• First, the top news yesterday was from our friends at ROUSH CleanTech, who are helping DISH Network add 200 propane-powered vehicles to its fleet. Wow, that will add up to a lot of fuel cost savings and a ton (or should be say literally TONS) of displaced greenhouse gas emissions!

• Ford also announced that it’s offering several new options of propane autogas and natural gas trucks. The industry titan cited increasing demand for alternative fuel fleets.

• Ford also says it believes truck and van sales will get a boost in the coming years.

• Speaking of natural gas: Love’s Travel Stops is planning to open eight new CNG filling stations in Texas. The locations will be in an area known as the “Texas Triangle” along highways between Dallas, Houston and San Antonio.

• Echo Automotive, a technology developer that converts vehicles into fuel-efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrids debuted the first-ever, detailed and full-size “EchoDrive” chassis display.

• Mack Trucks unveiled a new medium-duty truck optimized for municipalities, landscapers and small contractors.

• Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide is now presenting a “bolt-on kit” to convert medium-duty trucks to run on compressed natural gas.

Follow us on Twitter or like our page on Facebook for the latest news affecting your fleet or the alternative fuel industry.

• Fleets in the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program saved $1.62 per gallon on fuel costs last quarter.

• A Georgia school district is very pleased with its propane autogas school buses–so pleased, they’re already considering adding more.

• Alternative fuel vehicles are growing in popularity with Colorado fleets.

• GE has purchased 2,000 Ford C-Max Energi plug-in hybrids for their fleet and will partner with Ford and researchers from Georgia Institute of Technology to study  driver habits with plug-in vehicles.

• Municipal and government fleets in Arizona are looking for ways to save money, including switching to alternative fuel vehicles like propane autogas and natural gas and taking measures for fuel efficiency.

• The police department of La Crosse, Wis., bought five new patrol cars they’re planning to convert to run on propane autogas.

• Those surveyed in the transportation sector say they’re concerned with the impact fuel price volatility will have on their businesses.

Follow us on Twitter or like our page on Facebook for the latest developments affecting your fleet or the alternative fuel industry.

GE Vehicle Innovation Center - Photo via Pioneer Press, courtesy of GE Capital Fleet Services

Big news this week coming out of Eden Prairie, Minnesota: in a major move to encourage more U.S. fleets to utilize domestic alternative fuels, GE Capital Fleet Services has unveiled a clean vehicle technology testing ground for commercial fleets called the “Vehicle Innovation Center.”

The first of its kind, the facility has a half-mile test-drive track, a vehicle center with models from 20 manufacturers of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles, and 6,000 square feet of classrooms and showrooms. Featured vehicles include those powered by propane autogas, electricity, natural gas, hydrogen and more.

America’s fleets are leading the way in adopting alternative fuel technology, and representatives from GE say they’re committed to helping put more of these clean vehicles on the road. Fleet managers from across the country will be invited to test-drive vehicles and learn more about how clean, affordable fuels like autogas can benefit their fleets.

“We believe that businesses, through their company fleets, can lead the way in putting drivers across the country and around the world into cleaner, more productive vehicles,” said Deb Frodl, chief strategy officer for GE Capital Fleet Services. “The best way to accelerate adoption of alternative fuel cars and trucks is to experience them. Once they get behind the wheel, they can see that these vehicles are real and ready for action.”

The opening of this center by such a well-established American corporation like GE is a positive step toward the widespread adoption of alternative fuel vehicles for our nation’s fleets. The more fleet operators are able to experience firsthand the performance and cost-savings benefits of clean vehicle technology, the more they will make the switch American-made fuels like autogas.

Follow @AllianceAutoGas or like us on Facebook to stay updated on more alternative fuel and fleet industry news.

A participant in the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program and an Alliance AutoGas fleet, the Muscogee Sheriff’s Office is saving thousands of dollars each month with autogas. The officers have experienced improved vehicle performance and have applauded the ease of fueling with their onsite Alliance AutoGas fueling station.

Image courtesy of Veolia Transportation

• Veolia Transportation unveiled Baltimore’s first propane autogas taxi fleet at a ceremony last Friday featuring U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Veolia Transportation CEO Mark Joseph, and Stuart Weidie, President of Alliance AutoGas, among others. Veolia is converting 300 taxis nationwide to autogas under the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program.

• Davidson County Transportation in North Carolina is saving thousands on fuel costs after converting 10 buses in their fleet to propane autogas through Alliance AutoGas. Transportation Manager George Hodges says the county saved around $1500 the first month alone, and they plan to convert two larger fleet vehicles to autogas this summer.

• The City of Newport News, Va., is also saving significantly with propane autogas fleet vehicles, including 12 Ford Crown Victorias and 10 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks. A part of the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program, this fleet expects to save around $22,000 annually on fuel costs.

• The ACT Expo is underway in Long Beach, Calif., this week featuring the latest in alternative fuel and green vehicle technology. The propane autogas industry had a strong presence this year, with organizations such as the Propane Education and Research Council, ROUSH CleanTech and Alliance AutoGas partner Blue Star Gas displaying autogas vehicles and speaking at the event. Blue Star brought a propane-powered Ford Expedition and shared knowledge on propane autogas fueling infrastructure.

