• Darren Engle, chairman of the Propane Education & Research Council’s Research and Technology Development Working Group, and also marketing director for Blue Star Gas, is the keynote speaker at the 52nd annual Pacific Propane Convention & Trade Show today and tomorrow. Engle’s speech will focus on propane autogas technology and infrastructure for U.S. fleets.

• Autogas for America Founder and Alliance AutoGas President Stuart Weidie was interviewed by AZoCleantech.com about the advantages of propane autogas for American fleets and the process of switching from gasoline to propane vehicles.

• Due to the nationwide heat wave, natural gas prices are increasing as energy demands are expected to rise. Benchmark crude is currently up around $80 per barrel due to positive economic news Wednesday.

• The hot weather is having an effect on ethanol prices, too – corn ethanol increased to its highest price in a month due to lower crop yield expectations.

Follow @AllianceAutoGas on Twitter and like us on Facebook or the latest alternative fuel and fleet industry news updates.

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.

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)

CNG is a domestically produced fuel that’s cheaper and burns cleaner than gasoline. The lower per-gallon price of CNG makes it an attractive option for many fleets. However, CNG vehicles only achieve about 60 percent of the range of gasoline vehicles, meaning more fill-ups, more vehicle down-time and more money down the drain. Not to mention the high up-front cost of converting the vehicles in the first place, which ranges anywhere between $12,000—$18,000 for light-duty vehicles.

But it’s the fueling station cost that really puts CNG out of reach for many American fleets. According to the DOE, a small, fast-fill CNG station costs about $400,000. Need a medium or large CNG station for your fleet? That’s probably going to run you between $600,000 and a cool $1.7 mil.

Electric Vehicles (EVs)

The electric vehicle industry faces many challenges, from a questionable environmental record (*cough*coal*cough*) to fears that EVs could eventually overburden the electric grid. But one of the biggest strikes against EVs is their high price tag. Not only are the vehicles themselves prohibitively expensive, EV batteries remain one of the most expensive after-warranty parts of the vehicle to replace, with an estimated cost of anywhere from $8,000—$18,000. And with reduced driving range and limited carrying capacity, EV technology is simply impractical for American fleets.

Propane Autogas (You knew we’d get to it, right?)

Autogas is the most immediately available, affordable alternative fuel technology on the market today. Like CNG, autogas costs less per gallon than gasoline, significantly reduces emissions and 90 percent of the U.S. supply is made in America. The lower up-front cost for getting a fleet up and running on autogas is what really sets it apart as a more viable clean fuel. For the price of one CNG station, you can build 10 autogas fueling stations; and two light-duty propane autogas vehicles can be converted for the price of one natural gas-powered vehicle. The Alliance AutoGas complete program will even install a home-base autogas fuel station at no up-front cost, meaning fleets can start saving immediately after switching to autogas.

Visit www.autogasforamerica.org for a wealth of information (which we shamelessly mined for this post) on the benefits of running fleets on affordable, American-made propane 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.

Of course that’s what I mean. No, I’m just kidding…but seriously.

In case you haven’t been keeping track of the tire industry recently (I mean who wouldn’t, right?), there has been some recent news that will certainly make people long for the good ol’ days of tires. Back when it was easy, when it was pure. Back when changing tires was quick and cheap.

Rocks: easy, pure, and absolutely everywhere

Due to the increased cost of petroleum products and materials, major tire manufacturers are raising prices between 6 and 8%, and with high labor costs tires are already pretty pricey. Now this? It’s like these tires are made of diamonds or something.

Ohhh...I get it now

My whole point is that fuel is not the only thing getting more expensive. Tires are jumping up almost 10% in price. Materials just to make the cars are increasing, especially since America imports most of its materials now more than ever. As emissions and fuel economy standards continue to increase, adding pressure to the automaker and in turn a higher price to the car, buying and maintaining a vehicle will become an expensive undertaking.

What people seem to fail to realize is the wide range of money saving opportunities alternative fuels offer. Propane AutoGas is cleaner and safer than gasoline or diesel. There are tax breaks, incentives and grants to help with the purchase of a conversion. And propane is cheaper. It costs less than gas or diesel. It burns cleaner and more fully, which can save thousands in the long run on engine and oil maintenance and can extend the life of the vehicle far beyond what it would be just using traditional fuels. Lastly, the AutoGas system can be easily transferred to another vehicle, meaning you don’t have to buy one for every new vehicle you purchase. Basically, if you manage or are part of a vehicle fleet, this is a sure win. Just like when Fred Flintstone twinkles his toes at a bowling tournament-Victory.

However, if you said that both signed contracts that would forever change the rest of the nation’s perception of Indiana, then…that’s a really good guess because you are correct.

Alliance AutoGas has been awarded a $3.2 million contract to create an AutoGas fueling infrastructure throughout the state while simultaneously converting vehicles from the Indiana state fleet. This will allow any propane vehicle to travel across the state without fear of the fuel gauge reaching empty while cutting fuel and vehicle costs for the state of Indiana.

This is just one of many alternative fuel vehicle programs that is taking place across the nation, and propane AutoGas is a major part. It’s already easier to travel around using AutoGas than any other alternative fuel,  and it’s only a matter of time until it is just as easy to travel on AutoGas as it is gasoline or diesel.

Click here to read Bruce Smith’s article about the Indiana propane AutoGas program in the Indianapolis Star.

Then in 2010, almost two years after his first article, Antich comes back and writes The Cost of Operating a Fleet Will Increase. Reading this was a bit like watching Sean Connery in Thunderball….then in Never Say Never Again. Do you get what I am saying? They’re basically the same article.

However, like Sean Connery, it was never wrong. But these two articles merely mentioned alternative fuels without much else. Propane has massive potential to combat many of these increased prices and “trends.” Fuel, maintenance, and safety costs are all lowered when switching to AutoGas. There is no longer a need to purchase new vehicles when you can convert. On top of that since propane burns cleaner, the vehicles will last longer.

Pretty pitiful, huh? Double! Where were we? America loves double. What do they know that we don’t? Could it be all of the benefits of simple, clean and cheap propane? Probably. This is why fleets are so important. Many of these numbers are due directly to fleets. Japan, although not included on the chart, requires all taxis to run on propane. These countries, like the U.S., have many credits and initiatives pushing alternative fuels and it’s working. Fleets will have the easiest experience switching and the most to gain.

The more people that use it, the more benefits there will be when the government sees it is working. Then we can continue to drive our cars free from high prices, pollution and dependence on foreign oil.

To learn more about these workshops and see webcasts from previous cities visit the Alternative Fuel Trade Alliance website. Visit www.autogasusa.org to learn about PERC and its efforts to spread AutoGas.

Read the original and other great posts at Fleet Daily.

The second certification comes from the California Air Resources Board (C.A.R.B.). C.A.R.B. certification tends to be a bit more elusive. They require more tests, data and I assume bureaucracy than EPA certification and can be stricter in some of their requirements. Other states are jumping on board, and they are adopting these regulations. I assume it’s because eventually everyone wants to seem cool, and let’s face it-California is cool. They have celebrities. Or maybe certain states looked at the picture below and decided, “If it works for them then it will probably work for us.” But I am not here to speculate on reasons (I know it’s because of celebrities). I am here to shed some light on this confusing world of alternative fuels.

California: They need everything they can get

I have compiled for your reading pleasure (but mostly so you don’t have to look it up) a list of states that have adopted C.A.R.B. regulations. If your state is listed below then you will need to check with any dealers or conversion centers about the laws and whether they have the right certifications.

The LIST:

Arizona

Colorado

Connecticut

Florida

Maine

Massachusetts

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Utah

Washington