 10 new propane cruisers.

• The Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow is making its way through Georgia over the next couple of weeks, featuring vehicles that run on propane autogas, natural gas, biofuels and electricity.

• The Flint Mass Transportation Authority is working with Crystal Flash, which is part of Alliance AutoGas, to switch 57 buses to run on autogas. They hope to have 92 clean buses by the fall.

• States are increasingly hitting owners of alternative fuel vehicles with extra taxes to offset decreasing gasoline tax revenues.

• A conference in Houston, Texas, this week focused on alternative fuel fleets.

• The largest school district in Arizona will have nearly 90 propane-powered buses in its fleet soon. According to School Transportation News: “The district said it is saving more than $0.37 per mile in operating costs and with the new buses expects to save $4.43 million in total operating costs over a five-year period.”

• The price for used Nissan Leafs is expected to fall.

• This Forbes article poses the question: should we be turning natural gas into gasoline?

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• 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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• Last week, Alliance AutoGas announced the addition of new Canadian partner Canwest Propane. The network now serves all of Canada with the only complete program for switching fleets to autogas.

• Here’s a great article about ROUSH CleanTech and propane autogas OEM options for fleets.

• Declines in driving is continuing to complicate vehicle taxes that fund transportation infrastructure.

• Meanwhile, a State Senator from Atlantic City is working to ensure owners of alternative-fuel vehicles fairly contribute to maintaining state bridges and roads.

• Propane autogas has been making headlines in Maine as the first autogas station in the state opened this week.

• The city of La Porte, Ind., has added to autogas-powered vehicles to its fleet.

• High gasoline prices are continuing to hit fleets like taxi cab companies.

• Halliburton just deployed 100 light-duty natural gas-powered trucks in its fleet.

• A North Carolina school bus fleet is test-driving clean autogas buses.

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Clean Energy Economy for the Region (CLEER) will manage the project and provide training for regional Clean Cities organizations such as Denver Metro Clean Cities, Garfield Clean Energy in Garfield County, Northern Colorado Clean Cities in Fort Collins and Southern Colorado Clean Cities in Colorado Springs. These local organizations will enlist fleets to participate in the Refuel Colorado Fleets project, which will encompass at least seven communities across Colorado. Once the communities are selected, the trained energy coaches from Clean Cities will work with local government and business fleets to help them with purchasing alternative fuel vehicles and improving fleet efficiency.

“Helping local communities make more widespread use of alternative vehicle fuel technologies also helps drive economic development,” said Alice Laird, executive director of CLEER. “This project will help Colorado speed up our transition to domestic vehicle fuels, building business and jobs.”

The $225,000 Refuel Colorado Fleets project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and does not include funds for fueling stations, charging stations or alternative fuel vehicles.The Colorado Energy Office also plans to provide public information through web tools, support stakeholder initiatives to remove barriers to alternative fuel adoption, and incorporate alternative fuel vehicles in the state fleet.

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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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Until then, here’s your weekly collection of the top alternative fuel news headlines:

• The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has issued its annual alternative fuel vehicle data set…for 2011. Better late than never? Natural gas, ethanol and propane autogas were the top three most-consumed alternative fuels.

• Williamson County, Texas, is saving $73,000 annually operating 36 fleet vehicles on autogas. Their story is part of the Fueling Texas campaign from the Propane Council of Texas to educate fleets across the state about the benefits of operating on autogas.

• A New York school district is considering adding Blue Bird propane-powered buses to its fleet.

• The Chicago Tribune offers a few simple fuel economy tips for drivers.

• Is turning cow manure into natural gas the future of clean energy?

• A local FedEx Ground delivery fleet in South Carolina is running on autogas.

• Affordable electric vehicles are still not a reality.

• The Monticello Police Department in Iowa is considering the switch to propane autogas.

• TransEnergy Solutions and the Propane Education & Research Council are hosting a Green Transportation Conference in Denver April 30.

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Here are the top five reasons fueling fleets with propane autogas is a piece of cake:

1) Affordable onsite fueling stations
Because switching to alternative fuel shouldn’t be a hassle, Alliance AutoGas will provide onsite fueling at a fleet’s home base at no upfront cost to make the transition to autogas a seamless process. Installing propane autogas infrastructure is much more affordable compared to compressed natural gas: 15 to 20 autogas stations can be built for the cost of a single CNG station!