• Since switching to propane-powered school buses last year, the Mesa school district in Arizona has reported saving $5,600 in fuel costs–or 32 cents less per gallon compared to diesel.

• A “Clean Mobility Center” alternative fuel station has opened in Orange County, selling E85 flex fuel and biodiesel alongside gasoline.

Follow @AllianceAutoGas on Twitter for the latest alternative fuel and fleet industry news updates.

Davidson County Transportation Manager George Hodges says their drivers have been happy with the performance of the autogas vehicles, and that the fleet saved about $1500 on fuel costs the first month of running on autogas. Ten Ford E-450 vans are already converted, with another two larger, 22-passenger vehicles slated for conversion this summer. Davidson County mechanics completed certification training to maintain their autogas vehicles and convert more county fleet vehicles in the future.

Dwayne Childress, Davidson County Purchasing Director, had this to say about the autogas conversions:

“I supported converting our fleet to propane autogas specifically because it’s such a reliable and proven technology. The fact we received a grant from the Solar Center to cover the cost of conversions, paired with the fuel station infrastructure at no additional cost through Alliance AutoGas, made switching to autogas a really good deal.”

Autogas is a cost-effective clean fuel option for fleets who want to start saving on fuel costs right away. The infrastructure and conversion costs for autogas are simply more affordable than other alternative fuels on the market today, and autogas is currently saving fleets around $1.50 per gallon at the pump.

To see if your vehicle make/model can be easily converted to run on propane, check out the Alliance AutoGas website for a full list of EPA certifications. Follow @AllianceAutoGas on Twitter for more alternative fuel updates affecting your fleet.

• The Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program is holding a North Carolina Propane Autogas Roadshow in conjunction with Land-of-Sky Clean Vehicles Coalition at the Biltmore Estate today. Fleets from across the state are discovering the benefits of clean, affordable autogas technology firsthand.

• A new report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration reveals there are currently around 10,000 alternative fuel stations in the U.S. The amount of propane autogas stations is second only to the number of electric charging stations across the country. And while more than half of all natural gas stations are private access only, over 90 percent of propane autogas fuel stations are publicly accessible.

• Construction Equipment magazine explores why propane autogas is the most viable alternative to gasoline and diesel (hint: it’s affordable and available now!).

• Commercial Carrier Journal examines the multiple alternative fuel choices for fleets on the market today that are giving diesel a run for its money, such as CNG, LNG and LPG (autogas).

• Alliance AutoGas partner Blue Star Gas shared autogas expertise for business fleets at a recent GoGreen conference in Seattle.

• Glynn County in Florida is considering switching to propane autogas-powered vehicles to combat high gasoline prices. Smart move, as autogas saves fleets thousands on fuel costs annually while ensuring clean air for the community!

• Hall County, Georgia, is hosting an event called “Georgians Supporting Georgians for a Greener Community” next week to celebrate the Hall County school district for being the first in the state to run their bus fleet on propane autogas.

As always, follow @AllianceAutoGas for the latest news affecting your fleet.

This conference is jam-packed with information for fleet owners and managers interested in switching to alternative fuel, whether to save money on fuel costs or drive cleaner. From heavy-duty trucking to light-duty vehicle fleets, domestic fuels like propane autogas and to electric vehicle technology, the ACT Expo provides a wealth of informative sessions to help fleet operators make the most cost-effective choice when it comes to adopting green vehicles.

Representatives from propane autogas industry organizations Alliance AutoGas partner Blue Star Gas, ROUSH CleanTech and the Propane Education and Research Council will be on hand to discuss how autogas can help fleets cut costs and emissions, while the VP of Schwan’s Home Service is set to speak about their company’s massive propane autogas fleet rollout.

Visit the ACT Expo website for more information, including a complete event agenda and a list of free training sessions, including Propane Autogas 101.

As the ACT Expo website asks: “What role will your fleet, fuel, vehicle, or technology play in the shift towards alternative fuels?”

Be sure to follow @AllianceAutoGas for the latest news affecting your fleet.

Since a majority of the letter is unfortunately located behind a paywall, here is the full text of what Weidie had to say about the misconception of propane autogas prices:

DOE data on gas pricing paints inaccurate picture
I just came across your article about Pittsburgh’s Yellow Cab Co. converting 75 fleet vehicles to run on propane fuel. While it’s fantastic that you’re shedding light on a lesser known domestically produced alternative fuel like propane autogas, it’s important to note the DOE data you reference (listing propane as more expensive than gasoline) is actually skewed for a couple of reasons.

First, the DOE data paints an inaccurate picture of autogas pricing. In surveying propane prices, the data they aggregate includes retail propane prices that are not specific to propane as an engine fuel (propane autogas), so their figures don’t accurately indicate what fleets are paying at the pump.

Because of the volume of propane used in a vehicle fuel applications, propane autogas prices can be significantly lower than the price of propane for more traditional applications (including RV’s and grill cylinders). Establishing an accurate depiction of autogas pricing is something the industry is constantly working to achieve.

And last, propane has a higher octane rating than gasoline, so autogas-powered vehicles exhibit greater fuel efficiency than the DOE data indicates. Since the DOE data strictly compares fuels on a BTU basis, it doesn’t take into account the impact that octane has on efficiency.

Stuart Weidie, founder, Autogas for America, and president, Alliance 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.