• 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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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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On the West Coast, lawmakers are being asked to decide whether to lift the 2015 sunset date on the Oregon Clean Fuels Program. Created in 2009, the Program creates a low-carbon fuel standard, with the goal of cutting the average carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 10 percent over the course of a decade. This can be achieved by either blending more ethanol and biodiesel into conventional fuels, or by alternative fuel providers and clean fleets selling fuel “credits” to those who don’t meet the low-carbon goals.

While many support extending the Program to ensure clean air for future generations of Oregonians–including alternative fuel providers like Blue Star Gas–opponents say it will only create higher prices for conventional fuel, goods and services. Now that the Oregon Senate has heard arguments from both sides of the debate, only time will tell whether this Clean Fuel Program has a future.

Meanwhile, the Virginia transportation funding reform bill is still under revision. Governor Bob McDonnell made several amendments today that included cutting the disputed $100 fee on hybrid cars to $64 a year. In a move similar to the Virginia bill, Vermont is also weighing the benefits of an extra registration charge for alternative fuel vehicles as a way to make up for reduced amount of gasoline taxes now that people are driving less overall and choosing alternative-fueled vehicles more often.

The Iowa Senate is considering a bill to provide a tax credit for the construction of alternative fuel stations, while the West Virginia State Senate’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee voted to reinstate tax credits for electric vehicles in a bill enacting incentives alternative fuel vehicles and refueling infrastructure. It will also soon be easier for Utah schools to run bus fleets on alternative fuel like CNG and autogas, and tax credits for alternative fuel vehicles–including those powered by propane autogas– in Colorado just passed the first House committee.

It’s a positive sign that alternative fuel vehicle technology is increasingly front-and-center in the cultural dialogue and supported by both the federal government and state legislators. However, regardless of government incentives, affordable alternative fuel like propane autogas is already widely available and viable for fleets, now. Visit the Alliance AutoGas website to find out more about switching your fleet vehicles to cost-effective, American-made alternative fuel.

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Force 911 and Alliance AutoGas-branded propane autogas trucks

“The Department of Energy had $300 million that they funded projects all of the United States. We did a project of 1,200 vehicles and the city of Kingsport was part of that project,” says Steve Whaley with Alliance AutoGas, who outfitted the Kingsport fleet.

It was an effort at saving fuel costs for the city as well as the obvious environmental concerns. “As we’ve seen in the last few months the volatility of ten-cent everyday increases in gasoline at the pumps. Propane didn’t actually do that. So currently we’re paying $1.50 for propane and $3.01 for gasoline,” city fleet manager Steve Hightower said.

The fact is that these vehicles are known as bi-fuel. You have your choice: gas or propane. “These are bi-fuel systems so nothing changes on the existing gasoline-powered system. What we do is overlay an additional fueling system, the propane system. So you can literally push a button and run on propane or push a button and run on a gasoline system,” Whaley said.

Steve Whaley of Alliance AutoGas discusses propane autogas for fleets during the Knoxville alternative fuel vehicle roadshow.

Alliance AutoGas and vehicle conversion center partner Force 911 are participating in the TN roadshows to display autogas vehicle technology for fleets and discuss the benefits of running on this clean fuel. The roadshow is in Knoxville today and will stop in Chattanooga Thursday. Visit the official alt fuel roadshow website for a complete list of events and additional details, including registration.

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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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Attendees will find experts from ROUSH CleanTech and Alliance AutoGas on hand at the ROUSH CleanTech booth in the exhibition hall to answer questions about implementing a successful propane autogas program for fleets, including vehicle conversions and purchasing OEM autogas vehicles, implementing autogas fueling infrastructure, the fuel cost savings with autogas and what’s on the horizon for propane autogas technology for fleets. (If you’re exhibition hall, come say “hi” to the team!) Alliance is also displaying an autogas fuel dispenser at the Propane Education and Research Council’s booth to demonstrate how easy it is to refuel a propane truck. (Spoiler: it’s as easy as refueling a gasoline truck!)

People often think of natural gas when it comes to the most viable alternative fuel for trucks–this may be true for heavy-duty applications, but propane autogas actually offers the best combination of vehicle performance, cost savings, emissions reduction and affordability for light- and medium-duty truck fleets. For example, 15 autogas fueling stations can be installed for the price of just one CNG station; and two light-duty vehicles can be converted to run on autogas for the price of one natural gas vehicle. There is also virtually no difference in performance between a propane autogas and gasoline vehicle–except, according to one driver, perhaps a “quieter” ride.

But why not see for yourself? During the Green Truck Ride-and-Drive March 6-7, propane-powered trucks from ROUSH CleanTech, PERC and Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc., will be available for test drives. Other vehicle power systems featured include diesel, CNG, hydraulic hybrid and electric hybrid (series and parallel).

Have you thought about switching your truck fleet to alternative fuel? How did various clean fuels stack up, in your experience? Share with us in the comments!

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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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• A sheriff’s office fleet near Atlanta is saving more than $100k on fuel costs annually operating 36 fleet vehicles on propane autogas. The Carroll County Sheriff’s fleet received funding for a total of 40 conversions under the Southeast Propane Autogas Development Program (from Virginia Clean Cities), after switching an initial six vehicles through the Alliance AutoGas program. Alliance also provides conversions, fueling and support for Program fleets.

• Propane autogas buses are cutting costs for Arizona schools.

• The Missouri Propane Education and Research Council recognized the Fort Zumwalt School District with it’s Community Leadership in Environmental Awareness Now (CLEAN) Award for the addition of eight propane-powered school buses to its fleet. According to a school district representative, Fort Zumwalt is the first district in the state to add Blue Bird’s innovative ROUSH CleanTech propane autogas-powered buses to its fleet.

• More info on how propane is benefiting from extended alternative fuel tax credits.

• GE had pledged to buy 25,000 electric vehicles back in 2010, but now is integrating propane autogas and natural gas vehicles into its green fleet to meet customer demand for more options.

• The Director of Engine Technology for PERC reports on the latest developments on several autogas engine research projects currently underway or upcoming in North America.

• NGT News says propane autogas is “primed for a bountiful 2013.”

• The City of Athens, Ga., will vote on the purchase of three fleet vehicles that run on CNG, including two police patrol cars and one garbage truck.

• Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell–who recently implemented a mandate to switch state vehicles to propane autogas and natural gas–has proposed the elimination of the state’s gasoline tax.

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• 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.

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