2) Safe and easy refueling
Autogas fueling is easy with no-spill, zero-emission equipment that operates similar to a gasoline fuel pump and also takes a similar amount of time to dispense. Alliance AutoGas provides staff safety training as part of its complete program, educating drivers and other staff on how to effectively operate and refuel their new clean vehicles. Autogas vehicle tanks are also 20 times more puncture resistant than gasoline tanks, and propane autogas is nontoxic, nonpoisonous, and has the lowest flammability range of any alternative fuel–even lower than gasoline.

 
3) Year-round fuel supply
Alliance AutoGas keeps fleets up and running on propane autogas with a guaranteed year-round fuel supply through its network of experienced fuel providers. Fleets can conveniently fuel vehicles at their home base and save upwards of $2 per gallon on fuel compared to gasoline.

4) Versatile bi-fuel autogas systems
Converting vehicles to run on propane autogas through the Prins VSI autogas system is an attractive option for many fleets because it offers versatility and peace of mind. For example, if the autogas tank happens to run low out of range of a fuel station, drivers can switch to gasoline with the push of a button. This eliminates what’s commonly known as “range anxiety” among drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles, which is especially important for high-mileage and law enforcement fleets. Also, the bi-fuel autogas systems can be switched from older, retiring vehicles to newer models with similar engines in practically no time.

5) Widespread network of fuel stations nationwide
There are already more than 2,500 propane autogas fueling stations already in place throughout the U.S.–including more than 2,000 public stations–a number that continues to grow as more fleets adopt this viable clean fuel. Visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s website to find an alternative fueling station near you.

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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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That’s why the experts at Alliance AutoGas and vehicle conversion center Force 911 are hosting a monthly webinar series to offer firsthand insight on how fleets can easily switch to propane autogas. If you operate a light-or- medium-duty car, truck or van fleet and are looking to reduce your fuel costs without sacrificing power or performance, you’ll definitely want to “tune in” and find out more about autogas.

The April webinar is today at 2pm ET, and participants can register here to listen in. Panelists, who will gladly answer any questions, will discuss topics like fuel cost savings of filling up with autogas versus gasoline and safety concerns of propane vehicles. Participants will also hear directly from the Sandy Springs Police Department in Georgia, which has successfully implemented autogas police cruisers. Sandy Springs recently switched 25 Ford Crown Victoria cruisers to autogas, saving more than $11,000 in fuel costs and displacing nearly 10 tons of greenhouse gas emissions over a period of three months.

“The City of Sandy Springs needed a reliable fuel source in case of natural disasters, and propane autogas offers the most viable combination of an American-made clean fuel that also helps reduce our fuel budget,” said Captain Bart Humble. “Because of the rising cost of gasoline, our fleet fuel costs nearly doubled in six years. Now, we’re saving $1.70 per gallon or more filling up our patrol cars with autogas.”

Autogas is more affordable to implement and offers better range compared to other alternative fuels like compressed natural gas. Humble said there’s “no comparison between propane autogas and compressed natural gas.”

“We tested CNG vehicles when I was in another department, and the performance was not nearly like running on autogas,” he said. “You had to refill every 100 miles, and the trunk space was nonexistent. With autogas vehicles, you have a very similar experience to driving traditional gasoline vehicles, and my officers can still carry around the equipment they need.”

Missed this month’s webinar? Not to worry–catch the next free propane autogas webinar next month on Tuesday, May 7.
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• A lawn and landscaping company in Missouri saved around $10,000 over the past year operating propane mowers.

• A county in West Virginia plans to compare fleet vehicles that run on propane autogas versus compressed natural gas.

• You can register here for the upcoming Energy Independence Summit 2013, where the nation’s Clean Cities coordinators and clean transportation experts will discuss the future of alternative fuel vehicles in the U.S.

• The Mass Transportation Authority in Michigan just received its first four of 60 total new propane autogas fleet vehicles. MTA originally considered CNG vehicles, but it would have required spending more money on special storage and fueling facilities.

• We’re seeing a trend pop up time and again in the news headlines, first with state governments and now the federal government as well: how do we pay for transportation infrastructure traditionally funded by the gasoline tax, when more and more people are driving less overall and driving alternative fuel vehicles more? Problem is, no one wants to punish drivers who choose clean fuel and advanced technology vehicles by taxing them, but the funds have to come from somewhere! Expect to see more legislation to solve this issue making the news in 2013.

• U.S. truckers say natural gas vehicles are too pricey.

• The West Allegheny school district in the Pittsburgh area plans to begin incorporating propane-powered school buses in their fleet.

• The City of Temple, Texas, is adding 11 clean propane autogas vehicles to their fleet, which already includes five autogas vehicles.

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