We hope you all had a great 4th of July yesterday. One of the best photos of fireworks shows we’ve seen comes from San Diego, where a glitch caused all the fireworks to go off at once! Check it out. In other news:

• The California legislature is voting on whether to fund the controversial high-speed rail project in that state. 56 percent of California voters oppose the project.
• The Green Fleet Conference & Expo will feature propane autogas and other
  alternative fuel technologies in October in Schaumberg, Ill.
• The Navy’s “green” biofuel reportedly costs $27 per GALLON! (Autogas: less than 2 bucks a gallon)

As always, follow us @AllianceAutogas on Twitter and on Facebook at facebook.com/allianceautogas.

Raleigh PD Autogas Cruiser

We tell you all the time about the benefits of autogas, but now we’re letting you hear it straight from the horse’s mouth. From time to time, we’ll feature public and private fleet stories that demonstrate how organizations are utilizing autogas to save money, reduce emissions and buy American. The Raleigh, N.C., Police Department is first up.

Overview
The Raleigh PD began converting 10 police cruisers to run on autogas in May 2011, and an additional 10 vehicles after that. Department officials cite the environmental benefits, cost savings and reduced maintenance requirements as key factors in the decision to switch to autogas. “The Police Department is pleased to play a leading role in the City of Raleigh’s efforts to reduce dependence on foreign oil and to use cleaner energy,” Raleigh Police Captain Doug Brugger said of the conversions.

Results and Benefits
As with many municipal governments and police departments throughout the country, budgets are tight and cutting costs is often a priority. According to Steve Whaley of Alliance AutoGas, the Raleigh PD made the switch to autogas despite budgetary constraints. With the Alliance AutoGas complete program, the department was able to implement a fueling station at no upfront cost and pay significantly less on fuel. In other words, it was a no-brainer.

With the initial 10 vehicles alone, the department estimates using 26,000 gallons of fuel annually. In total, that translates to about $15,000 – $20,000 savings on fuel costs. And, since the vehicles are bi-fuel autogas/gasoline, the extended driving range has proved important to ensuring operations run smoothly on the ground. Fortunately, Captain Brugger estimates each vehicle only uses about eight gallons of gasoline every few weeks.

To see what your savings could be by running on autogas, use our free online savings calculator! Try it here: http://www.allianceautogas.com/fleets/autogas-savings-step1.

Charter Fuels delivers autogas vehicle to Wis. fleet

A propane autogas technology provider in California is providing technicians, students and fleet managers free training this week. Check out what else is going on in the world of alternative fuels:

• Alliance AutoGas partner Charter Fuels delivered the Marinette, Wis. Police Department their first propane autogas cruiser last week (pictured).
• The White House released its budget last week that included a proposal to increase the electric vehicle credit from $7,500 to $10,000. Hmm…might there be more affordable alternative fuel technologies already available?
• The ethanol industry has run into somewhat of a rough patch since blender subsidies ended at the beginning of this year.
• Some experts anticipate a boost to natural gas vehicle sales as a result of higher gasoline prices. In general, higher gasoline prices inspire businesses and individuals to look into other affordable options, including propane 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.