• The Alternative Clean Transportation conference and exhibition is being held June 24-27 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and Embassy Suites in Washington D.C. The Expo Hall is free and open to the public June 26-27. Alliance AutoGas president and CEO Stuart Weidie will speak as part of a panel on alternative fuel infrastructure Wednesday afternoon. His presentation, “The Cost-Effectiveness of Propane Autogas Refueling Infrastructure, Present and Future,” will offer expert insight on how fleets can switch to clean fuel at little to no upfront cost.

• A Lead The Way propane autogas event is scheduled for the afternoon of Monday, June 24 by the Propane Education & Research Council, an ACT Expo presenting sponsor. Mike Barrett, regional maintenance director of Veolia Transportation, will share his firsthand hand experience with switching a nationwide taxi fleet to autogas through Alliance AutoGas, as part of the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program. The Clean Cities Annual Stakeholders Event is also being held that day.

• As we’ve mentioned previously, the Georgia Alternative Fuel Vehicle Roadshow is traveling around this month, with stops this week in Savannah, Augusta, Valdosta and Columbus. Fleets interested in learning more about a variety of domestic clean fuel options should attend a roadshow to learn from the experts and test drive a vehicle.

• The 2013 National Sheriff’s Association Annual Conference is being held June 20-26 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, N.C. Law enforcement officers from across the country will gather to learn the latest trends and technologies available, including clean fuel vehicles powered by propane autogas.

• June 20 also marks the kicks off the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program’s Propane Autogas Roadshow series. The first roadshow is being held in Montgomery, Ala., and is free and open to the public, with registration. Hosted by the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition, participants include Alliance AutoGas, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, PERC, as well as propane-powered fleets such as Lewis Pest Control, Lee County and Community Counseling Services. Industry experts will discuss operating both vehicle fleets and lawn and landscape equipment on clean, affordable propane autogas.

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• 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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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office will reduce its fuel costs by more than $20,000 annually with the new propane-powered patrol cars. Conversions and fueling are provided through Alliance AutoGas, with West Coast flagship fuel provider Blue Star Gas at the helm. Converted vehicles include seven Ford Crown Victorias, two Chevy Tahoes and one Ford F-350 pickup truck.

Sergeant Mark Garton of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said they were looking for a way to save money on the fuel costs since patrol cars average almost 25,000 miles each year. Now, not only will officers save money on fuel costs at the pump, there’s also a 50-cent-per-gallon federal alternative fuel tax credit that will go back into the pocket of the county–and back to services that benefit taxpayers.

Deputies haven’t detected any loss in vehicle performance with the propane-powered cruisers, and they’re also enjoying the versatility offered by the bi-fuel Prins VSI autogas system Alliance AutoGas uses for vehicle conversions.

“The ability to switch back to gasoline is a tremendous option for our fleet because in an emergency situation, we not only have a full tank of propane but also a backup full tank of gasoline,” said Sergeant Garton.

For more first-hand fleet testimonials from other propane autogas fleets, visit the Alliance AutoGas website.

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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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• 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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• 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.

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• Alliance AutoGas welcomed Lampton-Love this week, a Southeast U.S. propane retailer that will provide the Alliance complete program to fleets in Tennessee and Louisiana.

• Gasoline prices have been rising steadily for more than a month–and counting! Could mean record highs for 2013, which is bad news for fleets that depend on traditional gasoline-powered vehicles for transportation.

• ROUSH CleanTech is providing three new propane-powered Ford trucks, including the Ford F-59, F-53 and E-450.

• A Minnesota company is helping area fleets enjoy the benefits of running on autogas.

• The Governor of Connecticut is calling for a more comprehensive energy strategy, including the use of alternative fuel vehicles.

• The City of Phoenix will add 120 new CNG buses to their Valley Metro fleet. Meanwhile, a city in Iowa is testing out CNG with two initial vehicle conversions.

• And, finally, check out this video about the new Unified Government propane autogas fleet in Kansas, which is expected to save about $133,000 annually on fuel costs with 13 vehicles.

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Each session will cover the details of converting to propane autogas for an array of industries, including law enforcement fleets, lawn and landscaping companies, public transportation fleets, taxis and limousines, HVAC companies and many more. Hear experts from Alliance AutoGas discuss the only complete program to switch fleets to autogas, while the skilled professionals at Force 911 share information about versatile bi-fuel propane autogas vehicle technology and conversions for your fleet.

The webinar will be held on the first Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. EST, beginning March 5. Visit Force 911 online for more information, or link directly to the webinar registration page here.

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Here’s what Sheriff Terry Langley had to say:

“At first there were some questions about the flammability of the fuel, to which we explained that the fuel is as safe as gasoline – in fact, the autogas tanks are many times more puncture-resistant than gasoline tanks,” said Sheriff Langley. “With a little bit of education and fueling training, the officers felt comfortable operating the autogas vehicles. Now we even have officers request to drive the propane vehicles because they have better pickup.”

Their department’s work often includes interstate travel, and their officers have not had issues locating propane autogas fueling stations in other states.

“The move to propane autogas has been an excellent one for our county,” said Sheriff Langley. “We have achieved more control over our budget, it’s a safe fuel that burns cleaner and our officers like the vehicle performance. I wish we had made the switch sooner.”

Sheriff Langley first looked into alternative fuel for his fleet to combat budget problems caused by fluctuating gasoline prices. He says propane autogas was the most practical option, and that the autogas vehicle program has been well-received by the county’s officers.

Though regular readers of this blog may know all about SPADP, here’s a little more info about this regional autogas program: SPADP is made possible by funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities Program. The Alliance AutoGas network provides autogas vehicle conversions, fuel supply and support for SPADP. Alliance partner Force 911 in Pendergrass, Ga., performed the Carroll County conversions, while Alliance founder Blossman Gas provided infrastructure for two fueling stations and supplies the county autogas year-round.

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